Explanation: This total solar eclipse appeared not only poetically beautiful but scientifically interesting. Usually the┬аsolar corona┬аappears white, and to some observers the corona of last week’s total solar eclipse did appear┬аthis pearly color. But this time, totality observers in Spain saw a corona that appeared unusually golden. For one reason, from┬аSpain, the totality occurred when the setting Sun was near the horizon. That low, sunlight travels through a large amount of┬аair which scatters┬аout blue light. An unusual amount of┬аsmoke in the air┬аfrom nearby┬аforest fires acted as a second filter,┬аfurther scattering┬аthe remaining blue tones and deepening the already gold-dominated┬аlight. The┬аHDR-processed, multiple-exposure┬аfeatured image┬аwas captured from Benavente, Spain last week. One thing that did not appear golden was a┬аhydrogen-glowing┬аprominence┬аthat hovered over the┬аSun‘s left edge — its original bright pink┬аcolor survived.
Gallery: Solar Eclipse of 2026 August 12
Tomorrow’s picture: fast meteors
