                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2023 October 16
    An annular solar eclipse appears in the background with the dark Moon
   appearing completely internal to the bright Sun. In the foreground is a
       ridge with the silhouettes of two people, one standing, and one
     kneeling. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                                Eclipse Rings
         Image Credit & Copyright: Jerry Zhang (left), Baolong Chen
                    (photographer) & Amber Zhang (right)

   Explanation: She knew everything but the question. She was well aware
   that there would be a complete annular eclipse of the Sun visible from
   their driving destination: Lake Abert in Oregon. She knew that the next
   ring-of-fire eclipse would occur in the USA only in 16 more years,
   making this a rare photographic opportunity. She was comfortable with
   the plan: that she and her boyfriend would appear in front of the
   eclipse in silhouette, sometimes alone, and sometimes together. She
   knew that the annular phase of this eclipse would last only a few
   minutes and she helped in the many hours of planning. She could see
   their friend who set up the camera about 400 meters away at the bottom
   of a ridge. What she didn't know was the question she would be asked.
   But she did know the answer: "yes".

               Album: Selected eclipse images sent in to APOD
                       Tomorrow's picture: dust rings
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

