A Golden Corona Eclipse
NASA
- A total solar eclipse observed in Benavente, Spain, on August 12, 2026, exhibited an unusually golden corona.
- The phenomenon was caused by light scattering due to the low solar position and atmospheric smoke.
Causes of the Golden Hue
- Low Solar Horizon: Totality occurred while the Sun was near the horizon; sunlight traveled through a significant amount of air, which scattered blue light wavelengths.
- Atmospheric Smoke: Smoke from nearby forest fires acted as an additional filter, scattering remaining blue tones and deepening the golden light.
Observation Details
- Imaging: The featured image was captured using HDR-processed, multiple-exposure photography.
- Notable Exception: A hydrogen-glowing prominence on the Sun's left edge retained its original bright pink color, unaffected by the atmospheric filtering.