Experience the beauty and brilliance of solar and lunar eclipses, rare astronomical events and constellations. Dive into the depths of sky with pictures of the eclipseland photo edition!

I captured the astronomical events not only above home Rhine Main area in Germany, but also travelled to distant countries. So these images were taken e.g. in Zimbabwe, at the Kruger National Park (South Africa), China and in Central America.

In my experience reports stories, impressions and backgrounds, how these pictures have been created and further pictures of the journeys and observation sites can be found.

Sun, Moon and stars continuously provide new astronomical views and eclipses. This gallery increases permanently. Brandnew my pictures are published as photos and videos first on AstroNation.

Stephan Heinsius.

Solar Eclipses

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<div style="text-align: justify">After the end of the total phase of the total solar eclipse for a short time the umbra of the moon can be observed, vanishing to eastern directions. Like a dark curtain it lays on the landscape of the Gobi desert in China and disperses in the distance. The shadow of a small cloud can be seen as a dark stream in front of the lunar shadow. On this image of 01. August 2008 numerous observers of the solar eclipse are viewing the first sun beams, as behind their backs the darkness silently disappears with several thousands kilometers per hour.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify">During the second partial phase the grown solar crescent provides during the second partila phase of the totla solar eclipse on 01. August 2008 a spectacle of light and shadow with a small cloud over the Gobi desert in China.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify">About 22 minutes after totality the grown solar crescent provides during the second partila phase of the totla solar eclipse on 01. August 2008 a spectacle of light and shadow with a small cloud over the Gobi desert in China.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify">With the beginning of a total solar eclipse for a few seconds after disappearance of the last sun beam the reddish shimmering chromosphere becomes visible above the moon’s surface. The chromosphere is a part of the sun’s atmosphere, which is located directly above the light emitting photosphere and is visible only during a total solar eclipse for a short time. Prominences (eruptions of hot plasma) stick out like tongues of fire in same color of the chromosphere and appear all around the moon’s limb.<br /><br />This photograph was taken during the total solar eclipse on 29th March 2006 near the village Incesu in central Anatolia, Turkey. <br /> </div>

Just a few seconds after end of the total phase of the solar eclipse first sunlight breaks through behind the moon. The shadow cone of the moon moves over the terrestrial landscape and leaves the image in an eastern direction. In the west the sun already is shining. Small clouds below the still almost completely eclipsed sun, give the dramatic spectacle in the sky above the Gobi desert another aesthetic highlight.<br /><br />Captured on 01.August 2008 nothe east of the city of Jinta, Province Gansu, China.

<div style="text-align: justify">During a total solar eclipse the new moon completely hides the sun. No beam of the light emitting photosphere reaches the observer directly. So it is dark enough to view the atmosphere of the sun, the corona.<br /><br />The corona is about 1 million degrees hot. At this temperature atoms' nuclei and electrons have separated, it's plasma. The atom nuclei are of a metallic kind (iron, nickel, cobalt). The plasma aligns along the magnetic field lines of the sun and so causes the characteristic shape of a crown respectively a corona around the sun.<br /><br />During the total solar eclipse in central Anatolia (Turkey) on 29th March 2006 light cirrus clouds spread around the sky. A few seconds after the total phase of the solar eclipse last rays of light beam around the moon and  reveal a small string of sunlight.  That is scattered within ice crystals of the cirrus clouds and creates an own corona, as it more often can be seen around the a full moon during the night.<br /><br />On this photograph both coronae can be seen, the extremely hot sun corona in the upper part and below the cold corona of first sun beams within the ice crystals of the cirrus clouds. <br /> </div>

<div style="text-align: justify">During a total solar eclipse giant gas eruptions happening above the solar surface (so called prominences) can be visible above the edge of the dark moon. On 01. August 2008 on the right limb of the moon a great prominence became visible , floating above the surface of the sun. <br /><br />On this image additionally further prominences and the inner sun’s corona could be seen very well. The picture was taken in the Gobi desert, north east of the city of Jinta in China.<br /> </div>

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Other Constellations(4)	Atmospheric Astronomy(1)	Lunar Eclipses(7)
Planet Occultations(1)	Solar Eclipses(23)	Transits(0)