Interesting Photos of Annular Partial Eclipse (日偏食)

Today, 22 July 2009, a central total solar eclipse is visible within a narrow path along eastern Asia, extending into the Pacific Ocean. Apart from the path of totality, a much wider range of areas can experience partial eclipse of different degrees. In Hong Kong, I saw an annular partial eclipse (日偏食) (max 3/4 sun coverage) in Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) at 9:15am.

Since I have no special device, I tried to take some photos of the eclipse by placing a digital camera under a Myopia (short sight) Sunglass.

Sun was too bright, eclipse could not been observed in the photo.


However, it was interesting to find a small image of partial eclipse, near the sun, in my photo.

A small image of partial eclipse

It is because the sunglass is a diverging lens and it forms a small and gloomy virtual image of annular partial eclipse in front of the camera.