The Eclipse Clock-Eclipse on a Polar Day

First place winner in the 2023 IAU OAE Astrophotography Contest, category Still images of the day arc of the Sun and solargraphs: The Eclipse Clock-Eclipse on a Polar Day, by Stephanie Ziyi Ye

Constructed by combining multiple images over the course of a 24-hour period, the image was captured in Union Glacier, Antarctica, during the total solar eclipse of 4 December 2021, and showcases the day arc of the Sun. It illustrates the unique phenomenon of a polar day, during which the Sun travels around the sky without setting. During polar days, areas within the polar circles experience 24 hours of continuous daylight, and the Sun doesn’t set for an extended period. The image also offers a rare perspective of a solar eclipse, where the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and as viewed from Earth. This can be seen in the lower image of the Sun, where the Moon covers the solar disc.

Credit: Stephanie Ziyi Ye/IAU OAE (CC BY 4.0)