solar corona

[clippo]

got a shot of my first solar corona! the aureole is clearly visible.

http://www.pbase.com/clippo/image/113045647/original.jpg

[Bill Boehme]

I think that you are seeing diffraction from the water vapor in the clouds -- sort of like a rainbow.

[A.S.I.G.N. Observatory]

If you look at the bottom right two images where they have blocked out the disk of the sun itself, you will see the corona, extending millions of miles out from the surface.

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/realtime-update.html

Baz.

[clippo]

hi Bill - thanks for the comments. Yes you are exactly right.

Baz, this is a different type of corona - see here:

http://www.atoptics.co.uk/droplets/corona.htm

Hope that atmospheric shots are OK here btw - seems to be the most appropriate place indeed I've posted/seen a few ice halo shots here before.

[A.S.I.G.N. Observatory]

Aha! Thanks for that. I stand corrected and learned something. There is the sun's CORONA, which surrounds the actual sun in space, then there is the atmospheric CORONAE, which is an optical effect seen from the ground caused by diffraction.

Cheers,

Baz.

[clippo]

I think the name CORONA can be applied to each. CORONAE is a plural term afaik.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Corona