Solar Corona

During a total solar eclipse, the sun’s atmosphere or corona is revealed. Because the corona is about 500,000 times fainter than the surface of the sun, it can only be observed when the photosphere is blocked out by the moon. The brightness of the corona varies by many stops across its radius. To get this image I had to bracket five frames at two stop intervals and stack multiple sets – all captured in just 104 seconds of totality. Ten sets at F/4, ISO 400, shutter speeds of 1/8, 1/30, 1/125 and 1/500 second, plus another 8 sets at F/4, 1/15 second and ISO 3200. We can see structure in the corona – plasma flowing along lines of magnetic field radiating from the south pole of the sun.