Berlin Corona

April 20, 2008

042008

Provided by: Verena Tiessen
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster, Verena Tiessen 

The composite photo above of a magnificent lunar corona over Berlin, Germany was taken on November 26, 2007. Coronas are produced by diffraction of moonlight or sunlight by micrometer (µm) sized cloud droplets, typically found in mid-level altocumulus or altostratus clouds. Often these thin clouds are difficult to detect at night, but when positioned near a gibbous or full Moon, the colorful rings that result give them away.

Photo details: Canon EOS 350D camera, 50 mm (Sigma 18-125 mm) lens. This image is a combination of three pictures, each with a slightly different exposure.