Democracy Dies in Darkness

Total solar eclipse dazzles skies in Antarctica. The photos are spectacular.

Sky watchers captured the Dec. 4 event in photos and videos for those of us who couldn’t travel to the end of the world

December 6, 2021 at 1:12 p.m. EST
NASA video shot from Union Glacier in Antartica on Dec. 4, shows the moon passing in front of the sun, creating a rare total solar eclipse. (Video: NASA)

Watching a total solar eclipse never gets old. Our bright sun, momentarily obscured by our moon, fades to a dark circle. But meanwhile, the sun’s corona — the outermost part of its atmosphere which is usually hidden — emerges as a glowing circle of light around the jet black void.

For about two minutes on Saturday, a select few witnessed the astronomical dance from Antarctica. Sky watchers captured the event in photos and videos for those of us who could not travel to the end of the world.