38 Items Tagged

Sun

An annular eclipse over the northern Chinese city of Jinan in 2010.

During an Annular Eclipse, Look to the Shadows

While some people in the Western Hemisphere will witness a "ring of fire" during the eclipse, many more will experience the phenomenon of crescent sunlight.

Rebecca Boyle October 11, 2023

The sun sets over West Bali National Park, ushering in the first of three twilights that herald night the world over.

Why Are There Three Twilights?

And we’re not talking about vampire books.

Gemma Tarlach July 5, 2023

We asked readers to share their best stories about the night sky—quite a few included magical tales of seeing the northern lights.

9 Summer Night Sky Stories From Our Readers to Warm the Heart

From seeing the northern lights aboard a Navy ship in Norway to braving the cold for a glimpse of a blood moon.

Sarah Durn June 28, 2023

The Milky Way and curtain-like auroras fill a clear southern sky off Nugget Point, at the edge of New Zealand’s remote Catlins. While the island nation is too far north to see the aurora australis regularly, aurora-hunters flock to the Nugget Point lighthouse area for its dark skies and unobstructed view off the South Island’s southeastern coast.

Aurora Hunters Capture the Wonder of the Northern (and Southern) Lights

A curated collection of images shows why this natural phenomenon has fascinated and inspired humans for millennia.

Gemma Tarlach December 21, 2022

Physics of the Sun

Changikhisarak, Uzbekistan

Physics of the Sun

More than 10,000 small mirrors cover the curved surface of the world's second-largest solar oven, located in a remote village in Uzbekistan.

Zaragoza, Spain

Reloj Solar Multicaja-Zaragoza

The world's largest sundial can cast a shadow more than 1,600 feet long.

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Charting a Path Between Day and Night

AO Puzzles August 15, 2022

Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope

Sunspot, New Mexico

Sunspot Solar Observatory

High in the Sacramento Mountains, a facility dedicated to studying the sun.

Big Sur, California

Keyhole Arch at Pfeiffer Beach

Centuries of crashing waves carved out this small hole in the rock, which lights up at certain parts of the year.

The corona is most visible during a total solar eclipse, like this one, captured on August 21, 2017.

How Do You Do Color Commentary for an Eclipse?

Live from space, it’s a grand celestial phenomenon!

Jessica Leigh Hester July 2, 2019

Researchers testing for wind in the lab.

When the Sun Is High, Dung Beetles Navigate With the Wind

There's more than one way to get from point A to point B while rolling a ball of dung.

Evan Nicole Brown June 25, 2019

A sunset in Tuscon, Arizona.

Why Desert Sunsets Are Incredibly Colorful

Turns out, dry, clean air is the secret to a vivid landscape.

Evan Nicole Brown April 23, 2019

A spectacular fata morgana of a single boat on the horizon.

optical illusions

The Most Interesting, Spectacular Mirages Aren’t in the Desert

Spoiler alert: Try the Arctic or Sicily instead.

Sabrina Imbler April 22, 2019

Phu Chi Fah

This mountain sunrise is one of the most breathtaking views in Thailand, yet well off the tourist trail.

The Light Pyramid at the far end of Midsummer Boulevard.

Milton Keynes, England

Midsummer Boulevard Light Pyramid

This suburban British town holds secrets that would have made the druids proud.

Researchers found this 5,000-year-old stone on a Danish island.

Found: Neolithic Spiderweb Stones in Denmark

They may have more to do with the sun than with arachnids.

Vittoria Traverso February 13, 2018

The cannon goes off

Åtvidaberg, Sweden

Åtvidaberg Sun Cannon

In the town of Åtvidaberg, the midday sun sets off a loud cannon boom.

Sun Tunnels

A sculpture for the sun and stars, created by Nancy Holt.