A Cloud Across the Ring
Two imagined accounts of the October 2023 annular solar eclipse in Albuquerque show how a meteorologist and a photographer can observe the same event but emphasize different evidence.
Play the quiz as a gameOn October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse was visible from Albuquerque, New Mexico. During this kind of eclipse, the Moon passes in front of the Sun but has a smaller apparent size: it looks smaller from Earth. At the eclipse's peak, a bright ring of sunlight surrounds the Moon. The following imagined accounts place a meteorologist and a photographer together at an Albuquerque viewing site. Their observations show how a person's purpose can shape an account.
Both observers prepare for safe viewing. An annular eclipse never makes the Sun safe to look at without proper protection. They use special eclipse viewers that meet safety standards. The photographer also fits a proper solar filter over the front of the camera lens before aiming it at the Sun. Eclipse glasses are not a substitute for a camera's solar filter.
The first account appears under the heading Weather Field Notes. Meteorologist Leena Shah writes, “Before the eclipse begins, I record the air temperature and describe the clouds. Then I repeat my measurements at regular intervals, or evenly spaced times. I want a record of conditions before, during, and after the event. A single chilly moment would not tell me how the temperature changed.”
Leena continues, “As the Moon covers more of the Sun, a thin cloud moves across our view. For a short time, the Sun is obscured, or hidden. I record when this happens and keep measuring. Less sunlight can cool the ground and the air near it, but clouds can also affect temperature. I should not blame every change on the eclipse without considering the clouds.”
Her account ends, “The cloud moves away before the bright ring appears. We stay at our site rather than pack up. My most useful result is not one dramatic number. It is a sequence of measurements with notes explaining the conditions. Those notes will help someone understand the record later.”
The second account appears under the heading Photographs from One Spot. Photographer Mateo Cruz writes, “I prepare my filtered camera before the eclipse starts. I plan a sequence showing the Sun's changing shape. When the thin cloud arrives, I worry about a gap in that sequence. I keep the camera ready instead of packing it away. The cloud clears before the ring appears.”
Mateo continues, “Once the ring forms, I concentrate on composition, the way parts of a picture are arranged. I leave dark space around the circle so its shape stands out. My close-up cannot show how cool the air feels or explain a temperature change. It can show the narrow rim of sunlight more clearly than my written description can. The waiting becomes part of my account because it explains why I nearly missed the picture I wanted.”
Beside Mateo's imagined photograph, a caption reads, “Sunlight forms a bright ring around the Moon after a thin cloud passes.” The caption identifies both the subject and the moment. It does not claim that the photograph measures temperature or explains what caused a change.
Both accounts describe a passing cloud, a decision to remain ready, and a successful view of the ring. However, Leena treats the cloud as a condition that matters when interpreting evidence. Mateo treats it mainly as an obstacle to making an image. Neither account cancels the other. Read together, they reveal more about the event—and the observers' purposes—than either account reveals alone.