APOD 2.7 (Looking back at an eclipsed earth)

January 2

I personally enjoy this picture, partially because it is just so rare, and partially because it almost looks like a small portion of the Earth is being burned with a giant magnifying glass.  This picture of a solar eclipse's effect on Earth viewed from outer space was taken in August 1999 by the Russian space station Mir, being one of the last photos captured before the station was deorbited in a controlled re-entry in 2001.  While it is supposedly breathtaking to be see a solar eclipse from the surface, I think it is amazing to see just what little impact such a phenomenon has on the majority of the Earth's surface (half is in shadow and cannot even see the sun, probably 49.99% is not lined up with the sun and the moon, 0.009% is only partially lined up, 0.001% is in the perfect position to view the stars at high noon or view the sun's corona with the naked eye).