Eclipse Dapples :: WTF is a "dapple"?

in life •  7 years ago  (edited)

For those of you in the US who will be able to view today's eclipse - even if you're not in the path of totality - be sure to check out the ground below any nearby trees. The bits of sunlight that get through the tree's shade will create what are called "dapples", which are the spots of sunlight that fall on the ground below. Like this:

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Technically, the word dapple simply means "spotted". So it's just one of the spots of sunlight.

Just like the paper pinhole trick or the shoe box trick, when there's an eclipse occurring, the dapples project it onto the ground, or whatever surface is beyond the tree. Like so:

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So even if you don't have glasses to view it directly, that's okay! Find a tree and you'll be good to go!



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NASA: "It is extremely dangerous and a terrible decision to look directly at the sun during the eclipse"

Donald Trump:

DHxmARTXsAAnufr.jpg

I did an experiment and it worked really well. I didn't know they were called dapples, thanks for the info.
Eclipse 1.png

Full post here

The real eclipse is the eclipse of the Bitcoin.
Image

Excellent :)

Trees + Dabbles = Solar Magic! I look forward to your gallery of Dapple goodness!

I didn't bother getting glasses, so dapples it will be.

This is so cool!
I'll be able to see it at about 90% full from my house. I'm excited! Upvoted and followed. 😍

Such a nice effect... Nature is amazing. Thank for the share

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My pictures : @Permatek

omg observation! actually these images much more interesting than the usual
images of an eclipse by itself.. so now i think that very sad that its not available here in Israel today - i just want to see these Dapples !

amazing bokeh @winstonwolfe

I did not know that!

I can't wait to try it! When's the next one?... Oh... ;)

According to Wiki, the UK's best chance at seeing an eclipse is:

12 August 2026
An eclipse which is total across Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean and Spain results in a very large partial eclipse across Britain with western Ireland the most favoured, at around 96% in Cornwall falling to 91% in Aberdeen.

NINE years! I have to wait nine years to try out that tip!

Beep beep. Hi @michelle.gent!
You have used tip! in your comment - that`s my magic word for sending tips ;)
Click here if you wish to learn more!

So weird! I still can't seem to understand why the sunlight's rays would beam shadows with crescent moons on them. Do you know where to find a proper explanation of this?

Basically it's a pinhole camera effect, but here's what info I could find on short notice.
https://www.quora.com/What-causes-crescent-shaped-shadows-during-solar-eclipse

Perfect! Now I see. Thank you. Also, FYI, this morning I posted an article honoring your photos, and article here. It's a Top #11 List, featuring Steemit's most creative thinkers. Thank you for inspiring me. :)