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Solar corona photographed from Apollo 15 one minute prior to sunrise
The solar corona, as photographed from Apollo 15 about one minute prior to sunrise on July 31, 1971, is seen just beyond the lunar horizon. The bright object on the opposite side of the frame is the planet Mercury. The bright star near the frame center is Regulus, and the lesser stars form the head of the constellation Leo. Mercury is approximately 28 degrees from the center of the sun. The solar coronal streamers, therefore, appear to extend about eight degrees from the sun's center.
Catalog Date: 31 July 1971
Film Type: 70mm BW
NASA image: AS15-98-13311