Baily's beads

Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia

0.01 sec.

Baily's beads [ˈbeɪlɪz]

pl n

(Astronomy) the brilliant points of sunlight that appear briefly around the moon, just before and after a total eclipse

[named after Francis Baily (died 1844), English astronomer who described them]

Baily's beads (b

A discontinuous, beadlike pattern of sunlight visible along the edge of the darkened Moon's disk in the seconds before and after totality during a full solar eclipse. The pattern is caused by light shining through the uneven lunar topography silhouetted along the curved edges of the disk. Baily's beads are named after British astronomer Francis Baily (1774-1844), who first observed them in 1836.

Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.

?Page tools

Printer friendly
Cite / link

Feedback
Add definition

Mentioned in	?		References in periodicals archive	?		Dictionary browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found			Then spectacular bursts of the Sun's first rays cut through the night, making the spectacular Diamond Ring, followed by Baily's Beads as sun rays spike through the peaks on the surface of the Moon. TWO HOURS OF WONDER; In Cornwall yesterday, they watched in awe the ... by Science, JIM McLEAN / Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) There is a chance that just before totality all but one of the Baily's Beads around the moon will vanish, creating an astonishing "diamond ring effect". The most amazing event you are ever going to see; ALL YOUR SOLAR ... by Oliver, Mark / The Mirror (London, England) First there will be the specks of light round the blackness known as Baily's Beads which are formed by the last rays of sunshine cutting through moon valleys. Solar eclipse will be like nothing we have ever seen; PROMISE OF ... by Argument, Barbara / Coventry Evening Telegraph (England)			Baignoire Baikal bail bail bandit bail bond bail out bail up bailable Baile Átha Cliath bailee Bailer Bailey Bailey bridge bailie bailiff bailiffship Bailiffwick bailiwick Baillie bailment bailor bailout Bailpiece bailsman Baily Baily's beads Bain bain-marie Bainbridge báinín bainite Baiomys Baiomys taylori Bairam Bairava Baird Bairdiella Bairdiella chrysoura Bairiki bairn Bairnsfather baisa Baisakh Baisakhi Baisemains bait bait and switch Bait bug bait casting Baiter baitfish			bailout Bailout bond Bailout Bonds bailout bottle Bailout Payback Method Payback Period Bailout Payback Method Payback Periods Bailout Provision Bailout Provisions bailouts bailouts bailouts bailouts Bailov Rocks Bailpiece Bailrigg FM bails bails bails bails bails bails on bails on bails on bails out bails out bails out bails out bailsman Bailter Space Baily Baily's beads Baily, Edward Hodges Bailyn, Bernard BAIM Baimak Baimekov, Idyr Baiml Baimukhamed Atalievich Karryev Baimukhamed Karryev Bain Bain coaxial circuit Bain coaxial circuit Bain coaxial circuit Bain coaxial circuit Bain marie Bain system Bain's rule Bain, Alexander Bain, Joe S. bain-marie bain-maries Bain-Ondarçuhu device Bainbridge Bainbridge Bainbridge Amateur Radio Club Bainbridge clamp Bainbridge effect Bainbridge effect Bainbridge effect Bainbridge Fire Department Bainbridge forceps

Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations

Free Tools:	For surfers: Free toolbar & extensions \| Word of the Day \| Help For webmasters: Free content \| Linking \| Lookup box \| Double-click lookup

Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.