Sol and Luna, on this eclipse day

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helicon United States of America
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Sol and Luna, on this eclipse day

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Post by helicon »


In ancient times, Pliny the Elder mentioned the eclipse of the sun in the year 71 A.D. visible in the Mediterranean.

Here we have a coin in my collection depicting Sol as a god with radiate crown...

Obverse: VIRTVS PROBI AVG ("The courage of Probus", emperor between 276-282 A.D. wearing military attire, hefting spear and shield). Probus spent the bulk of his reign personally commanding his armies and beating back Barbarian tribes.

Reverse: CONSERVAT AVG

Sol in this case is the emperor's protector in this issue of Ticinum, a city in the Balkans, standing rather than appearing in his quadriga or four horse chariot that ferried the sun across the sky (much more common). Hopefully today the rays of Sol's crown will be indeed, radiant, as lady Luna passes in front of his face.

probus.jpg
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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