Solar Eclipse Time-Lapse Photo By Ben Cooper Frames Eclipse Against Australian Outback

Photographer Ben Cooper got an amazing time-lapse shot of this week's total solar eclipse from the Australian outback.

More than 50,000 people gathered in northern Australia to watch the eclipse, and images of the eclipse were even taken from space.

User "JohnPoe" posted the time-lapse photo to Reddit, where some wondered why there was light visible during a total eclipse.

Some speculated that the "background" photo was taken before the totality of the eclipse. During a total eclipse, the moon casts a shadow cone over the path of the eclipse, but peripheral areas and the sun's corona remain illuminated.

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• Solar Eclipse Above Clouds

• Solar Eclipse From A Helicopter

• Solar Eclipse From A Helicopter

• Slowly Coming To An End

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Near totality is seen during the solar eclipse at Palm Cove on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

• Eclipse-Viewing Gear

• Eclipse Continues In Cairns, Australia

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Totality is seen during the solar eclipse at Palm Cove on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

• Couple Gets Engaged During Eclipse

• Eclipse Reaches Totality

• AUSTRALIA-ASTRONOMY-ECLIPSE

  The Diamond Ring effect is shown following totality of the solar eclipse at Palm Cove in Australia's Tropical North Queensland on November 14, 2012. Eclipse-hunters have flocked to Queensland's tropical northeast to watch the region's first total solar eclipse in 1,300 years on November 14, which occurred as the moon passed between the earth and the sun, casting a shadow path on the globe and lasting for a maximum on the Australian mainland of 2 minutes and 5 seconds. AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD (Photo credit should read GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Over Miallo, Queensland, Australia

• Solar Eclipse Over Cairns, Australia Nears Totality

• Starting To Get Good

• First Contact

• Eclipse Continues Over Great Barrier Reef, Australia

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A young boy gets ready to view the solar eclipse with his telescope on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse through a telescope on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To Cairns, Australia

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To Four Mile Beach

• Eclipse Begins Over Great Barrier Reef, Australia

• Crowds Get A Glimpse Of The Sun In Cairns, Australia

• Clouds Block The Sun In Cairns, Australia

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To Cairns, Australia

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To Cairns, Australia

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Terry Cuttle sets up telescopic cameras and computer equipment on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: A general view of seats set up over-looking the ocean to watch the total solar eclipse are seen on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Telescopic cameras and computer equipment are set up on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Terry Cuttle demonstates the use of eclipse shades at a press conference at the Reef House resort in preparation for people to watch the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: A telescopic camera is seen on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Walkers pass as telescopic cameras and computer equipment are set up on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Telescopic cameras and computer equipment are set up on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Signage is seen for solar eclipse viewing glasses in preparation for people to watch the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Runners pass as telescopic cameras and computer equipment are set up on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Jonathan Bradshaw and Terry Cuttle set up telescopic cameras and computer equipment on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Telescopic cameras and computer equipment are set up on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Pairs of eclipse shades are seen in preparation for people to watch the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: A USA sticker is seen on telescopic camera equipment on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: A general view of people who have reserved a spot to view the total solar eclipse is seen on Palm Cove beach on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Telescopic equipment is seen on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Telescopic cameras and computer equipment are set up on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

• Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

  CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Terry Cuttle sets up telescopic cameras and computer equipment on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012 in Cairns, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Comments

[CavedInwards]

05:07 AM on 11/19/2012

Brilliant!

[HowthCastle]

01:53 AM on 11/18/2012

A gorgeous image!

[HowthCastle]

01:52 AM on 11/18/2012

"...Some wondered why there was light visible during a total eclipse. " That's silly. Only one of the 30 or so images was taken during totality. The others were taken while the sun was shining.

[Robin Edgar]

08:19 AM on 11/18/2012

Not only that but even during totality there is still a fair bit of light available since the sun's corona has a brightness similar to that of the full moon. . .

[SLuG1972]

01:10 PM on 11/17/2012

AWESOME!!