During the eclipse the following miscellaneous observations were made by Mr. Shaler and me: The protuberances were of two distinct kinds: one sort was low, long, and yellow; the other high, short, and red. Mr. Shaler saw the disk of the sun break into beads at the moment of totality. The appearance lasted only an instant, and seemed as if it were the effect of irregularities of the limb of the moon. About a month before, Mr. Shaler had observed on the limb of the moon a serrated appearance occasioned by a range of mountains. Read more
The Baily's beads were first photographed at the eclipse of August 7, 1869 by C. F. Hines and members of the Philadelphia Photographic Corps, observing from Ottumwa, Iowa.
Francis Baily observations of "Baily's Beads", during an annular eclipse of the sun on 15 May 1836, at Inch Bonney in Roxburghshire, started the modern series of eclipse expeditions. Read more
As the moon "grazes" by the Sun during a solar eclipse, the rugged lunar limb topography allows beads of sunlight to shine through in some places, and not in others. This effect is called Baily's beads in honour of Francis Baily who first provided an exact explanation of the phenomenon in 1836. Read more
Ed ~ Francis Baily observed the phenomena during the annular eclipse of 15th May, 1836.
Baily's beads in 3rd contact of anullar solar eclipse in Xilxes - Castelló - Spain (2005/10/03)