Celebrating the Sky

Artificial Intelligence interprets the eclipse of April 8th, 2024.

by H.C. Southwark

What happens if you type "eclipse" into the prompt box of an AI artwork generator?

At first, the results are wonky. Lots of pictures of general moon-related celestial events, often with bright colors and mountainous backgrounds.

Moreover, many of these images also contain versions of reality that could not exist. For example, the "eclipse" might be in front of the clouds, closer to the viewer than the clouds. This makes it an event that is happening inside the atmosphere, not up in outer space.

(As a fantasy author, I must point out that this is actually totally fine in many imagined worlds.)

These images tell us something about what artificial intelligence "thinks" an eclipse is.

First: the AI bot does not understand what an "eclipse" actually is, exactly.

Second: the AI bot prioritizes what looks "pretty" compared to what is realistic.

But here's the kicker: we made this bot. Us. Humans.

If you search "eclipse" in a search engine's image tab, then you will find many illustrations of the same sort. Because the artificial intelligence was trained on human data, its imagination is our imagination.

And human beings love beautiful things.

I find that I adore these AI generated images for this very reason. The same reason that human beings find things like eclipses amazing. After all, there is no real reason to pay attention to an eclipse. Nothing changes about the Earth, you get a few minutes of dim sun, and then everything moves on.

But an eclipse is beautiful, and that is reason enough to celebrate the sky.

And so in homage to the eclipse of April 8, 2024, I have made this batch of AI images for everyone to enjoy.

How to Use These Images

To download these images, click the image itself.

You will be led to a page with the full image, in the correct sizing for most devices.

Right click on the full image (or press and hold) and you will have the option to choose "save as" to your computer.

You can then save and use the image however you would like.

Desktop Backgrounds

These images are 1920 x 1080 pixels, 16:9 aspect ratio. This should fit most desktop and laptop monitor screens.

An otherworldly eclipse fantasy, where magic and science merge in a dazzling display of celestial harmony.

A fantasy image of an eclipse with the moon over a dark sun.

A magical eclipse fantasy, where ancient mountains are bathed in the mystical glow of celestial alignment.

A refracted eclipse with three separate planets and suns.

A mystical eclipse in a fantasy realm, with the moon highlighted with its own light.

A mystical depiction of an otherworldly eclipse, casting ethereal light across a fantastical landscape. The moon is a black hole in the center.

Mobile Backgrounds

These images are 1080 x 1920 pixels and 9:16 aspect ratio, which should fit most mobile devices.

However, smart phones do come in a variety of sizes so it is possible that you may see the sides "cut off" depending on your actual phone size.

Also, because of the high pixel size, you may need to "downsize" these images. Google will happily lead you to many sites that will do that for free.

A space-themed eclipse image, showcasing distant galaxies and stars as clouds behind the disc of the moon.

A magical eclipse scene with enchanting magician and ancient magic woven into the cosmic dance.

A sci-fi interpretation of an eclipse, with futuristic elements and cosmic energy illuminating the scene.

A cosmic eclipse view, showcasing the multiple versions of the moon during this celestial alignment.

A mystical eclipse fantasy, with ethereal mountains and magical weather bathed in celestial light.

Bookmarks for Readers

For these bookmarks, clicking each will lead to a full size file in 300dpi (dots per inch), which is print quality. The images should be printed at 2 inches wide and 6 inches tall, and I recommend using a higher cardstock than simple A4 paper (although they should also work on A4.)

You can print them one-sided, or print two and then glue them together, or (assuming you're a tech whiz) even print them double-sided. Either way, I recommend setting them on a flat surface with a hard heavy book on top to ensure they dry flat when they're freshly printed.

A mystical eclipse fantasy, with mystical harmony and ancient wisdom bathed in celestial radiance.

A futuristic eclipse illustration, blending science fiction elements with the awe-inspiring beauty of space.

A sci-fi eclipse scene with advanced technology and a sense of cosmic wonder.

A futuristic eclipse scene, featuring advanced technology and cosmic phenomena in a distant universe.

A space-age eclipse illustration, showcasing futuristic and cosmic wonders.

A sci-fi eclipse landscape, depicting alien moons and cosmic phenomena during this celestial event.

A space-age eclipse depiction, showcasing the halo of the sun during this cosmic event.

An eclipse in a fantasy realm, where ancient prophecies and magical forces converge.

An enchanting fantasy eclipse scene, featuring mythical mountains silhouetted against the celestial event.

As a last note, I release these eclipse images above to the public domain, no attribution necessary (although it is appreciated). Use them however you would like.

Please enjoy!

—H.C.

P.S. Obligatory self-promotion:

if you like reading fantasy and science fiction, I do have two free books on offer to anyone who joins my weekly email newsletter, Purgatory's Dragon. The stars are also a feature in my novel Eternity's Echo (see below).

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