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Ghostly Moon Glow: See Earthshine This Week!
20 May
Summary
- Earthshine illuminates the dark portion of a crescent moon.
- Spring offers the best naked-eye visibility for this phenomenon.
- Also known as the 'Da Vinci glow,' it was explained in the 16th century.
Look to the night sky this week for a rare celestial spectacle: Earthshine. This phenomenon causes the entire moon to appear faintly glowing, even when it's a slender crescent. The effect makes the full circle of the moon visible, with a ghostly light filling in the dark portion.
While Earthshine can be observed throughout the year, the spring season offers the brightest conditions, making it easily visible to the naked eye. This is a prime opportunity to catch this 'Da Vinci glow,' a term attributed to Leonardo da Vinci who first explained its mystery in the 16th century.
Pay attention to the moon in the coming days to witness this quiet, unusual phase of our celestial neighbor. It's a unique chance to appreciate a different aspect of the moon beyond its full-moon phases before this particular viewing window closes.
