Astronomy Picture of the Day
Sardinia Sunset
Image Credit &
Copyright:
Lorenzo Busilacchi
Explanation:
When the sun sets on September 7,
the Full Moon will rise.
And on that date denizens around much of our fair planet,
including parts of Antarctica, Australia, Asia, Europe, and Africa
can witness a total lunar eclipse, with the Moon
completely immersed in Earth's shadow.
As the bright Full Moon first enters Earth's shadow
it will darken, finally taking on a
reddish hue during
the total eclipse phase.
In fact, the color of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse
is due to reddened light from sunrises and sunsets
around planet Earth.
The reddened sunlight is scattered by a dense atmosphere into the planet's
otherwise dark central shadow.
When the sun set on August 22,
this telephoto snapshot of red skies, blue sea, and the Mangiabarche
Lighthouse was captured from Sant'Antioco, Sardinia, Italy.