Published: June 8, 2024

Photo of the crescent moon with the rest of the disk visible due to reflected sunlight on the earth back to the moonHave you ever seen earthshine? It’s stunning! 

First spot the waxing crescent Moon in the western sky this evening. Then, look for the bright sliver (about 10% of the lunar disk) illuminated by the Sun (which already set). Now, see if you can pick out the rest of the disk of the Moon. You might even be able to discern some mare and large craters. 

This enchanting phenomena is created by reflected sunlight from the Earth shining back upon the lunar surface. 

Photo credit: Wikipedia Earthlight