Capturing Earthshine: A Glimpse of Our Planet in the Lunar Night

Have you ever looked up at the Moon and noticed a faint, ghostly glow on its unlit portion? This ethereal illumination is known as Earthshine, a beautiful reminder of our home planet's presence even in the vast darkness of space.

Earthshine is caused by sunlight reflecting off Earth's atmosphere and oceans, and then bouncing back to the Moon. This reflected light is just enough to faintly illuminate the lunar surface that isn't directly lit by the Sun.

A Photographer's Perspective

Astrophotographer u/Fishmike52 recently shared a stunning image capturing this very phenomenon. Taken with a 10-second exposure and a 200mm zoom lens on a Nikon DF with a Sigma 80-200mm lens at ISO 600, the photograph showcases remarkable detail on the unlit side of the Moon, along with the distant stars.

While many Earthshine photographs are composites created by combining multiple exposures to capture both the sunlit and Earthlit portions of the Moon distinctly, this particular image achieves its delicate detail with a single exposure. This is a testament to careful planning and execution in capturing such a subtle effect.

The photographer mentioned being inspired by their wife's high-end camera gear, a common spark that ignites a passion for astrophotography. The pursuit of capturing celestial wonders often begins with exploring the capabilities of advanced equipment.

Earthshine is a fleeting and subtle beauty, a gentle whisper from our planet across the void. Images like this not only showcase the technical skill of astrophotographers but also deepen our appreciation for the intricate dance of light and celestial bodies in our solar system.