A photographer waited 6 years to capture a three-dimensional moment of the Moon “perched” atop the Superga Basilica in Italy. NASA immediately shared this stunning image.
After numerous unsuccessful attempts due to poor weather, photographer Valerio Minato finally captured a “one-of-a-kind” photo showcasing the Moon, Mount Monviso, and the Superga Basilica (Turin, Piedmont) perfectly aligned in the city of Turin, Italy on December 15, 2023.
Valerio Minato named the piece “Cathedral, Mountain, Moon”.
According to PitaPixel—a specialized site for digital photography and cameras—the Superga Basilica and the crescent Moon created a unique spectacle that lasted only for a few fleeting seconds. The photographer expressed his surprise and joy after capturing this precious moment.
“It was all like a dream,” the Italian photographer shared.
Once published, the photo quickly caught the attention of NASA—the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA featured the artwork on APOD—its own curated website—and selected it as the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
The work “Cathedral, Mountain, Moon” by Italian photographer taken on December 15, 2023. (Photo: Valerio Minato).
The photographer explained that during the initial and final phases of the lunar cycle, sunlight is reflected from Earth to the Moon, illuminating the portion of the surface that is in darkness. This is a rare moment, and not everyone is “lucky” enough to capture it.
The agency further elaborated that the valuable aspect of the piece is that the photographer recorded the moment of the Moon setting in its crescent phase, with “perfect” exposure for the Earthshine (also known as “Da Vinci light”) to reflect doubly, illuminating the entire peak of the Moon.
NASA noted that capturing this image required the photographer to meet three critical conditions:
- First, the Moon, Mount Monviso, and the Superga Basilica had to align perfectly.
- Second, an appropriate position for the camera needed to be found.
- Third, the sky had to be clear and free of clouds.
Minato set up his camera in a small village in Italy called Castagneto Po, approximately 56 km from the Superga Basilica and about 96 km from Mount Monviso.
After capturing this rare moment, the photographer posted a behind-the-scenes video on his Instagram to prove that the work was created without any artificial intelligence intervention.
