According to Space, astronomy enthusiasts can witness a special phenomenon where the Earth glows, bringing the new moon, which would otherwise remain invisible at the beginning of the lunar month, out of darkness.
The scene expected to appear in the sky tonight – (Photo: SPACE)
According to geophysicist Chris Vaughen, an amateur astronomer overseeing the Night Sky Calendar for Space.com, this phenomenon occurs when sunlight accidentally reflects off the Earth and bounces back to the Moon, illuminating a small portion of the dark side beneath the Moon.
This causes the new moon—often referred to as a “dark object” at the beginning of the lunar month—to suddenly become visible.
The spectacle described by Space is “breathtakingly beautiful” and is also known as Ashen Glow or “the old moon in the arms of the new moon“.
The phenomenon of Earthshine typically appears a few days after each new moon begins, but it is most easily observed in the spring at mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, when the Moon appears to be positioned above the setting Sun.
Generally, you will only have 1-2 nights to observe this special sight. According to Sky & Telescope, on July 2, in some locations, the crescent Moon may start to appear again in the sky, even though it remains extremely thin, alongside five planets visible to the naked eye: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, which are still lined up in a fascinating display.
