The Shadow of the Earth

The Moon and the shadow of the Earth as seen from atop the 4205m summit of Mauna Kea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. Hawaii’s isolation in the mid-Pacific Ocean and the high elevation of Mauna Kea makes it one of the best locations on Earth for astronomical observations. Note the pinkish glow or antitwilight band that extends the horizon. The glow is separated from the horizon by a dark layer which is the shadow of Earth in the atmosphere. The pink color above it is due to back scattering of reddened light from the setting Sun and is named the Belt of Venus.