By The Light of the Silvery Moon...or is it?

I hope that y'all had the chance to view the slim crescent moon as it set in the clear early-evening sky tonight, though you had to look quick, as it set about an hour after sunset. If not, then you might have another chance tomorrow, assuming that the skies stay clear. If they do, then look to the southwest about 6:00 pm tomorrow and you might be treated to a glimpse of one of my favorite sky-watching phenomena. The moon should still appear to the casual observer to be a slim, silvery crescent in the darkening sky. However, if you look closely at the so-called "dark" portion of the moon, you will see that it is actually very dimly lit. This soft, almost eerie, glow is very aptly named "earthshine" and results from sunlight reflecting off of the earth, back to the moon, and then back yet again to our planet, and your eyes. While most of the time I successfully ignore the science of the heavens and just enjoy the splendor that nature puts before me for its own intrinsic beauty, in this case I find that the science actually lends a bit of mystique and intrigue to the event and is therefore allowed to intrude upon the moment. In fact, next to a brilliant full moon on a sultry summer's night, I find the silvery crescent moon and its ghostly aura to be one of the more beautiful and romantic sights in the evening sky; see it with someone you love!