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This astronomical photograph captures the Buck Moon (July's full moon) rising over mountains along the Croatian coast on July 28, with two atmospheric phenomena visible: Earth's shadow appearing as a gray band above the horizon and the Belt of Venus, a pinkish band of backscattered sunlight above it. The image documents the optical effects that occur during twilight when a full moon rises as the sun sets on the opposite horizon. The observation notes that the upcoming New Moon on August 12, 2026 will produce a total solar eclipse.
Why it matters
This image serves educational purposes by illustrating multiple atmospheric optical phenomena that occur simultaneously during specific astronomical alignments. It provides public engagement with astronomy and helps demonstrate the relationship between Earth's shadow, atmospheric scattering, and lunar phases.
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Buck Moon and Belt of Venus
Explanation: The Buck Moon is a traditional name for the full moon of July. In this colorful Adriatic sea and skyscape captured on July 28 from Krk Island along the coast of Croatia, a full Buck Moon is just rising over distant mountains. Since a full moon rises as the Sun sets, Earth’s shadow also rises in the twilight scene, a diffuse gray band extending above the mountainous southeastern horizon. Above Earth’s shadow band is the pinkish antitwilight arch. That subtly tinted band of backscattered sunlight is more widely known as the Belt of Venus. But as it shares the eastern horizon with the atmospheric shadow of Earth and Belt of Venus, this full Buck Moon seems to set the stage for the New Moon to come. The New Moon of August 12 will cast its own shadow on planet Earth in a much anticipated total solar eclipse.
Tomorrow’s picture: fire and rainbow
| Date | August 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Credit | Image Credit & Copyright: Branko Nadj |
| Authors & editors: | Robert Nemiroff, Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti, Keighley Rockcliffe |
| A service of: |
ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U. |