How To Witness The "Da Vinci Glow" Illuminating The Crescent Moon This Week
How to witness the "Da Vinci Glow" illuminating the crescent moon this week as observers of the night sky may notice a subtle, ethereal radiance enveloping the moon. Dubbed the "Da Vinci glow," this phenomenon pays homage to Leonardo Da Vinci, the renowned artist and inventor.
Author:Rhyley CarneyReviewer:Paula M. GrahamMay 17, 202314.6K Shares261.3K Views
How to witness the "Da Vinci Glow" illuminating the crescent moon this weekas observers of the night sky may notice a subtle, ethereal radiance enveloping the moon. Dubbed the "Da Vinci glow," this phenomenon pays homage to Leonardo Da Vinci, the renowned artist and inventor. Apart from his artistic pursuits, Da Vinci delved into unraveling the enigma of what was previously referred to as "Earthshine," as per NASA.
The "Da Vinci glow" phenomenon is observed exclusively when a crescent moon is positioned low on the horizon during sunrise or sunset. During this event, the illuminated crescent appears radiant, while the unlit side is visible as a dim haze.
It's important to note that the moon itself does not generate this glow. Instead, it is produced by the Earth, whose light can illuminate the night sky with a brightness 50 times greater than a full moon, according to NASA.
How Did Leonardo Da Vinci Find Out What Caused The Glow?
In the 16th century, Leonardo da Vinci embarked on unraveling the enigma of Earthshine, as revealed by NASA. His exploration of this ethereal radiance is depicted in a drawing found in his notebooks and immortalized in the "Codex Leicester," a compilation of his scientific writings.
During Da Vinci's time, the understanding of the solar system was incomplete, as NASA explains. The concept of the sun occupying the center of the solar system wouldn't be published for another two decades, and lunar exploration had not yet taken place. Consequently, knowledge regarding the sun's proximity to Earth was limited.
One page in the "Codex Leicester" is titled "Of the Moon: No Solid Body is Lighter Than Air," according to NASA. Within this entry, Da Vinci proposed several ideas, including the notion that the moon possesses an atmosphere and oceans. While his hypothesis about the moon's atmosphere was accurate, subsequent NASA missions disproved his belief in lunar oceans. Additionally, Da Vinci posited that the moon functioned as a reflector of light.
Building upon this information, Da Vinci presented a hypothesis: Earthshine's ghostly glow emanated from sunlight bouncing off Earth's oceans and striking the moon. NASA confirms that Da Vinci was correct in the general sense of the phenomenon. However, further research revealed that the primary source of the glow was not sunlight reflecting off Earth's oceans, but rather light reflected off clouds.
How Can I See The Da Vinci Glow?
According to Live Science, you can see glow when a slim crescent moon is close to the horizon during the first or last few days of its orbit. This week, Thursday morning, May 17, before sunrise is a good time to observe this phenomenon. The best days to see it after sunset are next week on Sunday, May 21; Monday, May 22; and Tuesday, May 23. Look at the sky in the hour following sunset for the best view.
Earthshine is generally brightest between April and June, as stated by NASA. You don't need special equipment to spot the glow; it's best seen with the naked eye. While a small telescope or binoculars can be helpful, they are not necessary.
Rhyley Carney
Author
Paula M. Graham
Reviewer
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