Plane Crossing a Crescent Moon

Astronomy Picture of the Day · 2019-02-12 · NASA (public domain)

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Plane Crossing a Crescent Moon — APOD for 2019-02-12

No, this is not a good way to get to the Moon . What is pictured is a chance superposition of an airplane and the Moon. The contrail would normally appear white, but the large volume of air toward the setting Sun preferentially knocks away blue light , giving the reflected trail a bright red hue. Far in the distance, well behind the plane, is a crescent Moon , also slightly reddened. Captured a month ago above Valais , Switzerland , the featured image was taken so soon after sunset that planes in the sky were still in sunlight, as were their contrails . Within minutes, unfortunately, the impromptu sky show ended. The plane crossed the Moon and moved out of sight. The Moon set . The contrail became unilluminated and then dispersed.

Astronomy Picture of the Day for 2019-02-12 — image & explanation courtesy of NASA (public domain), mirrored at Tukuk-OS for reading and search convenience.

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