Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
Explanation:Have you ever seen the full moon rise?
This colorfulimagewas photographed last weekend inSicily, just outside the town ofNicosia, in Italy.
It is a composite photograph that shows the Moonrising as the sky turns darker.
Lower clouds are reflecting the colors of antitwilight, while ash and gas from Mount Etnaare seen higher in the background.
The pink band lower in the sky is called the Belt of Venus.
During a full moon, the Moon and the Sunare in opposition in the sky: the moon rises as the sun sets.
Thelunar phase cyclelasts approximately 29.5 days.
In some cultures of the Northern Hemisphere, the September full moon is called the Harvest Moon. Does your culture have a special name for it?
APOD’s email for image submissions has changed. Please see:APOD SubmissionsAPOD’s main NASA site hasmoved: Fromapod.nasa.govtoscience.nasa.gov/apod Tomorrow’s picture:sharpless