Lighting Observation 4.2 (The Sliver in the bluish glow)

1) 2/23/12 – 6:22 – Walking outside of the Caulkins Quad facing toward NAB

2) OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: I was walking to Bits from spanish class and the sun had just set. The sky was barely lit and I could see Venus and the moon. The moon was a sliver but I could see the entire outline of it behind the shadow of the earth.

3) SUBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: I was walking to Bits after a long and boring day of classes. I was in a bad mood as I had lots of homework and other things filling my plate. I was walking across the quad just outside of Caulkins enjoying the last few moments of light for the day. I was beginning to feel better while we walked as this was my first time outside to enjoy the spring like weather. As my friend talked to me about his day I gazed upwards, towards the sky to see the brightest objects in the night sky begin to appear as final rays of the sun beat down on campus.

The sky was a deep, and very rich blue that seemed to glow across the entirety of the sky. There was no sunset at this point, it was simply just the last bit of light that was reaching across the sky. I noticed that I must have timed it just right to be out there at this time. I noticed how usually when the sun has just set, it is still very clear where the sun is setting. The western side of the sky always has a brighter feel to it and on the eastern edge there is always almost complete darkness. Tonight was different. The sky was blanketed with an even coating of color all the way from east to west and there was no variation in intensity. As I looked up I saw Venus burning brightly in the sky. The pure, brilliant white light from Venus provided amazing contrast against the deep and glowing blue of the sky around it.

Just to the right of venus I noticed the moon very high in the sky. It was only a sliver of a moon and will probably not even exist tomorrow at this time. This sliver, like Venus, provided an amazing contrast that was so vivid in the beginnings of the night sky. Despite the fact that the moon was only a tiny sliver tonight I was still able to see the entire shape of the full moon being illuminated behind the shadow of the Earth. It was a very interesting sight and one that is very vivid in my mind. It was very cool to me to think that the Earth itself was blocking out all of that light from the sun that was being reflected from the sun. Even though the shadow was there, the sun was still powerful enough to illuminate the entire sphere for me to see against the glowing sky.

 

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