Belt of Venus ( Earths shadow) rising above the Sutherland Observatory
Featured behind the domes of the South African Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland is the blueish wedgeshaped shadow of the Earth, bounded above by the pinkish antitwilight arch, known as the Belt of Venus. The observing plateau of the Sutherland Observatory, with its 360degree horizons, and raised above the surrounding landscape, is ideal for observing this phenomena, particularly the Earths shadow itself. This footage was filmed over three evenings near the equinox. Wikipedia describes the Belt of Venus or Venus s Girdle is an atmospheric phenomenon seen at sunrise and sunset, visible along the antisunward horizon. Shortly after sunset or shortly before sunrise, the observer is surrounded by a pinkish glow that extends roughly 1020 above the horizon. The arch s lightpink color is due to backscattering of reddened light from the rising or setting Sun. Often, this glow is separated from the horizon by a dark layer, the Earth s shadow or socalled dark
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