A 'Da Vinci glow' casts a ghostly shine on the moon this week. Here's when to catch it.
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The glow — also known as "Earthshine" — will appear on the moon just before sunrise and after sunset on certain days in May.
The ghostly gleam, also called "Earthshine," is reflected sunlight from Earth.
Right now, the moon is a thin crescent, barely visible in the night sky. Thanks to the "Da Vinci glow," however, you can see the entire moon as a faint glimmer.
But this phenomenon is only visible during a precious time window shortly before sunrise and after sunset.
That's why the phenomenon is called Earthshine because it is the moon reflecting our light back to us.
The new moon on Friday will be practically invisible, lost in the sun's glare, so plan to catch the Da Vinci glow before or after that. The best time to see it varies by day.
If you miss this week's opportunity, however, you can still catch it, starting next weekend, when the moon will be waxing, aka growing, from a thin crescent toward a full moon.
In the hour after sunset in the western sky, here are the best days to catch the Da Vinci glow next weekend and into early next week:
Sunday, May 21: 5% of the moon will be visible as a slim crescent
Monday, May 22: 10% of the moon will be visible as the crescent fills in a little more
Tuesday, May 23: 17% of the moon will be visible, looking more like a nearly-devoured cookie
The phenomenon is best seen without equipment, but viewers can also watch the Da Vinci glow with some binoculars or a small telescope.
It looks cool from here, but basking in the glow of Earthshine on the moon itself would be a glorious experience.
For now, we'll all have to be content with seeing the gleam of Earthshine from afar.
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