The “Da Vinci Glow” Will Light Up the Moon This Week—Here’s How to See It
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Of all the objects in the night sky, the moon is usually the easiest thing to spot . Our orbiting satellite can brighten dark nights with its soft glow and become a real center of attention during less common events like lunar eclipses. And while it’s beautiful to gaze at on any given night, a unique phenomenon known as the “Da Vinci glow” will light up the moon this week in a dazzling spectacle. Read on to see how you can catch a glimpse of the special event for yourself.
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The moon’s monthly cycle from new to full changes its brightness in the sky as it goes from a sliver of light to a glowing orb and back again. But beginning this week, our orbiting satellite will appear a little brighter in its minimal crescent phases thanks to a phenomenon known as the “Da Vinci glow,” CBS News reports.
Even though it’s only barely illuminated, the term refers to a unique window where the moon becomes fully visible as a faint orb in the sky , according to NASA. Coincidentally, the effect is essentially similar to the conditions that create moonlight. However, in this case, the glow is created by light reflected onto the moon by our planet known as “Earthshine,” which can be 50 times brighter than what a full moon creates on Earth.
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As the name suggests, the term comes from the writings of the famed Italian inventor Leonardo Da Vinci . The 16th-century scientist was one of the first to theorize about the cause of the ghostly phenomenon, stating that he believed the moon had an atmosphere and oceans that reflected light bouncing off of Earth’s oceans back in our direction, according to NASA.
While lunar explorations proved Da Vinci wrong in his theory that the moon is covered with water, he was correct that light coming from Earth was responsible for its appearance in the sky during its crescent phases. Research from NASA has also clarified that most of the light hitting the moon is also reflected by our planet’s clouds and not by the oceans, which actually appear relatively dark from the lunar surface.
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Fortunately, those hoping to catch a glimpse of the “Da Vinci glow” will have plenty of opportunities to get outside and look for it. Since the moon is approaching its new phase on May 19, observers can wake up early on the morning of May 18 to see the spectacle an hour before sunrise, according to Live Science.
The moon will then disappear from view on Friday before it restarts its cycle in the following days. However, this reverses the visible hours, appearing in the western portion of the sky for an hour after sunset on May 21 through May 23.
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As with most moon-viewing events, you won’t need a pair of binoculars or a telescope to get a good look at the lunar phenomenon this week. In fact, it’s arguably best viewed with the naked eye, according to Live Science.
But while you have plenty of time to catch views of the “Da Vinci glow” over the coming nights, it might not look the same for long. Climate change has caused the warming of our planet’s oceans , increasing the temperature of the Pacific and in turn reducing the number of clouds generated above it, according to scientists at Big Bear Solar Observatory. Unfortunately, this means the phenomenon could continue to dim in the coming years.
The Next Total Solar Eclipse Will Be the Last Until 2044, NASA Says
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Whether you’re a casual stargazer or a devoted amateur astronomer, there’s no denying that there’s something special about witnessing a rare celestial event like a solar eclipse. Besides the fact that they only occur a few times each decade, getting a good view can come down to where you live having the right weather conditions. If you’d love to witness a solar eclipse anytime soon, you may want to mark off your calendars. NASA says the next one will be the last you can see from the U.S. until 2044. Read on for more info on how to catch this unique event.
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If catching a major cosmic event has been an item on your bucket list, you might want to grab your calendar . On Apr. 8, 2024, North America will have front-row seats to a total solar eclipse for the first time since 2017. But besides being a relatively rare event in and of itself, this will also be the last opportunity to view a full eclipse from within the contiguous United States until Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.
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Even though many areas across the U.S. will be treated to at least a partial eclipse, only places that are in the total eclipse’s direct path will get to experience the moon entirely blocking out the sun . The first sight of totality on the continent will start on Mexico’s Pacific Coast before it becomes visible stateside around noon in Texas, according to NASA. From there, the path will continue north through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before leaving the U.S. in the late afternoon.
Viewers in Canada will be able to experience the eclipse as it begins its path through Southern Ontario and eventually makes its way through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will disappear from North America as it passes off the East Coast of Canada in the early evening.
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So long as weather conditions remain favorable, part of what makes the experience of a total solar eclipse so special is the truly unique conditions it can create for those in its path. During the initial partial eclipse phase—or for those watching in areas outside of the total eclipse’s path—viewers will first notice a crescent blocking out part of the sun as the moon slightly covers the star while wearing the appropriate safety glasses, according to NASA.
For a few fleeting moments before the sun is covered, spectators might also be able to catch sight of Baily’s Beads, which are glimmers of light that form bright spots as sunlight passes through crags, craters, and valleys on the moon. A sharp, bright spot on the edge of the moon’s shadow known as the “diamond ring” will then appear, named for its resemblance to a sparkling piece of jewelry.
The moment the sun is completely blocked out is known as “totality,” marking the only point of the experience you can watch directly without protective glasses. Spectators might be able to make out different parts of the sun’s atmosphere, including a pink ring created by the star’s chromosphere or rays of white light from the corona. But while the view above is spectacular, sights on the ground can be just as surreal as conditions can create “a 360-degree sunset,” planets and bright stars can become briefly visible, the air temperature can drop, and “often an eerie silence will settle around you,” NASA describes.
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If you’re already excited to catch a glimpse of the rare celestial event for the last time until 2044, it might not be a bad idea to start preparing for the experience. Arguably most importantly, NASA warns you’ll need the correct specially designed safe solar viewing glasses or handheld viewer to actually be able to see it . Otherwise, you’ll need to use an indirect viewing technique, such as a pinhole projector.
“Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing,” the space agency warns, clarifying that normal sunglasses won’t offer sufficient protection. “Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”
And besides ensuring you have the proper equipment, you might also want to consider arranging a place to stay if you have to travel to witness the event. Cities along the path of totality will likely see a large influx of tourists scooping up available lodging, with Ross saying organizers expect anywhere between 375,000 to 500,000 people to descend upon Rochester alone.
“We’ve been starting to spread the word really since 2019 by meeting and also kind of designating everyone as an eclipse ambassador, so everyone watching right now, get ready because all of your out-of-town relatives are coming here [and] they’re gonna want to stay in your house,” Ross told WROC.
