Belt of Venus and Twilight Wedge on Northern Horizon
Joyce mentioned once in comments that one of the photos I’d taken of the Belt of Venus didn’t show the accompanying Twilight Wedge. Since the sky was really clear at sunset, I thought I’d try and get a series of photos of the lengthening Twilight Wedge, to illustrate how it progresses. These photos were taken at three minute intervals. If you look, you can see the faint band of blue along the horizon growing larger with each consecutive photo. Eventually, the Twilight Wedge overshadows the Belt of Venus, joining with the darkening twilight sky above.
The Belt of Venus is the pink to brownish band of light above the horizon, opposite the setting or rising sun. It’s the result of the sunset/sunrise reflecting on the atmosphere, so it’s pinkish in color.
The Twilight Wedge is the blue band below the Belt of Venus. It starts out as a faint purplish tinge along the horizon, and grows larger and larger until it eclipses the Belt of Venus and joins with the darkening twilight sky above. The Twilight Wedge is the shadow of the Earth cast on the Earth’s atmosphere.
Rising Moon with Belt of Venus and Twilight Wedge on Eastern Horizon
red paper boat 