Sunday 9 August 2009

Our planet's shadow

Not the best picture I've ever taken (in fact it's 3 or 4 photos pasted together to make a panorama) but at dawn at 14,000 feet after working all night (and sans tripod) I have a good excuse! What I liked about this view was the Earth's shadow was so obvious in the sky behind Mauna Loa.

I've always had a fascination with natural phenomena, anything from the oceans, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes to the weather, our atmosphere and the cosmos. If you're ever unlucky enough to sit next to me on an aeroplane I can tell you two things: 1) you'll be in the aisle seat and 2) I'll spend the flight looking out of the window!

The Earth's shadow isn't so obvious at sea level but if you're looking out of an airliner's window at sunset or sunrise, or you're on a mountain, you'll have seen that dark band in the sky. It's our planet's shadow.

1 comment:

Zuzana said...

Wow, utterly interesting, I never knew our planet casts a shadow like this! I am equally fascinated by these natural phenomena and if you were seated next to me on a plane (which will not happen as I do not fly), I would make you tell me about everything you know when it comes to astronomy and our planet.;))
Have a great Monday.;)