19/06/2026
🌅✨ Have you ever seen what looks like a faint sunset... in the opposite direction?
Just after sunset—or just before sunrise—you might notice a beautiful pink band stretching above the horizon opposite the Sun.
This phenomenon is known as the Belt of Venus.
Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the planet Venus.
So what are you actually seeing?
As the Sun dips below the horizon, its light still illuminates the upper atmosphere. The reddish and pink colours are caused by sunlight being scattered through a long path of air, while beneath it lies a darker blue-grey band.
That darker region is even more fascinating...
🌍 It's actually Earth's shadow projected onto its own atmosphere.
That's right—the planet you're standing on is casting a shadow into space.
The result is a stunning two-part display:
💗 The pink Belt of Venus above
🌑 Earth's shadow below
The effect is best seen:
⏰ 10–30 minutes after sunset (between spring and summer)
⏰ Or shortly before sunrise
👀 Looking opposite the Sun
🌄 With a clear, unobstructed horizon
Once you know what to look for, you'll start spotting it everywhere—from beaches and mountains to dark-sky sites.
And here's the perspective that gets us every time...
✨ You're watching sunlight illuminate the atmosphere while simultaneously witnessing the shadow of an entire planet.
Not a bad view for the end of the day.
📷 Image credit: Kent Duryee
