Sunset a few weeks ago

[Coconuts]

On a recent evening at Plumeria, I took a series of sunset photos. The sun was setting over Vieques, 45 miles away, and in this photo, a large cruise ship to the south shares the horizon with Vieques.

Sunset over Vieques #1

Here's a photo a few minutes later, and zoomed a bit further in. The hills of Vieques stand out quite sharply.

Sunset over Vieques #2

Looking straight west from Plumeria, you can see Culebra (also 45 miles away), as the darker island in the notch past St. Thomas. If you look above Culebra, you can make out hills in Puerto Rico, including the southern slope of El Toro, the largest peak on Puerto Rico (3500 feet), in the El Yunque National Forest. El Toro is 65 miles away! Its northern flank is hidden by St. Thomas, and its summit is nearly always hidden in clouds.

El Toro

Finally, after the sun went down, I took a longer exposure that captured the lights of St. Thomas, as well as a thin new crescent moon, and the planet Venus.

Crescent moon and Venus

Here is a zoom in on the crescent Moon and Venus. Reflected light from the "full Earth" is what faintly lights up the remainder of the Moon.

Zoom in on the crescent Moon and Venus

In January, Venus was on the far side of the sun, and if examined in a telescope, would display a small, fully lit disc. Over the next few months, it will rise higher and higher in the evening sky, and in May, will appear as a considerably larger, 50% illuminated disc. I have always considered years with Venus ascendant as a harbinger of good things to come. Finally, as Venus gets ready to lap Earth on its inside track, it will set earlier and be much closer, showing a very large crescent in a telescope during July. Venus is actually at its most brilliant while lit as a crescent, its being so much closer to Earth more than making up for the small percentage that is lit. A moments reflection on the above really helps you get a sense for the planet's movement in three dimensions; in its orbit around the sun, it mimics the phases of the moon.

All the best,

Kevin

[longingstjohn]

Beautiful.

[lorijo068]

Absolutely awesome pictures...We LOVE Coconuts and I always wonder what those Islands are off in the distance. Thank you for the info. Cant wait for the next visit!!
Lori

[ski2play]

swoon! You are my kind of picture taker!

[Bigcheeze]

I HATE YOU!!! AND THANKS FOR POSTING