Planetshine

This diagram shows how Planetshine works.

Earthshine reflecting off the Moon. The bright region is directly lit by the sun. The rest of the Moon is illuminated by light reflected off the Earth.

The phenomenon known as planetshine happens when sunlight from a planet lights the dark side of one of its moons. The best known example of planetshine is Earthshine.

Planetshine Media

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  Saturn's moon Mimas is lit by Saturnshine on the right and sunshine at the top.

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  SVG version of Earthshine diagram.png, indicating planetshine.

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  Leonardo da Vinci's sketch of crescent Moon with earthshine as part of his Codex Leicester, written between 1506 and 1510

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  Earthshine reflected from the Moon, as seen through a telescope. The bright region is directly illuminated by the Sun, while the rest of the Moon is illuminated by sunlight reflected from Earth.

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  Earthshine reflected from the Moon during conjunction with Venus (left)

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  Ringshine on Saturn as it eclipses the Sun, seen from behind from the Cassini orbiter.

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  Crescent Moon and earthshine over ESO's Paranal Observatory.