A 2% Crescent Moon Welcomes Safar 1448 AH

My image of the delicate 2% waxing crescent Moon marking the beginning of Safar 1448 AH, photographed on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, from the United Arab Emirates.

At just two percent illumination, the Moon appears as an exceptionally thin crescent, with faint earthshine subtly revealing the remainder of the lunar disk. Earthshine is sunlight reflected from Earth onto the Moon’s night side, allowing the otherwise dark portion of the Moon to become faintly visible.

Capturing such a young crescent requires clear atmospheric conditions, precise tracking, and careful image processing to preserve both the bright sunlit crescent and the much fainter earthshine. These observations are not only aesthetically beautiful but also scientifically valuable, particularly in documenting the appearance of very thin crescents during the early stages of the lunar month.

Skywatcher Evolux 72 ED
ZWO AM3N
ZWO ASI178MM

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