The crescent Moon setting over ESO’s Paranal Observatory

This time-lapse sequence shows the young Moon setting over ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile. As well as the bright crescent the rest of the disc of the Moon can be faintly seen. This phenomenon is called earthshine. It is due to sunlight reflecting off the Earth and illuminating the lunar surface.

This video was taken on 27 October 2011 and also records the planets Mercury and Venus.