Luna Tenebrarum
Fairly persistent easterly winds within a high pressure system over Scandinavia advected large amounts of aerosols in the upper atmosphere. This abnormal atmospheric opacity darkened the horizon during sunset. Subsequently the full moon was rising in the aerosol laden air giving it an amber-colored appearance that even outperformed the light of a total lunar eclipse. The largely damped reflected sunlight revealed numerous structures on the lunar surface. This surreal reddish color was visible for half an hour. With increasing height over the horizon the effect declined. Finally the full moon attained its usual brightness.
April 2007
Canon 20D, EF-L 100-400mm, f/5.6, 1/125sec, ISO 800, tripod