Haleakala Shadow and Belt of Venus
May 20, 2022
Photographer: Steve Kluge
Summary Author: Steve Kluge
Every morning crowds gather on the summit of Haleakala on Maui, Hawai'i, to watch the sunrise. While most folks' pre-sunrise attention is focused to the eastern horizon, I like to look west to see the Earth's umbra (shadow) and the Belt of Venus slowly setting. From this 10,000-foot-high (3048 m) perch in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the curvature of Earth's umbra is clearly visible. I took this photo on one of my sunrise visits, and I've always enjoyed seeing the shadow of Haleakala cast over West Maui shortly after sunrise at the summit.