Belt of Venus

Common card · No. 314038

The Belt of Venus, also called Venus's Girdle, the antitwilight arch, or antitwilight, is an atmospheric phenomenon visible shortly before dawn or after dusk, during twilight. It is a pinkish glow that surrounds the observer, extending roughly 10–20° above the horizon. It appears opposite to the afterglow, which it also reflects. In a way, the Belt of Venus is actually alpenglow visible near the horizon during twilight, above the antisolar point. Like alpenglow, the backscatter of reddened sunlight also creates the Belt of Venus. Though unlike alpenglow, the sunlight scattered by fine particulates that cause the rosy arch of the Belt shines high in the atmosphere and lasts for a while after sunset or before sunrise. As twilight progresses, the arch is separated from the horizon by the dark band of Earth's shadow, or the "twilight wedge". The pinkish glow is due to the Rayleigh scattering of light from the rising or setting Sun, which is then backscattered by particulates. A similar effect...

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