Skywatcher Captures Magnificent Moonset from Eiffel Tower

Moonset Paris Skywatching — Astrophotographer VegaStar Carpentier took this image of the moon from the Eiffel Tower in Paris on July 24, 2012. Carpentier used an EOS Canon1000D, exposure of .0.4 seconds, ISO400. (Image credit: VegaStar Carpentier)

A waxing crescent moon sets over Paris in this stunning skywatching photo.

Astrophotographer VegaStar Carpentier captured the scene from the Eiffel Tower on July 24, 2012.

"I took this photo, the sight of this magnificent moonset in evening, from the first floor of the Eiffel Tower," Carpentier said.

Moonset is when the moon appears to fall below the horizon. In this image, the crescent moon had 38.3 percent lunar illumination, a figure that signifies the fraction of the moon that is brightly lit. A waxing moon means the moon is getting larger in the sky, progressing from the new moon to the full moon.

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Nina Sen is a freelance writer and producer who covered night sky photography and astronomy for Space.com. She began writing and producing content for Space.com in 2011 with a focus on story and image production, as well as amazing space photos captured by NASA telescopes and other missions. Her work also includes coverage of amazing images by astrophotographers that showcase the night sky's beauty.