Rising Moon, Setting Sun

Griffin Island, Sunset Point, Wellfleet, Massachusetts

In August, on Cape Cod, you may see a setting sun and a rising full moon at the same time on nearly the same schedule and stand between them. Each body momentarily floats equidistant above the visible horizon with yourself seemingly in the middle.

On this day, on Griffin Island in Wellfleet, I was high on a dune over Cape Cod Bay with a clear view all round with no idea that the sunset and moonrise would occur this way. As I waited for the sun to lower itself into its deepest color, I realized the moon had risen behind me.

Thinking about this, I realized that the moon would be full the very next day, and I resolved to return for another image.

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