Day 2, Part 2 - Temples of the Sun and Moon

 After an exciting morning overlooking southern Utah's moonscape and Factory Butte, and after a wonderful lunch provided by Outlaw's Roost, we moved on to the Rainbow Mountains, and later to the Temples of the Sun and Moon. The main feature of this outing would be the rising of the moon, minutes before sunset. The moon was not only full, it was a supermoon.

The distance between the earth and moon varies. Three or four times a year, the full moon coincides with the moon being closest to planet earth. When that happens, the moon appears 14% bigger and 30% brighter than it does when the full moon is furthest away from earth. When the moon is at its closest, it is called a supermoon. NASA has a page explaining the supermoon phenomenon.

We spent some time photographing the Rainbow Mountains, fully expecting to get drenched. We watched as the storm and occasional lightning got closer, a few drops of rain fell - and that was it!

We moved on to the Temples of the Sun and Moon.

This was taken about one hour before sunset.

Taken about 30 minutes after moonrise

This was the end of day two. We needed to sleep.