NASA, the American Space Agency, awarded a Turin photographer, Valerio Minato, astronomical picture of the day for Christmas 2023.  The image, taken 10 days earlier on December 15, shows the alignment of the Basilica Superga, Monviso, and the moon.  The Basilica is located near Turin, and Monviso is the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps, located in Italy close to the French border.

NASA titled the photograph ‘Cathedral, mountain, Moon’ and explained the recognition:  “Single shots like this require planning.  The first step is to realize that such an incredible triple alignment actually happens.  The second step is to find the best place to photograph it.  The third step is the most difficult: to be in that spot exactly at the right moment when the skies are clear.

Minato, a self-taught photographer, tried to capture this shot five times in the last six years, but encountered bad weather.  He described this year’s photo on Facebook:  “December 15, 2023, 6:52 pm.  Superga and Monviso had an unforgettable appointment with the Moon.  Yesterday afternoon, from the heights of Castagneto Po, a truly magical moment took place. In a very small portion of the sky, for a few seconds, the King of Stone, the Basilica of Superga and the crescent moon met, giving a unique spectacle.”

NASA concludes:  “This was a photographic dream come true….  Although the setting Moon was captured in a growing phase, the exposure was long enough to allow doubly reflected Earth light from the Sun, called the DaVinci glow, to illuminate the entire top of the Moon.”