Sunset - Moonset....

[snapapple]

I took a few sunset pictures the other night. The moon was also going down. It was to the left of the sun between the two mountains. Here is the first shot.

http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/6397080-M.jpg

Then I moved the camera to the right in order to put the sun on the left side of the picture. Only after looking at the pictures on my computer did I see this "moon". There is no way the moon could have been to the right of the sun. But, it is there. Can anyone tell me how this could happen? It is not a reflection because I was outside on my deck. The moon was on the left of the sun a few seconds before. What is going on? Here's the second picture:
http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/6397082-M.jpg
Tonight the moon is higher in the sky and will set a little later. You can still see that it will end up setting between the two mountain tops, not to the north of them. I can't figure this one out. The camera doesn't lie. Or does it? :scratch

[Andy]

snappy, can't see the piccies!

I took a few sunset pictures the other night. The moon was also going down. It was to the left of the sun between the two mountains. Here is the first shot.

http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/6397080-M.jpg

Then I moved the camera to the right in order to put the sun on the left side of the picture. Only after looking at the pictures on my computer did I see this "moon". There is no way the moon could have been to the right of the sun. But, it is there. Can anyone tell me how this could happen? It is not a reflection because I was outside on my deck. The moon was on the left of the sun a few seconds before. What is going on? Here's the second picture:
http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/6397082-M.jpg
Tonight the moon is higher in the sky and will set a little later. You can still see that it will end up setting between the two mountain tops, not to the north of them. I can't figure this one out. The camera doesn't lie. Or does it? :scratch

[snapapple]

snappy, can't see the piccies!
I moved them to the wrong gallery. You should be able to see them now.

[gubbs]

I cant figure it out either :dunno
Beautiful colours though

[cmr164]

I cant figure it out either :dunno
Beautiful colours though
It is a kind of internal lens flare. Note that the 'moon' and the sun are equidistant from the center of the frame. It is the actual image of the sun reversed.

[DJ-S1]

It is a kind of internal lens flare.
That's what I was thinking too. The color seemed wrong unless you had changed it a lot in PS, and the shape didn't seem right unless the top was being clipped by clouds.

Those a very nice shots, and I love that view from your deck. I bet looking out over that scene never gets old!

[snapapple]

That's what I was thinking too. The color seemed wrong unless you had changed it a lot in PS, and the shape didn't seem right unless the top was being clipped by clouds.

Those a very nice shots, and I love that view from your deck. I bet looking out over that scene never gets old!

Thanks DJ,
I didn't change a thing. This is just how it came out of the camera. It looked to me like the moon going down through the clouds, only it shouldn't be there.

Thanks Charles,
You probably have the answer. A lens flare. Pretty spooky though. It's only a half circle and the sun is bigger. Well, that must be it. Thanks for solving the mystery.