A vocabulary of landscape — a landscape of words
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Belt of Venus
A pink-purple band of light visible just above the earth’s shadow on the opposite horizon at dusk or dawn. The shadow rises blue-gray; the belt glows above it where sunlight still reaches the upper atmosphere. Best seen from coastal slopes with a low, clear horizon.
Etymology
Named for Venus, the Roman goddess of love, from the cestus — her mythical girdle or belt said to grant irresistible allure. The band of rosy light circling the horizon was likened to that girdle. Also called the antitwilight arch.