Valerio Minato's 5-Year Pursuit of a Red Moon Over Milan Skyline
Photographer Valerio Minato, born in 1981 in Biella, captured a viral image on May 2, 2026, showing a giant red moon aligned with Milan's skyline. The photograph, taken from the heights of Nebbiuno (Novara) above Lake Maggiore, features the moon passing behind the skyscrapers of Porta Garibaldi, with the Duomo and Madonnina unexpectedly appearing to the left. A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, departing from Malpensa to Budapest, crossed the lunar disk at the exact moment. The project, planned since 2021, involved over a dozen perspective changes across northwestern Italy, from the Serra di Ivrea to Lake Maggiore heights, requiring precise astronomical calculations and compensation for Earth's curvature. Minato is known for his 2024 image aligning the Cervino with the Basilica di Superga in Turin.
Key facts
- Valerio Minato captured a red moon aligned with Milan's skyline on May 2, 2026.
- The photograph was taken from Nebbiuno (Novara), above Lake Maggiore.
- The moon passes behind Porta Garibaldi skyscrapers, with Duomo and Madonnina visible.
- A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 from Malpensa to Budapest crossed the moon during the shot.
- The project was planned since 2021 and involved over a dozen perspective changes.
- Locations included Serra di Ivrea and heights above Lake Maggiore.
- Minato is known for his 2024 photo of the Cervino aligned with Basilica di Superga in Turin.
- The image went viral on Instagram.
Entities
Artists
- Valerio Minato
Institutions
- Ryanair
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Biella
- Turin
- Nebbiuno
- Novara
- Lake Maggiore
- Serra di Ivrea
- Malpensa
- Budapest
- Porta Garibaldi
- Duomo
- Basilica di Superga
- Cervino