Twilight Aug. 23, 2012 -- It's that time of year again, when the realization suddenly hits that the sun is setting earlier than it was just last week. In just another month, the long days of summer will be gone in the Northern Hemisphere and just beginning in the Southern. But it's undeniable that twilight, that quarter hour just before the sun ducks under the horizon, can create some of the most beautiful light on Earth. Absorb the twilight around the world in this slide show of breathtaking images at dusk.

Twilight, Gusev Crater, Mars The Mars rover Spirit took this sunset image in April 2005 at Gusev Crater, on the Red Planet.

Lightning on an Open Highway Lightning strikes a remote highway at dusk.

Migrating Geese Whether geese are migrating to or from your area, there's nothing that quite evokes fall like their honking.

Tokyo The sun sets on Tokyo as the city's lights go on.

India An Indian woman in traditional clothing holds her daughter in the fading sunlight.

Manitoba This the mysterious stone figure is called an inuksuit, meaning "in the likeness of a human" in the Inuit language. This inuksuit dwells in purple along Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Last Shuttle Space Shuttle Atlantis stood on Launch Pad 39A for the final time in history in July, 2011, bathed in light and rain.

Dorset, England The early-evening moon lights the path of this canoer on Lyme Regis.

Kenya Golden twilight suffuses the grasslands in Kenya.

Quebec, Cananda Fall colors will soon follow shorter days for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.

Japan Workers head home, or to meet up with friends, in Tokyo, Shinjuku District, Kabukicho entertainment area.

Germany Geese settle down for the night on the banks of the Rhine.

Japan, Mt. Fuji Swans head for their evening spot as twilight envelops Mt. Fuji.

Spain Dusk drops its cloak over the sea at Los Lances, Cadiz, in Andalusia.