A photographer has captivated the internet with a breathtaking image showing the full Moon perfectly framed within a natural rock formation in Utah—creating the illusion of a giant, glowing eye gazing out from the Earth.

“Full Moon Eye”
The mesmerizing image was captured by Elliot McGucken, a Los Angeles-based photographer and physicist. Taken at the iconic North Window Arch in Arches National Park, Utah, the photo shows a full moon aligned precisely in the opening of the arch, giving it the appearance of a massive eye watching over the desert landscape.

"To me, the arch looked like a perfect eye from a certain angle, and all it needed was the perfect round eyeball—a full moon,” McGucken said. “I took the photograph at the perfect angle to emphasize the arch’s ‘eye shape’ at dusk.”

The final image, titled Desert Eye, is a composite—meaning it’s a blend of multiple shots to achieve the final result. McGucken used a Fuji GFX100s medium format camera, known for its extremely high resolution and dynamic range, to bring out every detail of the scene.

Viral Sensation
After posting the image on Instagram on May 17, McGucken’s Desert Eye quickly gained traction online. Within days, it had received nearly one million likes, along with thousands of comments praising both the concept and the execution.

"The reaction to the photograph has been wonderful and quite overwhelming, and I am thankful for the millions of folks who have liked, commented on, and simply enjoyed Desert Eye,” McGucken added.

Not the First “Moon Eye”
Arches National Park is famous for its otherworldly beauty, with over 2,000 natural sandstone arches that have been formed by millions of years of erosion. It’s a popular location for landscape photographers seeking to capture unique alignments and perspectives.

Interestingly, a similar photo was taken back in 2020 by photographer Zach Cooley, who also aligned the full moon with the North Window Arch. His version, however, included a few people standing atop the rock, giving the image a sense of scale and adventure.

At the time, Cooley explained that he used several planning tools—including PlanIt!, The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE), and PhotoPills—to calculate the moon’s position and ensure perfect alignment. “They all allow for figuring out the position of the moon, but each one has different advantages,” Cooley told PetaPixel. “I also like to cross-reference for shots like this.”

A Multitalented Artist
Elliot McGucken is not just a photographer—he is also a physicist, and his scientific background often informs his creative work. In addition to striking landscapes, seascapes, and wildlife photography, he experiments with abstract concepts, such as visualizing light cones—representations of how light moves through space over time.

He has been previously featured on PetaPixel, including in 2019 when he shared his extraordinary series of images capturing a flooded Death Valley, which is typically one of the driest places on Earth.

You can find more of McGucken’s work on his Instagram and official website, where he regularly posts new images that combine artistry with scientific curiosity.

Correction Notice (6/23):
The original version of this article incorrectly stated that the photo was a single real-time capture. It has since been clarified by Elliot McGucken himself that Desert Eye is in fact a composite image. At no point did McGucken attempt to misrepresent the image, and he has always been transparent about his creative process. The error was due to an agency miscommunication, and we apologize sincerely for any confusion caused.

For a nearly identical full-moon photograph that involved meticulous real-time planning and execution, be sure to check out Zach Cooley’s 2020 viral image, which also beautifully highlights the celestial beauty of Arches National Park.