How to render a realistic moon in the sky？

[Colin55]

I want to render a realistic moon in the sky. If I place it in an HDR environment, its shadows don’t blend seamlessly with the sky.
How can I make it appear as if it’s outside the atmosphere?
I tried using Octane Daylight fog and Volume fog, but the results were not satisfactory.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I want this

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usYC_Z36rHw&ab[/youtube]

[skientia]

In production, this would typically be done in post (compositing of multiple layers). This is the fastest and most efficient. Octane has a built-in compositor where similar (if not identical) compositing setup can be created (same logic as in post, universal techniques).

This would also make it easier to light "on the ground" and the "moon" separately yet looking plausible.

Otherwise, it is possible in-rendering via Octane's mediums and the "right tweaks" of the lighting, volume materials and distances of the involved elements.

Regarding the lighting, since distances are not equal for earth and the moon, light linking could be utilized (for one light source to only affect one specific object) with a dedicated light ("parallel sun rays" e.g. "Octane distant light" or a far-distanced area light).

Pointers worth exploring.

[Colin55]

In production, this would typically be done in post (compositing of multiple layers). This is the fastest and most efficient. Octane has a built-in compositor where similar (if not identical) compositing setup can be created (same logic as in post, universal techniques).

This would also make it easier to light "on the ground" and the "moon" separately yet looking plausible.

Otherwise, it is possible in-rendering via Octane's mediums and the "right tweaks" of the lighting, volume materials and distances of the involved elements.

Regarding the lighting, since distances are not equal for earth and the moon, light linking could be utilized (for one light source to only affect one specific object) with a dedicated light ("parallel sun rays" e.g. "Octane distant light" or a far-distanced area light).

Pointers worth exploring.

Thank you very much for your answer, I have relearned the AOV system and achieved the effect I wanted.