Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2019 August 14

                           Saturn Behind the Moon
            Image Credit: Peter Patonai (Astroscape Photography)

   Explanation: What's that next to the Moon? Saturn. In its monthly trip
   around the Earth -- and hence Earth's sky -- our Moon passed nearly in
   front of Sun-orbiting Saturn earlier this week. Actually the Moon
   passed directly in front of Saturn from the viewpoints of a wide swath
   of Earth's Southern Hemisphere. The featured image from Sydney,
   Australia captured the pair a few minutes before the eclipse. The image
   was a single shot lasting only 1/500th of a second, later processed to
   better highlight both the Moon and Saturn. Since Saturn is nearly
   opposite the Sun, it can be seen nearly the entire night, starting at
   sunset, toward the south and east. The gibbous Moon was also nearly
   opposite the Sun, and so also visible nearly the entire night -- it
   will be full tomorrow night. The Moon will occult Saturn again during
   every lap it makes around the Earth this year.

                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

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