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 September 2

                     The Moon and Jupiter over the Alps
        Image Credit & Copyright: Giorgia Hofer (Cortina Astronomical
                                Association)

   Explanation: What are those bright lights in the sky ahead? When hiking
   a high mountain pass in northern Italy three weeks ago, a conjunction
   between our Moon and the distant planet Jupiter was visible as both
   rose together in the southwest after sunset. The picturesque mountains
   in the distance are Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks of Lavaredo), a
   UNESCO World Heritage Site and three of the best known mountain peaks
   in Italy, the Dolomites, and the entire Alps. In the foreground on the
   left is Locatelli Hut, a refuge for tired hikers as it is located over
   an hour from nearest parking lot. The bright sky object on the upper
   left is Saturn. The entire scene was captured on a single 8-second
   exposure. Jupiter and Saturn will remain prominent in the western sky
   after sunset this month, while the Moon, in its monthly orbit around
   the Earth, will pass near Jupiter again in about four days.

               Tomorrow's picture: black hole vs neutron star
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