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 October 5

                            Jupiter and the Moons
     Image Credit & Copyright: Derek Demeter (Emil Buehler Planetarium)

   Explanation: After sunset on October 3, some of the Solar System's
   largest moons stood low along the western horizon with the largest
   planet. Just after nightfall, a pairing of the Moon approaching first
   quarter phase and Jupiter was captured in this telephoto field of view.
   A blend of short and long exposures, it reveals the familiar face of
   our fair planet's own large natural satellite in stark sunlight and
   faint earthshine. At lower right are the ruling gas giant and its four
   Galilean moons. Left to right, the tiny pinpricks of light are
   Ganymede, [Jupiter], Io, Europa, and Callisto. Our own natural
   satellite appears to loom large because it's close, but Ganymede, Io,
   and Callisto are actually larger than Earth's Moon. Water world Europa
   is only slightly smaller. Of the Solar System's six largest planetary
   satellites, only Saturn's moon Titan, is missing from this scene. But
   be sure to check for large moons in your sky tonight.

         Submitted to APOD: The Moon and Jupiter with its Satellites
                     Tomorrow's picture: the dark horse
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

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