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.

                                2020 August 3

                       Comet NEOWISE over Vikos Gorge
             Image Credit & Copyright: Constantine Emmanouilidi

   Explanation: Did the Earth part to show us this comet? Of course not,
   even if this image makes it seem that way. Pictured far in the
   background is Comet NEOWISE as it appeared about two weeks ago over
   northern Greece. Above the comet are many stars including the bright
   stars of the Big Dipper (also the Sorcerer, in Aztec mythology), an
   asterism that many people around the world used to find the naked-eye
   comet as it hovered in the northern sky over the past month. In the
   foreground is Vikos Gorge, the deepest gorge on Earth, relative to its
   width. The gorge was slowly created by erosion from the Voidomatis
   River over the past few million years. Capturing this image took a lot
   of planning, waiting, luck, braving high winds, and avoiding local
   wolves. Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) continues to fade and is now best
   visible through binoculars as it coasts back to the outer Solar System.

      Notable Comet NEOWISE Images: July 31 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24
                      Tomorrow's picture: galaxy swirl
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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