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 October 20

                    Saturn and Jupiter over Italian Peaks
                   Image Credit & Copyright: Giorgia Hofer

   Explanation: Saturn and Jupiter are getting closer. Every night that
   you go out and check for the next two months, these two bright planets
   will be even closer together on the sky. Finally, in mid-December, a
   Great Conjunction will occur -- when the two planets will appear only
   0.1 degrees apart -- just one fifth the angular diameter of the full
   Moon. And this isn't just any Great Conjunction -- Saturn (left) and
   Jupiter (right) haven't been this close since 1623, and won't be nearly
   this close again until 2080. This celestial event is quite easy to see
   -- already the two planets are easily visible toward the southwest just
   after sunset -- and already they are remarkably close. Pictured, the
   astrophotographer and partner eyed the planetary duo above the Tre Cime
   di Lavaredo (Three Peaks of Lavaredo) in the Italian Alps about two
   weeks ago.

   Follow: Live coverage of today's OSIRIS-REx attempted touchdown-and-go
                              on asteroid Bennu
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
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