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Credit: Philip Perkins
Explanation:
Stonehenge,
four thousand year old monument
to the Sun,
provides an appropiate setting for
this delightful snapshot
of the
Sun's children
gathering in planet Earth's sky.
While the
massive stone
structure dates from around 2000
B.C.,
this arrangement of
the visible planets was
recorded only a few days ago on the evening of May 4th, 2002 A.D.
Bright Jupiter stands highest above the horizon at the upper left.
A remarkable, almost
equilateral triangle
formed by Saturn (left),
Mars (top), and Venus (right) is placed just above the stones
near picture center.
Fighting the glow of the setting sun, Mercury can be spotted closest
to the horizon, below and right of the planetary triad.
Still
easy to enjoy for casual sky gazers, this photogenic and slowly shifting
planetary grouping
will be joined by a young crescent
Moon beginning Monday, May 13.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: conjunction - planets
Publications with words: conjunction - planets
See also: