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Credit: Rick Scott
Explanation:
This March stargazers have been treated to
eye-catching formations of
bright planets in western evening skies.
On March 3rd, looking toward a beautiful sunset from a beach on
the Hawaiian isle of Maui, photographer Rick Scott recorded
this fleeting, four-planet "hockey stick"
array.
Mercury, closest to the horizon and immersed in fading sunlight,
is easily visible between silhouetted clouds.
To the left and up in the deepening blue is Jupiter
with a brilliant Venus above
and Saturn shining in the darkened sky near the top of the image.
The planets are seen to lie close to
the ecliptic - the
apparent path of the sun - which is nearly perpendicular to the
horizon for
Hawaiian latitudes at this time of year.
Tomorrow's picture: Impact Moon
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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: planet - Hawaii
Publications with words: planet - Hawaii
See also: