Moon, Four Planets, and Emu
Explanation:
A luminous
Milky Way falls
toward the horizon in this deep skyscape,
starting at the top of the frame from the stars of the Southern Cross
and the dark Coalsack Nebula.
Captured in the dark predawn of February 2nd
from Central Victoria, Australia, planet Earth, the 26 day old
waning crescent
Moon still shines brightly near the horizon.
The second and third brightest celestial beacons are Venus
and Jupiter along the lower part of the Milky Way's central bulge.
Almost in line with the brighter planets and Moon, Saturn
is the pinprick of light
just
visible below and right of the lunar glow.
Australia's
first
astronomers saw the elongated,
bulging shape of the familiar Milky Way as a great celestial Emu.
The Moon and planets could almost be the Emu's eggs on this
starry night.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
