APOD: 2024 September 3 Б Quarter Moon and Sister Stars
Explanation:
Nine days ago, two quite different sky icons were imaged rising together.
Specifically, Earth's Moon shared the eastern
sky with the
sister stars of the Pleiades cluster, as viewed from
Alberta,
Canada.
Astronomical images of the
well-known Pleiades
often show the star cluster's alluring blue
reflection nebulas, but here they are washed-out by the
orange
moonrise sky.
The half-lit Moon, known as a
quarter moon, is overexposed, although
the outline of the dim lunar night side can be seen by illuminating
earthshine, light first reflected
from the Earth.
The featured image is a composite of
eight successive exposures with
brightnesses adjusted to match what the
human eye would see.
The Moon passes
nearly -- or
directly -- in front of
the Pleaides once a month.
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.
