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Credit & Copyright: Lynn Hilborn
Explanation:
Blasting skyward
an Atlas V rocket carrying a U.S. Navy satellite
pierces a cloud bank in this starry
night
scene captured on January 20.
On its way to orbit from Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station, planet Earth, the rocket streaks past brightest star
Sirius,
as seen from a dark beach at Canaveral National Seashore.
Above the alpha star of Canis Major, Orion the Hunter
strikes a pose
familiar to northern winter skygazers.
Above Orion is the V-shaped Hyades star cluster, head of Taurus the
Bull, and farther still above Taurus it's easy to spot
the compact Pleiades star cluster.
Of course near the top of the frame you'll find the greenish coma
and long tail of Comet Lovejoy, astronomical darling of
these January nights.
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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: launch - comet
Publications with words: launch - comet
See also:
- APOD: 2026 February 17 Á Tails of Comet Wierzchoå
- APOD: 2025 December 30 Á An Artificial Comet
- 3I/ATLAS Flyby
- SWAN, Swan, Eagle
- APOD: 2025 October 6 Á The Changing Ion Tail of Comet Lemmon
- APOD: 2025 December 1 Á 3I ATLAS: Tails of an Interstellar Comet
- APOD: 2025 November 25 Á Comet Lemmon and the Milky Way