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Credit & Copyright: Tunc Tezel
(TWAN)
Explanation:
Are you still looking for that
perfect holiday gift for an astronomer?
If your night sky is dark and horizon clear enough,
the
Solar System
may have done your shopping for you.
Send them outside after sunset to see three planets and a comet.
In this snapshot of the December solstice evening sky from the
village of Kirazli, Turkey
the brightest celestial beacon is Venus, close to the southwestern horizon
at the right.
Look left and up to find Saturn shining between clouds.
Follow that line
farther left and up to bright Jupiter, the Solar System's
ruling gas giant.
This year's surprise visitor to the inner Solar System, Comet Leonard
(C/2021 A1), is near the horizon too.
The
comet is fainter
but forms a nearly equilateral triangle
with planets Venus and Saturn in this view.
After a
dramatic
brightening
in recent days
the comet is just visible to the unaided eye, though a nice pair of
binoculars is always
a good idea.
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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: comet - planets
Publications with words: comet - planets
See also:
- APOD: 2024 September 30 Á Comet Tsuchinshan ATLAS over Mexico
- APOD: 2024 September 25 Á Comet A3 Through an Australian Sunrise
- APOD: 2024 September 23 Á Comet Tsuchinshan ATLAS Approaches
- Periodic Comet Swift Tuttle
- Comet 13P Olbers
- APOD: 2024 June 4 Á Comet Pons Brooks Develops Opposing Tails
- APOD: 2024 April 17 Á Total Eclipse and Comets