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Credit & Copyright: Robert Fedez
Explanation:
Even though Jupiter
was the only planet visible in the evening sky on February 2, it
shared the
twilight
above the western horizon with the Solar System's
brightest
moons.
In a single exposure made just after sunset, the Solar System's
ruling gas giant is at the upper right in
this telephoto field-of-view from Cancun, Mexico.
The snapshot also captures our fair planet's own natural satellite
in its young crescent phase.
The Moon's disk looms large, its
familiar face illuminated
mostly by
earthshine.
But the four points of light lined-up with Jupiter are Jupiter's
own large
Galilean
moons.
Top to bottom are Ganymede, [Jupiter], Io, Europa, and Callisto.
Ganymede, Io, and Callisto are physically larger than Earth's Moon while
water world Europa
is only slightly smaller.
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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: Moon - Jupiter's Moons
Publications with words: Moon - Jupiter's Moons
See also: