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Credit & Copyright: Damian Peach
Explanation:
Fainter stars in the zodiacal constellation Capricornus are
scattered near the plane of
the
ecliptic
in this field of view.
The two brightest ones at center aren't stars at all though, but
the planets Mars and Saturn.
Taken on the morning of April 4, the
telescopic
snapshot
captured their tantalizing
close
conjunction
in a predawn sky, the pair of planets separated
by only about 1/3 of a degree.
That's easily less than the apparent width of a Full Moon.
Can you tell which planet is which?
If you guessed Mars is the redder one , you'd be right.
Above Mars, slightly fainter Saturn still shines with a
paler yellowish tinge in
reflected sunlight.
Even at the low magnification, Saturn's largest and brightest
moon Titan can be spotted hugging the planet very closely on the left.
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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: Mars - Saturn
Publications with words: Mars - Saturn
See also:
- APOD: 2025 February 23 Á Saturn in Infrared from Cassini
- Full Moon, Full Mars
- APOD: 2025 January 15 Á Wolf Moon Engulfs Mars
- APOD: 2024 December 8 Á Aurora around Saturns North Pole
- APOD: 2024 December 3 Á Ice Clouds over a Red Planet
- APOD: 2024 November 10 Á Valles Marineris: The Grand Canyon of Mars
- Saturn at Night