                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2024 August 2

                               Mars Passing By
                 Image Credit & Copyright: Tunc Tezel (TWAN)

   Explanation: As Mars wanders through Earth's night, it passes about 5
   degrees south of the Pleiades star cluster in this composite
   astrophoto. The skyview was constructed from a series of images
   captured over a run of 16 consecutive clear nights beginning on July
   12. Mars' march across the field of view begins at the far right, the
   planet's ruddy hue. showing a nice contrast with the blue Pleiades
   stars. Moving much faster across the sky against the distant stars, the
   fourth planet from the Sun easily passes seventh planet Uranus, also
   moving across this field of view. Red planet Mars and the ice giant
   world were in close conjunction, about 1/2 degree apart, on July 16.
   Continuing its rapid eastward trek, Mars has now left the sister stars
   and outer planet behind though, passing north of red giant star
   Aldebaran. Mars will come within about 1/3 degree of Jupiter in planet
   Earth's sky on August 14.

                        Tomorrow's picture: road trip
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
                   NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility Notices
                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

