Starship Asterisk*

Jupiter and Saturn Rising Beyond Alien Throne Rock

Explanation: What planets are those behind that unusual rock spire? Saturn (lower left) and Jupiter.  This month, after sunset, the bright planetary duo are quite prominent toward the southeast.  Now your view of our Solar System's largest planets might not include a picturesque hoodoo in the foreground, nor the spectacular central band of our Milky Way Galaxy across the background, but should be quite eye-catching anyway.  The featured image is a composite of consecutive foreground and background exposures all taken in late May with the same camera and from the same location -- the badlands of the  Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness in the San Juan Basin in New Mexico, USA.  The rock spire, informally dubbed 'Alien Throne', stands about 3 meters tall. Saturn and Jupiter will remain visible together after sunset for several months.

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Nice; very nice Marcin! I liked the APOD and I also liked APOD's videos of the Badlands!

orin stepanek wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:33 am
Nice; very nice Marcin! I liked the APOD and I also liked APOD's videos of the Badlands!

http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php? ... 81#p202081

Because of a request by the astrophotographer, the hyperlink under the astrophotographer's name has been changed from his email address to his web page. - RJN

If these two planets are seen in the southeast, then what is that orange glow beneath them? The sun setting in the southeast?
Excuse me if I'm confused.

JimInCda wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 4:03 pm If these two planets are seen in the southeast, then what is that orange glow beneath them? The sun setting in the southeast?
Excuse me if I'm confused.

My guess is that the orange glow is from the city of Albuquerque.

That's light pollution, not sure from which town, but probably not Albuquerque which is 3 hours drive away.

mrcnzajac wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 6:30 pm That's light pollution, not sure from which town, but probably not Albuquerque which is 3 hours drive away.

Albuquerque is only about 100 miles away, and exactly in the direction of the glow. It's almost certainly that.

It's a very beautiful APOD.

Ann

I like sauerkraut once in a while; but not for breakfast!

neufer wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 1:03 pm <<< Link to a Youtube of Paul Simon's "Love me Like a Rock". >>>

It never occurred to me that
"Who do you think you're foolin"
might have been a pun.
Do you suppose Paul Simon meant it to be a play on "hoodoo" ?


Here's the song I think of, when I look at badlands:

But a throne for a member of which alien race? https://images.app.goo.gl/wJRWvXAMxfFHiWem7

This is one spectacular composition, much thanks.
I know that I'm a little late to the party but I have to say this anyway.
A very beautiful rock formation if it really looks like this in person. But it also looks very delicate.
I've seen this happen time and again throughout my life, there is a beautiful place formation etc. that is found but it is delicate. It endures many years but let the word out about its location and suddenly it is inundated with people who want to picnic, climb, build fires around, worship at, etc., and soon it is reduced to ruins, rubble, garbage heap. I've seen it happen to places I've personally discovered. I'm old.
When publishing a photo like this please don't include a detailed location or it will cease to exist in it's natural, wonderful state. Those who really wish to see it will find it but, hopefully, those people will appreciate it enough to just enjoy its beauty and leave it unscathed.