Starship Asterisk*

Mars Passing By

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.

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I love this APOD!


I'm always happy to see the Pleiades, and I'm always happy to see the lovely blue hue of the Pleiades contrast with something else (like the Hyades, or a comet). Seeing a planet, particularly ruddy Mars, pass by near the Pleiades is always a joy. But what really sets this picture apart for me is the conjunction between Mars and pale aqua-colored Uranus far, far in the background (although not nearly as far in the background as the Pleiades, of course)!

It looks fantastic!

(And now I'm off to visit my brother, where I don't have access to my computer. Don't expect to hear much, or anything, from me for the next few days.)

Ann

Beautiful picture. What is that string of white lights above Mars in the lower left of the picture?

gar1116 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:45 am

gar1116 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:43 am Beautiful picture. What is that string of white lights above Mars in the lower right of the picture?

That's the planet Uranus, which orbits much more slowly than Mars due to its greater distance from the Sun.

gar1116 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:43 am Beautiful picture. What is that string of white lights above Mars inslope game the lower left of the picture?

Because of its larger distance from the Sun, the planet Uranus orbits at a far slower rate than Mars.