Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


Clouds, Comet, and Crescent Moon
<< Yesterday 14.03.2013 Tomorrow >>
Clouds, Comet, and Crescent Moon
Credit & Copyright: Babak Tafreshi (TWAN)
Explanation: In silhouette against the colorful evening twilight glow, clouds part in this much anticipated magic moment. The scene captures naked-eye Comet PanSTARRS peeking into northern hemisphere skies on March 12. The comet stands over the western horizon after sunset, joined by the thin, flattened crescent of a day old Moon. Posing for its own beauty shot, the subtly lit dome of the 4.2 meter William Herschel Telescope is perched above cloud banks on the Canary Island of La Palma. While PanSTARRS has not quite developed into the spectacular comet once hoped for, it is still growing easier to see in the north. In coming days it will steadily climb north, farther from the Sun into darker western evening skies.

Growing Gallery: Comet PanSTARRS at Sunset

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 < March 2013  >
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su




123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
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 - telescope
Publications with words: Moon - telescope
See also:
All publications on this topic >>