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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 July 15 B Collapse in Hebes Chasma on Mars
- APOD: 2025 July 6 B The Spiral North Pole of Mars
- APOD: 2025 June 29 B Dark Sand Cascades on Mars
- APOD: 2025 June 22 B A Berry Bowl of Martian Spherules
- APOD: 2025 June 15 B Two Worlds One Sun
- Perseverance Selfie with Ingenuity
- Deimos Before Sunrise