Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Five Planets at Castell de Burriac

NASA ^ | February 06, 2016 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: February's five planet line-up stretches across a clear sky in this predawn scene. A hilltop Castell de Burriac looms in the foreground, overlooking the town of Cabrera de Mar near Barcelona, Spain, planet Earth. The mosaicked, panoramic image looks south. It merges three different exposure times to record a bright Last Quarter Moon, planets, seaside city lights, and dark castle ruins. Seen on February 1st the Moon was near Mars on the sky. But this week early morning risers have watched it move on, passing near Saturn and finally Venus and Mercury, sliding along near the ecliptic toward the dawn, approaching the February 7 New Moon.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit and Copyright: Ignacio Llorens]

[SunkenCiv]

The Big One

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[ETL]

Wow! Very nice.

Thanks for posting.

[ETL]

As the description notes, that really bright thing is the moon. Mars is just below it.

[Slyfox]

I remember a similar line-up of planets in the late 90s, but I think there were like eight planets lined up.

Yes, I was standing in line to get into Texas Stadium and we looked up and saw them. Real pretty.

That was the only game I ever went to see the Cowboys play in the original iconic stadium.

The Cowboy line-up did badly that night, but the planet line-up did not disappoint.

[BenLurkin]

Nice!

[ETL]

I remember a similar line-up of planets in the late 90s, but I think there were like eight planets lined up.

As far as I know the five shown here (Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Mercury) are the only planets that can be seen with the naked eye.

[Slyfox]

It seemed like a lot of stars, maybe some were slow moving planes. The stadium was about ten miles away from DFW airport.

[ETL]

You can’t really see planets moving as you’re looking at them, except if you’re looking through a high-powered telescope and there are background stars near to them. Even then, it would usually take awhile, depending on how far away the planet is. Nearer ones move faster.

[Larry Lucido]

“Okay, planets, break it up. Nothing to see here.”

[opus1]

LOL!

[fieldmarshaldj]

Where’s Uranus ? I can’t see Uranus.

[ETL]

You can’t see it. You can only smell it.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Sometimes both.

[KarlInOhio]

overlooking the town of Cabrera de Mar near Barcelona, Spain, planet Earth.

Good thing they specified that or I would have thought it was Barcelona, Spain, planet Neptune.

[SunkenCiv]

Well, y’know, can’t be too careful, this is after all, the internet. ;’)

[SunkenCiv]

Your tough luck, but it sez here there’s a ring around Uranus.

[fieldmarshaldj]

That’s cuz I just went potty. ;-D

[TheOldLady]

Discourse is deteriorating fast on this one, Mr. Civilizations.

Not your fault or the fault of the APOD, which is spectacular.

Thank you for the post and ping, as ever, my friend. ;-)

[SunkenCiv]

I’d look, but I don’t wanna. ;’)