Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Milky Way and Planets Near Opposition
NASA ^ | Saturday, May 21, 2016 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 05/21/2016 12:47:18 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: In this early May night skyscape, a mountain road near Bursa, Turkey seems to lead toward bright planets Mars and Saturn and the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, a direction nearly opposite the Sun in planet Earth's sky. The brightest celestial beacon on the scene, Mars, reaches its opposition tonight and Saturn in early June. Both will remain nearly opposite the Sun, up all night and close to Earth for the coming weeks, so the time is right for good telescopic viewing. Mars and Saturn form the tight celestial triangle with red giant star Antares just right of the Milky Way's central bulge. But tonight the Moon is also at opposition. Easy to see near bright Mars and Saturn, the Full Moon's light will wash out the central Milky Way's fainter starlight though, even in dark mountain skies.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; bursa; mars; milkyway; moon; saturn; science; turkey
[Credit and Copyright: Tunc Tezel (TWAN)]

1 posted on 05/21/2016 12:47:18 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Astronomical whackos the world over must be worried that this temporary configuration of celestial bodies will cause some sort of cosmic catastrophe.


2 posted on 05/21/2016 12:54:59 PM PDT by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; disndat; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
The Big One

3 posted on 05/21/2016 1:04:05 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (I'll tell you what's wrong with society -- no one drinks from the skulls of their enemies anymore.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: equaviator

That would be astrologers.


4 posted on 05/21/2016 1:26:00 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (I'll tell you what's wrong with society -- no one drinks from the skulls of their enemies anymore.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

The full moon will be easy to see near Mars and Saturn, despite how bright the planets are? That’s reassuring—I hate it when the planets are so bright that they make it impossible to see the full moon.


5 posted on 05/21/2016 4:00:18 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Verginius Rufus

:’)


6 posted on 05/21/2016 4:07:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (I'll tell you what's wrong with society -- no one drinks from the skulls of their enemies anymore.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Duly noted.


7 posted on 05/22/2016 3:55:02 AM PDT by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson