Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2016 September 1 
Posted on 09/01/2016 6:50:33 AM PDT by ThomasMore
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2016 September 1
Explanation: The bright light at the end of this country road is actually a remarkably close conjunction of two planets. After sunset on August 27 brilliant Venus and Jupiter almost appear as a single celestial beacon in the night skyscape taken near Lake Wivenhoe, Queensland, Australia. A spectacular vertical panorama from the southern hemisphere, it shows the central Milky Way near zenith, posed on top of a pillar of Zodiacal light along the ecliptic plane. Of course Mars and Saturn are near the ecliptic too, just below the galaxy's central bulge. Above and left of a tree on the horizon, fleeting planet Mercury also adds to the light at the end of the road.
If you want on the APOD list or off the list, Freepmail me
(((PING))) looks interesting.
I’m on the outside looking in...
An homage to the great R&B song of the 60s, appropriate for this beautiful view.
lol...very true... we are so far on the outside arm of the galaxy that in that photo, it looks like another very nearby galaxy.
Our God is truly wondrous. Very humbling photograph.
There was a light at the end of the tunnel, and it turned out to be a train. Lyric from a blues song I can’t remember the title of.
Magnificent!
When seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is wise not to screw with the bulb.
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.