Posted on 07/10/2016 5:36:14 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: What's that next to the Moon? Jupiter -- and its four largest moons. Skygazers around planet Earth enjoyed the close encounter of planets and Moon in 2012 July 15's predawn skies. And while many saw bright Jupiter next to the slender, waning crescent, Europeans also had the opportunity to watch the ruling gas giant pass behind the lunar disk, occulted by the Moon as it slid through the night. Clouds threaten in this telescopic view from Montecassiano, Italy, but the frame still captures Jupiter after it emerged from the occultation along with all four of its large Galilean moons. The sunlit crescent is overexposed with the Moon's night side faintly illuminated by Earthshine. Lined up left to right beyond the dark lunar limb are Callisto, Ganymede, Jupiter, Io, and Europa. In fact, Callisto, Ganymede, and Io are larger than Earth's Moon, while Europa is only slightly smaller. Last week, NASA's Juno became the second spacecraft ever to orbit Jupiter.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit and Copyright: Cristian Fattinnanzi]
Spectacular!
Heavenly!
Now that Juno is in orbit around Jupiter, we should be seeing some very interesting high resolution close up pictures of Jupiter very soon. Nice too that NASA is involving the public in this history making project.
Lets hope that NASA is forthcoming with the pictures and data. I have some absolutely beautiful high resolution pictures of Mars (from the Mars Rover). The images are stunning.
It is a great time to be alive!
How now, cow?
Great picture!
Lovely! Trying to get our telescope aligned properly so we can see this, but it’s been rain, clouds, rain,clouds,rain lately ...
FMCDH(BITS)
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.