 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 The Noose of Mars in 2020

   June 10, 2021


    #01 (6)

   Photographer:  Paolo Bardelli
   Summary Author:  Paolo Bardelli

   I created the photo sequence above showing  Mars movement across the
   night sky, centered on October 8, 2020. Photos were taken every night,
   clouds permitting, from July 2020 until February 2021. Approximately
   every 26 months, Mars passes at its closest distance to Earth. Last
   fall the  opposition of the  Red Planet was particularly
   favorable as Mars was at its minimum distance from us -- about 38.5
   million miles (62 million km). From our perspective on Earth, when
   opposition occurs, Mars performs two reversals of motion, passing from
   direct motion to  retrograde motion and then back to direct motion.
   As a result, its trace across the night sky forms a “noose.” Also,
   visible (at top left) is a faint trace left by  Uranus’ retrograde
   motion.

   Photo details: Canon 6D camera; 50 mm lens; Vixen Polarie star-tracker;
   processing using Iris, PS CC, Startrails, and Sequator.

   Albusciago, Italy Coordinates: 45.7395, 8.7939

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   Overhead the Statue of Mother  M4 Globular Star Cluster - The Golden
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    More...

Night Sky Links

     *  Space Weather Live
     *  Space Weather Live Forum
     *  About the Moon
     *  American Meteor Society
     *  Arbeitskreises Meteore e.V.
     *  Global City Lights
     *  Heavens Above Home Page
     *  The International Meteor Organization
     *  Lunar and Planetary Institute
     *  MoonConnection
     *  NASA Eclipse Web Page
     *  Understanding The Moon Phases

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   Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities
   Space Research Association.

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