                        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.

                               2020 December 8

                 Great Conjunction over Sicilian Lighthouse
                  Image Credit & Copyright: Kevin Saragozza

   Explanation: Don't miss the coming great conjunction. In just under two
   weeks, the two largest planets in our Solar System will angularly pass
   so close together in Earth's sky that the Moon would easily be able to
   cover them both simultaneously. This pending planetary passage -- on
   December 21 -- will be the closest since 1623. Jupiter and Saturn will
   remain noticeably bright and can already be seen together toward the
   southwest just after sunset. Soon after dusk is the best time to see
   them -- because they set below the horizon soon after. In mid-November,
   the Jovian giants were imaged together here about three degrees apart
   -- and slowly closing. The featured image, including a crescent moon,
   captured the dynamic duo beyond the Cape Murro di Porco Lighthouse in
   Syracuse, Sicily, Italy.

                      Tomorrow's picture: martian spots
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

