¿ Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]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 [2]See Explanation. Moving the cursor over the image will bring up an annotated version. Clicking on the image will bring up the highest resolution version available. Great Conjunction over Sicilian Lighthouse Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Kevin Saragozza Explanation: Don't miss the coming [4]great conjunction. In just under two weeks, the two largest planets in [5]our Solar System will angularly pass so close together in [6]Earth's sky that the [7]Moon would easily be able to cover them both simultaneously. This [8]pending planetary passage -- on December 21 -- will be the closest since [9]1623. [10]Jupiter and [11]Saturn will remain noticeably bright and can already be [12]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 [13]imaged together here about three degrees apart -- and slowly closing. The featured image, including a crescent moon, captured the dynamic duo [14]beyond the [15]Cape Murro di Porco Lighthouse in [16]Syracuse, [17]Sicily, [18]Italy. Tomorrow's picture: martian spots __________________________________________________________________ [19]< | [20]Archive | [21]Submissions | [22]Index | [23]Search | [24]Calendar | [25]RSS | [26]Education | [27]About APOD | [28]Discuss | [29]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [30]Robert Nemiroff ([31]MTU) & [32]Jerry Bonnell ([33]UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman [34]Specific rights apply. [35]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: [36]ASD at [37]NASA / [38]GSFC & [39]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2012/LighthouseJupSat_Saragozza_4480.jpg 3. https://www.flickr.com/photos/144743338@N07/ 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_conjunction 5. https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/orrery/index.html#/home 6. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/earth/overview/ 7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201111.html 8. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/great-jupiter-saturn-conjunction-dec-21-2020 9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1623 10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190205.html 11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200419.html 12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201020.html 13. https://www.flickr.com/photos/144743338@N07/50621993051/in/pool-apods/ 14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75DDclqTEJY 15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capo_Murro_di_Porco_Lighthouse 16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40qx77zzxjA 17. https://youtu.be/8I9RUrwfdis 18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy 19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201207.html 20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 23. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss 26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 28. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=201208 29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201209.html 30. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 32. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 33. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 35. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 36. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 37. https://www.nasa.gov/ 38. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 39. http://www.mtu.edu/