                        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.

                                2021 March 5

                             A Little Like Mars
                   Image Credit & Copyright: Robert Barsa

   Explanation: The surface of this planet looks a little like Mars. It's
   really planet Earth though. In a digitally stitched little planet
   projection, the 360 degree mosaic was captured near San Pedro in the
   Chilean Atacama desert. Telescopes in domes on the horizon are taking
   advantage of the region's famously dark, clear nights. Taken in early
   December, a magnificent Milky Way arcs above the horizon for almost 180
   degrees around the little planet with Orion prominent in the southern
   sky. A familiar constellation upside down for northern hemisphere
   skygazers, Orion shares that southern December night almost opposite
   the Large and Small Magellanic clouds. But the Red Planet itself is the
   brightest yellowish celestial beacon in this little planet sky.

     Please take a short survey in aesthetics & astronomy: Sonification
                      Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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