                        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.

                               2022 December 9

                       Mars Rises above the Lunar Limb
                     Image Credit & Copyright: Tom Glenn

   Explanation: On the night of December 7 Mars wandered near the Full
   Moon. In fact the Red Planet was occulted, passing behind the Moon,
   when viewed from locations across Europe and North America. About an
   hour after disappearing behind the lunar disk Mars reappears in this
   stack of sharp video frames captured from San Diego, planet Earth. With
   the Moon in the foreground Mars was a mere 82 million kilometers
   distant, near its own opposition. Full Moon and full Mars were bright
   enough provide the spectacular image with no exposure adjustments
   necessary. In the image Mars appears to rise just over ancient,
   dark-floored, lunar crater Abel very close to the southeastern edge of
   the Moon's near side. Humboldt is the large impact crater to its north
   (left).

           Tomorrow's picture: Challenger and the Sea of Serenity
     __________________________________________________________________

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

