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.

                              2026 February 21
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                       Twilight with Moon and Planets
            Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Tunc Tezel ([5]TWAN)

   Explanation: [6]Only two days after the February New Moon's annular
   eclipse of the Sun, a slender lunar crescent poses near the western
   horizon in this wintry twilight skyscape. Its nightside faintly
   illuminated by earthshine, the young Moon is [7]joined by three bright
   planets in the mostly clear, [8]early evening skies above the village
   of Kirazli, Turkiye. Inner planet [9]Venus appears closest to the
   horizon. Near the beginning of its 2026 performance as planet Earth's
   evening star, brilliant Venus is seen through the warm sunset glare
   near picture center. Straight above Venus, innermost planet [10]Mercury
   is easy to spot as it stands remarkably high above the horizon even as
   the twilight sky is growing dark. Outer planet [11]Saturn, most distant
   of the naked-eye planets, is found just left of the Moon's sunlit
   crescent.

                   Tomorrow's picture: [12]robots on Mars
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    Authors & editors: [24]Robert Nemiroff ([25]MTU) & [26]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([27]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [28]Specific rights apply.
            [29]NASA Web Privacy, [30]Accessibility, [31]Notices;
                A service of: [32]ASD at [33]NASA / [34]GSFC,
                         [35]NASA Science Activation
                           & [36]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2602/20260219a.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. https://twanight.org/profile/tunc-tezel/
   5. https://twanight.org/
   6. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/annular-solar-eclipse-february-17-2026/
   7. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury/
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2602/20260219La_c1024.jpg
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/venus/
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/mercury/
  11. https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260222.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260220.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  17. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  19. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  22. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260221
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260222.html
  24. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  25. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  27. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  29. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  30. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  32. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  33. https://www.nasa.gov/
  34. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  35. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  36. http://www.mtu.edu/