Wednesday, September 22, 2010

APOD 1.3

Opposite the Sun

Here, the amazing phenomenon where three celestial bodies line up almost perfectly is shown on Earth, when there are planets that are half-way through their "retro-grade motion" when they get on the exact opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, making the planet become lit up like a bright star in Earth's night sky.  The fact that Jupiter, the planet whose moons made Galileo realize that the Earth is located in a heliocentric solar system, is one of the two planets currently making its way to opposition is just an amazing bonus.

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