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.

                               2025 February 8
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                         A Conjunction of Crescents
               Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Aldo S. Kleiman

   Explanation: A waxing crescent Moon and a waning crescent Venus are
   found at opposite corners of this twilight [5]telephoto field of view.
   The close conjunction of the two brightest celestial beacons [6]in
   planet Earth's western evening sky was captured on February 1 from
   Rosario, Argentina. On that date, the slender crescent Moon was about 3
   days old. But the Moon's visible sunlit crescent will grow to a bright
   Full Moon by February 14. Like the Moon, [7]Venus cycles through phases
   as it orbits the Sun. And while its visible sunlit crescent narrows,
   the inner planet's apparent size increases as it gets closer to Earth.
   In a Valentine from the Solar System, Venus, named for the Roman
   goddess of Love, will also reach its peak brightness in planet Earth's
   evening skies around [8]February 14.

                    Tomorrow's picture: southern skyscape
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    Authors & editors: [20]Robert Nemiroff ([21]MTU) & [22]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([23]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [24]Specific rights apply.
              [25]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [26]ASD at [27]NASA / [28]GSFC,
                         [29]NASA Science Activation
                           & [30]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2502/IMG_3775M.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. https://www.flickr.com/photos/akleiman/
   5. https://www.flickr.com/photos/akleiman/54301840864/
   6. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/whats-up-february-2025-skywatching-tips-from-nasa/
   7. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/venus-brightest-greatest-brilliancy-greatest-illuminated-extent-2/
   8. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/venus-brightest-greatest-brilliancy-greatest-illuminated-extent-2/
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250207.html
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  13. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  18. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250208
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250209.html
  20. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  21. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  22. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  23. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  25. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  26. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  27. https://www.nasa.gov/
  28. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  29. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  30. http://www.mtu.edu/