August 16, 2016
The universe does not repeat itself. Every sunrise is unique, every snowflake singular, and every birthday yours alone.
Five Planets and the Moon over Australia
Birthday · August 16, 2016
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published August 16, 2016. Credit: Terrastro. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
It is not a coincidence that planets line up. That's because all of the planets orbit the Sun in (nearly) a single sheet called the plane of the ecliptic. When viewed from inside that plane -- as Earth dwellers are likely to do -- the planets all appear confined to a single band. It is a coincidence, though, when several of the brightest planets all appear in nearly the same direction. Such a coincidence was captured last week. Featured above, six planets and Earth's Moon were all imaged together last week, just after sunset, from Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. A second band is visible across the top of this tall image -- the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy. Perseid Meteors 2016: Album 1 & Album 2
Image credit: Terrastro