Suggested Searches

APOD

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.

See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest resolution version available.

Jupiter Engulfed and the Milky Way

Explanation: This is a good month to see Jupiter. To find our Solar System 's largest planet in your sky, look toward the southeast just after sunset -- Jupiter should be the brightest object in that part of the sky. If you have a binoculars or a small telescope, you should be able to see Jupiter 's four brightest moons right nearby , and possibly some cloud bands. The featured image was taken about a month ago from the Persian Gulf . The image shows Jupiter just to the right of the nearly vertical band of the central disk of our Milky Way Galaxy . The unnamed rock formations appear in projection like the jaws of a giant monster ready to engulf the Jovian giant. When you see Jupiter , it may be interesting to know that NASA's robotic Juno spacecraft is simultaneously visiting and studying the giant planet . Saturn is also visible this month, and although it is nearby to Jupiter , it is not as bright.

Date August 7, 2019
Credit Image Credit & Copyright: Mohammad S. Hayati
Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.