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.

                              2023 December 25
   [2]A tree-lined hill is shown topped by a majestic cathedral. Directly
    behind the cathedral is of a triangular-shaped mountain top. Directly
    behind the mountain is a crescent moon, although the exposure is long
   enough to see the rest of lunar circle. Please see the explanation for
                         more detailed information.

                          Cathedral, Mountain, Moon
                 Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Valerio Minato

   Explanation: Single shots like this require planning. The first step is
   to realize that such an amazing [4]triple-alignment actually takes
   place. The second step is to find the best location to photograph it.
   But it was the third step: being there at exactly the right time -- and
   when the sky was clear -- that was the hardest. Five times over six
   years the photographer tried and found [5]bad weather. Finally, just
   ten days ago, the [6]weather was perfect, and a photographic dream was
   realized. Taken in [7]Piemonte, [8]Italy, the cathedral in the
   foreground is the [9]Basilica of Superga, the [10]mountain in the
   middle is [11]Monviso, and, well, [12]you know which moon is in the
   background. Here, even though the [13]setting Moon was captured in a
   crescent [14]phase, the exposure was long enough for doubly reflected
   [15]Earthlight, called the [16]da Vinci glow, to illuminate the entire
   top of the [17]Moon.

   Your Sky Surprise: [18]What picture did APOD feature on your birthday?
                                 (post 1995)
                    Tomorrow's picture: cosmic jellyfish
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [30]Robert Nemiroff ([31]MTU) & [32]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([33]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [34]Specific rights apply.
              [35]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [36]ASD at [37]NASA / [38]GSFC,
                         [39]NASA Science Activation
                           & [40]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2312/MoonAligned_Minato_2974.jpg
   3. https://www.facebook.com/ValerioMinatoPh
   4. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150624.html
   5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210613.html
   6. https://climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/weather-and-climate/
   7. https://youtu.be/oT5LB8wMNHI
   8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy
   9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Superga
  10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Viso#/media/File:Monviso_-_panoramica_cresta_da_Ostanetta.jpg
  11. https://youtu.be/ViA0MrOkv_Y
  12. https://post.bark.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/u4nf59H.png
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200322.html
  14. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5187/
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthlight_(astronomy)
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190926.html
  17. https://science.nasa.gov/moon/
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231224.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  23. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  25. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  28. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=231225
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231226.html
  30. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  32. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  33. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  35. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  36. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  39. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  40. http://www.mtu.edu/