Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Nov 8, 2007 13:27:47 GMT -6
Astronomy Picture of the Day
VERITAS and Venus
Credit & Copyright: Larry Ciupik (Adler Planetarium, VERITAS Collaboration)
Explanation: Early morning risers and late to bed astronomers have recently enjoyed bright planets in predawn skies, with brilliant Venus above the eastern horizon.
On November 5, Venus was joined by the waning crescent Moon. This self-portrait by (Adler Planetarium) astronomer Larry Ciupik captures the lovely pairing of the two brightest celestial beacons on the scene, though the Moon, right of Venus, is strongly over exposed. Included at the far left in the 30 second exposure is the bright streak of the International Space Station still docked with shuttle orbiter Discovery. Together in Earth orbit, the spacefaring combination was momentarily the third brightest sky light in view.
In dim silhouette, a multi-mirrored unit of the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) is also visible in the foreground. VERITAS operates at the Whipple Observatory near Tucson, Arizona to detect high-energy gamma-rays from the cosmos.
Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/
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This is a fantastic shot that had great planning.
As one who does a great many self portraits of myself and crew, I understand the angle, the timing and the forsight here. Larry had one shot here to get the ISS/Space Shuttle in the scene...which made this one shot exceptional. It's a classic shot of astronomer, the instrument and the sky...and a space craft.
Excellent shot Larry and congrats for the APOD.
Standing still for 30 seconds can seem like an eternity....
