Explanation:
On July 5th, wandering planets, bright stars,
and a young crescent Moon graced
western skies after sunset.
Arrayed along the
solar system'secliptic plane, the three
celestial beacons forming this skyscape's eye-catching line-up with
the Moon are Saturn
(upper left), then Mars, and finally
Regulus, alpha star of the constellation
Leo.
Of course planet Earth
itself lies in the foreground, a scene dominated
by the city lights of Santa Barbara, California.
The smoky haze hanging over the city is from threatening
wild fires
still burning along the hill at the right.
On Thursday evening, Saturn and Mars can be
seen in a much closer pairing or conjunction, separated by only about
3/4 degree on the sky.
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