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Moonset Under a Planetary Conjunction

On December 16, 2020, the crescent Moon was paired with a close conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter. The thin crescent of the illuminated Moon is cupping the shadowed side of the Moon and it is made visible in this photo by Earthshine, which is the light from the Sun reflecting off the Earth's surface and illuminating the shadow over the Moon's face. If you look closely at Jupiter, the brightest of the planetary pair, you will see two of Jupiter's Galilean Moons, Io and Europa. It was amazing to see that show up in my photograph!

*This photo is only available in sizes no larger than 16x24
Moonset Under a Planetary Conjunction