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.

                              2024 February 11
   [2]The long plume of a launching rocket is seen on the left side of the
    image. The upper part of the plume is bright, while the lower part is
    smokey brown. The bright part of the plume is illuminated by the Sun
   and casts a long and dark shadow corridor across the image. The shadow
     appears to end on a Full Moon. Please see the explanation for more
                            detailed information.

                   Rocket Plume Shadow Points to the Moon
                    Image Credit: Pat McCracken, [3]NASA

   Explanation: Why would the shadow of a [4]rocket's launch plume point
   toward the Moon? In early 2001 during a launch of the [5]space shuttle
   [6]Atlantis, the [7]Sun, [8]Earth, [9]Moon, and rocket were all
   properly aligned for [10]this photogenic coincidence. First, for the
   [11]space shuttle's plume to cast a long shadow, the time of day must
   be either near [12]sunrise or [13]sunset. Only then will the [14]shadow
   be its longest and extend all the way to the [15]horizon. Finally,
   during a [16]Full Moon, the [17]Sun and [18]Moon are on opposite sides
   of the sky. Just after [19]sunset, for example, the Sun is slightly
   below the [20]horizon, and, in the other direction, the Moon is
   slightly above the [21]horizon. Therefore, as [22]Atlantis blasted off,
   just after [23]sunset, its shadow projected away from the Sun toward
   the [24]opposite horizon, where the [25]Full Moon happened to be.

                Almost Hyperspace: [26]Random APOD Generator
                       Tomorrow's picture: space orbs
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    Authors & editors: [38]Robert Nemiroff ([39]MTU) & [40]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([41]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn; [42]Specific rights apply.
              [43]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [44]ASD at [45]NASA / [46]GSFC,
                         [47]NASA Science Activation
                           & [48]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2402/sts98plume_nasa_1111.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/1221/smoke-plume
   5. https://www.nasa.gov/space-shuttle/
   6. https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/explore-attractions/shuttle-a-ship-like-no-other/featured-attraction/space-shuttle-atlantis
   7. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220206.html
   9. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5187/
  10. https://visibleearth.nasa.gov/images/1221/smoke-plume
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170705.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231025.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161026.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap171205.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap000113.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap010129.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180318.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060723.html
  20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizon
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap000320.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap950812.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220320.html
  24. https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article27932447.ece/ALTERNATES/n615/0_PAY-GREAT-DANE-OPTICAL-ILLUSION.jpg
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220612.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240210.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  31. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  33. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  36. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=240211
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240212.html
  38. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  39. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  40. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  41. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  42. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  44. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/
  46. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  47. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  48. http://www.mtu.edu/