Astronomy Picture of the Day

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 April 26

The Moon through the Arc de Triomphe
Image Credit & Copyright: Stefano Zanarello

Explanation: Was this a lucky shot? Although many amazing photographs are taken by someone who just happenedÂ to be in the right place at the right time, this image took skill and careful planning. First was the angularÂ scale: if you shoot too close to the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, the full moon will appear too small.Â Conversely, if you shoot from too far away, the moon willÂ appearÂ too large and not fit inside the Arc. Second is timing: the Moon only appears centered inside the Arc for small periods of time -- from this distance less than a minute. Other planned features include lighting, relative brightness, height, capturing a good foreground, and digital processing. And yes, there is some luck involved -- for example, the sky must be clear. This time, the planning was successful, bringing two of humanity's most famous icons photographically together for all to enjoy.

Today's adventure link: Click "Paris" (above)
Tomorrow's picture: open space

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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& Michigan Tech. U.