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.

                                 2023 May 27
    [2]The picture shows the planet Neptune and its moon Triton, both in
     crescent phases, as captured by the passing Voyager 2 spacecraft in
       1989. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                         Crescent Neptune and Triton
                     Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]Voyager 2

   Explanation: Gliding through the outer [5]Solar System, in 1989 the
   [6]Voyager 2 spacecraft looked toward the Sun to find this view of most
   distant planet Neptune and its moon [7]Triton together in a crescent
   phase. The elegant image of [8]ice-giant planet and [9]largest moon was
   taken from behind just after Voyager's [10]closest approach. It could
   not have been taken from Earth because the most distant planet never
   shows a crescent phase [11]to sunward eyes. Heading for the
   [12]heliopause and beyond, the spacecraft's [13]parting vantage point
   also robs Neptune of its familiar [14]blue hue.

                   Tomorrow's picture: an unexpected moon
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    Authors & editors: [26]Robert Nemiroff ([27]MTU) & [28]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([29]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [30]Specific rights apply.
              [31]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [32]ASD at [33]NASA / [34]GSFC
                           & [35]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2305/neptunetriton_voyager_960.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/
   5. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/solar-system/our-solar-system/overview/
   6. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/voyager-2
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070304.html
   8. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/neptune/in-depth/
   9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triton_(moon)
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140826.html
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220923.html
  12. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/voyager-2-illuminates-boundary-of-interstellar-space
  13. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA02247
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150215.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230526.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  19. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  24. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=230527
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230528.html
  26. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  27. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  28. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  29. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  32. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  33. https://www.nasa.gov/
  34. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  35. http://www.mtu.edu/