|
Credit & Copyright: Apollo 12 Crew,
NASA
Explanation:
In November of 1969,
homeward bound aboard the "Yankee Clipper" command module,
the Apollo 12 astronauts
took this dramatic photograph of the Sun emerging from behind the Earth.
From this distant perspective, part of the solar disk
peers over the Earth's
limb, its direct light producing the jewel like glint while
sunlight scattered by the atmosphere creates the thin bright crescent.
Today at 10:24 pm Eastern
Daylight
Time is the
Summer Solstice.
From an
earthbound perspective, the solar disk will climb to its greatest
northern declination marking the Northern Hemisphere's first
day of Summer
and creating the longest day -- with over 15
hours of daylight near latitude +40 degrees.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day