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.

                                 2025 May 5
     [2]The featured image shows a night sky over some choppy water. The
    planet Venus shines high in the night sky, while a faint Saturn in on
    the far right. The crescent Moon is visible near the image center. A
    bright boat beacon is also visible on the right. All of these objects
       are reflected as lines in the foreground water. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                          Planet Lines Across Water
              Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Jose Antonio Hervas

   Explanation: What’s causing those lines? Objects in the sky sometimes
   appear [4]reflected as lines across water — but why? If the water’s
   surface is smooth, then reflected objects would [5]appear similarly --
   as spots. But if the [6]water is choppy, then there are many places
   where light from the object can reflect off the water and still come to
   you -- and so together form, typically, a line. The same effect is
   frequently seen for the [7]Sun just [8]before sunset and just [9]after
   sunrise. [10]Pictured about 10 days ago in [11]Ibiza, [12]Spain, images
   of the [13]setting Moon, [14]Venus (top), and [15]Saturn (right, faint)
   were captured both directly and in line-reflected forms from the
   [16]Mediterranean Sea. The other bright object on the right with a
   water-reflected line is a [17]beacon on a rock to warn passing boats.

              Explore Your Universe: [18]Random APOD Generator
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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    Authors & editors: [30]Robert Nemiroff ([31]MTU) & [32]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([33]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [34]Specific rights apply.
            [35]NASA Web Privacy, [36]Accessibility, [37]Notices;
                A service of: [38]ASD at [39]NASA / [40]GSFC,
                         [41]NASA Science Activation
                           & [42]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2505/PlanetLines_Hervas_2603.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/joseahervas
   4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflection_(physics)
   5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap191022.html
   6. https://gpm.nasa.gov/education/water-cycle
   7. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090924.html
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220924.html
  10. https://www.instagram.com/p/DI3Aq4OI_Fs/
  11. https://youtu.be/yDYCMdbaFdQ
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150929.html
  14. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-venus/
  15. https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap191119.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250504.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  23. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  25. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  28. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250505
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250506.html
  30. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  32. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  33. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  35. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  38. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  41. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  42. http://www.mtu.edu/