Astronomy Picture of the Day

Explanation: Lights sprawl toward the horizon in this July night skyscape from Uludag National Park, Bursa Province, Turkey, planet Earth. The stars and nebulae of the Milky Way are still visible though, stretching above the lights on the northern summer night, while three other planets shine brightly. Jupiter is at the far left, Saturn near the center of the frame, and Mars is just right of the bulging center of our galaxy. Because the panoramic scene was captured on July 6, all three planets pictured were hosting orbiting active robotic spacecraft from Earth. Popular Mars has five (from three different space agencies): MAVEN (NASA), Mars Orbiter Mission (India), Mars Express (ESA), Mars Odyssey (NASA), Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (NASA). Ringed Saturn hosts the Cassini spacecraft. Just arrived, Juno now orbits ruling gas giant Jupiter.