Astronomy Picture of the Day

Explanation: A crescent Moon is about to slide under the western horizon in this atmospheric sea and night skyscape taken on September 11 from a desert shore of the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. So close to moonset, the moonlight is reddened and dimmed by the low, long line-of-sight across the Atlantic. But near the center of the frame Venus still shines brightly, its light reflected in calm waters. Above the brilliant evening star lies bright planet Jupiter. Namibia's Skeleton Coast was so named for the many seal and whale bones that were once strewn along the shore. In more recent times it's better known for shipwrecks.