Venus, the Moon, Jupiter and the Pleiades

The above image shows the sword of Dom Nuno Alvares Pereira appearing to pierce the waning crescent Moon. It was captured in Portel, Portugal a little before dawn on July 15, 2012.  Image credit: Miguel Claro

Jupiter is to the upper right of the Moon (in conjunction), brilliant Venus is below Pereira’s sword and the Pleiades star cluster is at top. Pereira played a critical role in the 1383-1385 conflict that resulted in Portugal’s independence from Castile. His sword is turned downward as a sign of peace. See also yesterday’s Earth Science Picture of the Day.

via epod

- See also:

• Saturn's Moon Rhea from Cassini spacecraft
• Triangulum Galaxy
• The most astounding fact about the Universe
• Black Hole devouring a Star (video)
• Dawn spacecraft prepares to leave Vesta for Ceres
• Close-up of 'Bathurst Inlet' Rock by Mars Curiosity
• How big is the universe ... compared to a grain of sand...
• PanSTARRS over Parkes

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