A nebulous and almost fairytale moon that appears colorful thanks to its 'crown', flanked by Jupiter and Saturn clearly visible in the sky above Pieve di Cadore, a location framed by the Dolomites: this is the photograph taken last December 17 by the Italian photographer Alessandra Masi, chosen from NASA as an Astronomy Picture of the Day (Apod).
It is the first Italian astronomical shot selected by NASA in 2021. A recognition reached 6 Italian astrophotographers in 2020. The effect of the lunar corona, explains NASA, is created by the diffraction mechanism of light around the drops of water present in cloudy layers, mostly transparent and thin, and which can be easily seen with the naked eye.
The photo was taken a few days of the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21st.
In front of the illuminated village Pieve di Cadore the peaks of the Sfornioi stand out.
Alessandra Masi is a native of Pieve di Cadore and has been dedicating herself to photography for about ten years.
Her passion for the Dolomite area also translated into the decision to become a supporter of the Unesco Dolomites Foundation.
