Astronomy Picture of the Day · December 15, 2009

A Fading Moonset Over Hong Kong

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for December 15, 2009 is “A Fading Moonset Over Hong Kong,” an image. The picture is copyrighted by its creator (Credit & Copyright: Wah!). The original explanation runs about 170 words.

From the explanation

“Do stars appear dimmer when nearer the horizon? Yes — atmospheric air absorbs and reradiates light, so that the greater the airmass through which one peers, the fainter an object will appear.”

— APOD editors, December 15, 2009

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date: December 15, 2009
Type: Image
Credit: Credit & Copyright: Wah!
Copyright: Copyrighted by the credited creator. Ask the copyright holder before reusing it.
Explanation length: About 170 words

All of December 2009 → · 2009 by month → · Full archive since 1995 →

Topics in this entry

The Moon Jupiter

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: December 15 in other years

On Amazon

Popular picks for space fans

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Electronics Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB Read astronomy and space-history books anywhere. View on Amazon → Electronics Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones Noise-cancelling headphones for documentaries and launch livestreams. View on Amazon →

Source

Astronomy Picture of the Day, December 15, 2009 — science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2009-december-15-a-fading-moonset-over-hong-kong

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.