Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2025 May 5 [2]The featured image shows a night sky over some choppy water. The planet Venus shines high in the night sky, while a faint Saturn in on the far right. The crescent Moon is visible near the image center. A bright boat beacon is also visible on the right. All of these objects are reflected as lines in the foreground water. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. Planet Lines Across Water Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Jose Antonio Hervas Explanation: What’s causing those lines? Objects in the sky sometimes appear [4]reflected as lines across water — but why? If the water’s surface is smooth, then reflected objects would [5]appear similarly -- as spots. But if the [6]water is choppy, then there are many places where light from the object can reflect off the water and still come to you -- and so together form, typically, a line. The same effect is frequently seen for the [7]Sun just [8]before sunset and just [9]after sunrise. [10]Pictured about 10 days ago in [11]Ibiza, [12]Spain, images of the [13]setting Moon, [14]Venus (top), and [15]Saturn (right, faint) were captured both directly and in line-reflected forms from the [16]Mediterranean Sea. The other bright object on the right with a water-reflected line is a [17]beacon on a rock to warn passing boats. Explore Your Universe: [18]Random APOD Generator Tomorrow's picture: open space __________________________________________________________________ [19]< | [20]Archive | [21]Submissions | [22]Index | [23]Search | [24]Calendar | [25]RSS | [26]Education | [27]About APOD | [28]Discuss | [29]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [30]Robert Nemiroff ([31]MTU) & [32]Jerry Bonnell ([33]UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn [34]Specific rights apply. [35]NASA Web Privacy, [36]Accessibility, [37]Notices; A service of: [38]ASD at [39]NASA / [40]GSFC, [41]NASA Science Activation & [42]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2505/PlanetLines_Hervas_2603.jpg 3. https://www.instagram.com/joseahervas 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflection_(physics) 5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap191022.html 6. https://gpm.nasa.gov/education/water-cycle 7. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/ 8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090924.html 9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220924.html 10. https://www.instagram.com/p/DI3Aq4OI_Fs/ 11. https://youtu.be/yDYCMdbaFdQ 12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain 13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150929.html 14. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-venus/ 15. https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/ 16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea 17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap191119.html 18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html 19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250504.html 20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 23. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 25. https://apod.com/feed.rss 26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 28. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250505 29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250506.html 30. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 32. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 33. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 35. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 36. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/ 37. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/ 38. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 39. https://www.nasa.gov/ 40. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 41. https://science.nasa.gov/learners 42. http://www.mtu.edu/