This photo shows Comet PANSTARRS (aka C/2011 L4) and a very thin crescent moon. The comet is named after the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System, a University of Hawaii telescope on Mount Haleakala on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The comet was discovered in June 2011. The crescent moon in this photograph shows a significant amount of Earthshine, which is sunlight reflected off of Earth.
Photographer: Rick Scott
Date: March 12, 2013
Camera: Canon EOS 40D digital camera
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM set to 200mm
Exposure: 1 second at f/5.6, ISO 800
Camera Mode: RAW
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5 for RAW conversion and image processing
Updated: April 7, 2013