APOD: Milky Way and Zodiacal Light over... (2022 Oct 23)

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APOD: Milky Way and Zodiacal Light over... (2022 Oct 23)

Post by APOD Robot » Sun Oct 23, 2022 4:05 am

Image Milky Way and Zodiacal Light over Australian Pinnacles

Explanation: What strange world is this? Earth. In the foreground of the featured image are the Pinnacles, unusual rock spires in Nambung National Park in Western Australia. Made of ancient sea shells (limestone), how these human-sized picturesque spires formed remains a topic of research. The picturesque panorama was taken in 2017 September. A ray of zodiacal light, sunlight reflected by dust grains orbiting between the planets in the Solar System, rises from the horizon near the image center. Arching across the top is the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy. The planets Jupiter and Saturn, as well as several famous stars are also visible in the background night sky.

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heehaw

Re: APOD: Milky Way and Zodiacal Light over... (2022 Oct 23)

Post by heehaw » Sun Oct 23, 2022 11:45 am

When I was in South America many years ago, I saw the Magellanic Clouds for the first time. They are soft and very clearly visible. And they look just like bits of the Milky Way that have strayed away. It is shocking to think back many thousands of years and imagine what people thought when they looked at the night sky! And at aurora! We have made almost inconceivable progress in understanding the Universe.

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orin stepanek
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Re: APOD: Milky Way and Zodiacal Light over... (2022 Oct 23)

Post by orin stepanek » Sun Oct 23, 2022 12:23 pm

ZodiacalPinnacles_Zhang_1080_annotated.jpg
Made of ancient sea shells! When i first saw them I thought they
were lava cones exposed by erosion! So how do they get in such a
position?
APOD formed remains a topic of research.
Makes quite a scene though! :lol2:
Happy-dog.jpg
Today's cute Doggy! 8-)
Orin

Smile today; tomorrow's another day!

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