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Credit & Copyright: Franco Meconi
Explanation:
In this evocative night scene a dusty central Milky Way
rises over the
ancient Andean
archaeological site of Yacoraite in
northwestern Argentina.
The denizens of planet Earth
reaching
skyward
are the large Argentine saguaro cactus currently
native
to the arid region.
The unusual yellow-hued reflection nebula above is created by
dust scattering starlight
around red giant star Antares.
Alpha star of the constellation Scorpius,
Antares is over 500 light-years distant.
Next to it bright blue
Rho Ophiuchi is
embedded in more typical dusty bluish
reflection nebulae though.
The deep night skyscape was created from a series of
background exposures of the rising stars made while tracking the sky,
and a foreground exposure of the landscape made with the camera and lens
fixed on the tripod.
In combination they produce the single stunning image and reveal a
range of brightness and color that
your eye can't quite
perceive on its own.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: night sky
Publications with words: night sky
See also: