Tuesday, March 24, 2015

APOD 3.6

See Explanation.
Moving the cursor over the image will bring up an annotated version.
Clicking on the image will bring up the highest resolution version
available.
This time-lapse poses an interesting question: which is older, the sky above us or the rocks below? Surprisingly, it is usually the rocks below us that have been there longer. Their sediments were settled in place long before light escaped any of the stars or nebulae that we perceive in the night sky. However, if you gaze far out enough, the stars will indeed become far more ancient. The beautiful scenery of the earth below provides incredible contrast with the vastness and magnificence of the stars above. The layers of differing rock composition through time are much more readily apparent than the differing lifespans of the stars and celestial objects. The multicolored bands visible in the sky below the Milky Way are actually a product of our atmospheric interference. The picture provides data about the vast amount of visuals present in the image when hovered over, allowing the viewer to better appreciate what they see in terms of distance and longevity.

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