Because August is such a fantastic time for stargazing, we’re looking skyward at this spectacular nighttime scene of the Milky Way over the Totensee, a small natural lake in Switzerland. In the Northern Hemisphere, the nights are still long and remain warm, so if you"re lucky you can catch the always thrilling sight of a falling star. Tonight would be a good night to look for one because we"re at the tail end of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Like most predictable meteor showers, it occurs when the Earth"s orbit intersects with the long elliptical path of one of the millions of comets that orbit the sun. It is called the Perseid meteor shower because the bulk of the meteors will appear to originate out of the constellation Perseus. So, turn out the lights, head outside, and look up!
Reflections of the night sky
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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A river on the tundra
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World Whale Day
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They’re grrrape!
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Humpback whales in Maui, Hawaii
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Great Backyard Bird Count
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Bask in the glow—It s World Turtle Day
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‘Think equal, build smart, innovate for change’
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Mardi Gras
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Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Louvre Pyramid
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India Republic Day
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Blue walls of Chefchaouen, Morocco
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A century since Tut s tomb was discovered
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A bridge too Fawr
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A leafy seadragon in the waters off Wool Bay, Australia
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Australian baobab tree, Kimberley region, Western Australia
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Patriot Day
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Lucian Blaga National Theater, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Balloon Ascension Day
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Mont-Saint-Michel
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Mountain goats
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Spotted owlet, Bangkok, Thailand
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A step toward freedom
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Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California
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Construction workers resting above Manhattan
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A duckling swimming in a water meadow, Suffolk, England
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National Park Week: Wind Cave National Park
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Whooper swans in Lake Kussharo, Japan
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Southern right whales sail home to South Africa
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Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy
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Arctic fox in Norway
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

