No, that"s not a downpour of lightsabers—but it"s no typical night sky either. Stargazing here at Paranal Observatory, on a mountaintop in Chile"s desolate Atacama Desert, you"ll get one of the clearest possible naked-eye views of the southern skies. This "lightsaber" effect comes from the photo"s long exposure: What we"re seeing is these stars" paths as they track across the night sky due to our planet"s rotation. The dazzling colors indicate temperature, from chilly red (5,000-ish degrees Fahrenheit) to balmy blue (temps in the tens of thousands).
Happy Astronomy Day!
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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The Girl Scouts celebrate 110 years
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In orbit for Yuri s Night
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Milford Sound/Piopiotahi rainforest in New Zealand
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Misool Island, Indonesia
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Back to the nest
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It s leap day!
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Sea Slug Day
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St. Patricks Day
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Happy Mother s Day!
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Looking down upon Edinburgh
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Happy Mother’s Day
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Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
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Walking among the giants
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A different kind of dive
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Take me to the river
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Happy Cinco de Mayo!
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Let s celebrate cephalopods
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Regional Park of Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli, Italy
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Celebrating the first day of spring
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It s superb owl Sunday
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The long and wiggling path
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Okefenokee Swamp
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An island for the birds
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Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
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Sailing on thick ice
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Dance of the egret
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The most wonderful day of the year. Period.
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Pantaleu
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Antarctica Day
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Jane’s Carousel delights