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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International Day of Color
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International Women s Day
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Tough turf
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Here we mark the price of freedom
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Old Town of Rovinj, Croatia
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Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway
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Arctic fox in Norway
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Unearthing a queen s lost tale
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Mexican giant cardon cactus
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An opulent backdrop for a historic event
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Golden jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake, Palau
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30 years after Exxon Valdez
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National Panda Day
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It’s surströmming time
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Oktoberfest begins
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Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
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Cecropia leaf and lobster claw petals in Mexico
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Uredd Rest Area, Norway
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Peel Castle on St. Patrick’s Isle with the Isle of Man in the background
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The artists come to Venice
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These patterns tell a story
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The Old City of Bern
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International Tiger Day
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Till the cows come home
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Beavers Bend
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50 years of World Heritage Sites
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Star Wars Day
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A reflection of Europe s past
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When Death Valley blew its top
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Overlooking the Douro