The Milky Way has billions of stars; among them, our own sun finds its place. The galaxy"s name is derived from the radiant, pale appearance of the band of stars and gas clouds that graces Earth"s sky. Methodical observations of the night sky started with early civilizations but astronomy, the oldest natural science, remains a source of fascination today. It"s what brings stargazers to Portugal"s Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, a site free from heavy light pollution. Now"s a good time to seek out your own celestial spectacle, as it is Astronomy Week and the main event, Saturday"s Fall Astronomy Day, this year coincides with the autumnal equinox.
Fall Astronomy Week
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Salmon return to the Copper River
-
Land of the midnight sun
-
A picture-perfect day on Trillium
-
Marshland, Gloucester, MA
-
Whangārei Falls in New Zealand
-
Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia
-
From the mind of Frank Gehry
-
Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
-
Zion National Park, Utah
-
Lunar eclipse
-
Great on so many levels
-
Pandas pucker up for International Kissing Day
-
Falling for Tennessee
-
Earth Day
-
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
-
Haghartsin Monastery, Armenia
-
A house of grand scale(s)
-
National Bison Day
-
An oceanic valentine
-
Feelin groovy on Record Store Day
-
Row, row, row your gondola
-
High seas commerce
-
A tower of remembrance
-
Take this for a spin...
-
Surf s up—Down Under
-
A dreamy start to the Year of the Pig
-
Flag Day
-
Lake Peipus, Estonia
-
Where is this gorgeous peak?
-
Wildebeests in Maasai Mara, Kenya