Astronomy Picture of the Day

Explanation: Telescopes are not very useful during lightning storms. Nevertheless, with lightning illuminating a dark landscape, the picturesque dome of the famous Kitt Peak 2.1-meter Telescope makes for a dramatic photograph. A passing car created the red and yellow streaks visible in the foreground. The 2.1-meter Telescope has participated in many important astronomical discoveries including the discovery of the Lyman-alpha forest, the first gravitational lens, and the first pulsating white dwarf.

January February March April May June July August September October November December

<  January 1999   > Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Publications with keywords: lightning - Observatory - telescope
Publications with words: lightning - Observatory - telescope
See also:

• Astronomer s Moon
• A Red Dome Under the Big Dipper
• Comet Between Fireworks and Lightning
• Deploying Spartan
• The 220 Mirrors of CRTF
• Compton Observatory In Orbit
• Gemini North Telescope Inaugurated

All publications on this topic >>