The Southern Sky from the International Space Station
Explanation:
Look up from Earth's
South Pole,
and this stellar starscape is what you might see.
Alternatively,
this patch of sky
is also visible from many southern locations
as well as the orbiting
International Space Station,
where the
above image was recently recorded.
To the left of the photograph's center are the four stars that mark the
boundaries of the famous
Southern Cross.
The
band of stars, dust, and gas
crossing the middle of the photograph is part our
Milky Way Galaxy.
At the lower left is the dark
Coal Sack Nebula,
and the bright nebula on the far right is the
Carina Nebula.
The
Southern Cross is such a famous
constellation that it is
depicted on the
national flag of
Australia.
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.
