Milky Way with Airglow Australis
Explanation:
After sunset on September 1, an exceptionally
intense, reddish airglow flooded this Chilean winter night skyscape.
Above a sea of clouds and flanking the
celestial Milky Way, the airglow seems to ripple and flow
across the northern horizon in
atmospheric waves.
Originating at an altitude similar to aurorae,
the luminous airglow is instead
due
to chemiluminescence, the
production of light through chemical excitation.
Commonly captured with a greenish tinge by sensitive
digital cameras, this reddish airglow emission is
from OH molecules and oxygen atoms at extremely low densities
and has often been present in
southern hemisphere nights during the last few years.
On this night it was visible to the eye, but seen without color.
Antares and the
central Milky Way
lie near the top, with bright star Arcturus at left.
Straddling the Milky Way close to the horizon are Vega, Deneb,
and Altair, known in northern nights as the
stars of the Summer Triangle.
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.
