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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Исландские легенды и полярное сияние http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1350247/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Elizabeth M. Ryan;
Rollover Annotation: Judy Schmidt
Explanation:
Legends collide in this dramatic vista of land, sea, and sky.
The land is Iceland, specifically
VМk М MЩrdal, a southern village known for its beautiful
black sand beaches.
The sea, the Atlantic Ocean,
surrounds
Reynisdrangar, a sea stack
of eroded basaltic rock
pillars that
Icelandic
folklore
tells are the petrified remains of
trolls
once attempting to drag a three-masted ship onto land.
Watching
from overhead and shining bright on the upper right is the
god of the sky, according
to
Greek mythology: the
planet Jupiter.
Also visible in the sky are several other Greek legends encapsulated as
constellations,
including a lion
(Leo),
a big bear (Ursa Major),
and a water snake (Hydra).
One might guess that all of this commotion caused the
spectacular
aurora pictured -- but really it was just
explosions
from the Sun.
Display the Universe:
APOD 2016 Wall Calendars
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.