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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Новогодние огни в небе http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1352562/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Gill Fry
Explanation:
Triggered by the impact
of a coronal mass ejection on New Year's eve,
a moderate geomagnetic storm brought a
celebration
of sky lights
to planet Earth's high latitudes yesterday.
In this New Year's nightscape,
the shimmering reddish curtains of
aurora australis
along a southern horizon are captured over
Morgiana, SW Victoria, Australia.
Of course, more permanent jewels of the southern skies
are on the scene.
The southern Milky Way, Alpha and Beta Centauri, and bright stars of
the Southern Cross are on the left.
In silhouette, branches of the large foreground tree stretch
across the Milky Way's satellite galaxies, the Large and Small
Magellanic clouds.
The bright star framed near the tips of tree branches at right
is Achernar.
Alpha star of the constellation Eridanus, Achernar is
sometimes known as the southern
end of the river.
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.