|
Credit & Copyright: Yuri Beletsky
(ESO)
Explanation:
This breathtaking patch of sky would be above you were you
to stand at the
South Pole of the Earth.
On the upper left of this image are the
four stars that mark the
boundaries of the famous
Southern Cross.
At the top of this constellation, also known as
The Crux,
is the orange star
Gamma Crucis.
The band of stars, dust, and gas
crossing the middle of the photograph is part our
Milky Way Galaxy.
Just below the Southern Cross on the far 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.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Milky Way - Southern Cross
Publications with words: Milky Way - Southern Cross
See also:
- APOD: 2024 November 24 Á Journey to the Center of the Galaxy
- APOD: 2024 November 5 Á Milky Way over Easter Island
- APOD: 2024 August 4 Á Gaia: Here Comes the Sun
- APOD: 2024 July 29 Á Milky Way over Uluru
- APOD: 2024 May 29 Á Stairway to the Milky Way
- APOD: 2023 December 12 Á Aurora and Milky Way over Norway
- Milky Way Rising