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Credit & Copyright: Vojtäch Bauer
Explanation:
Do you recognize this constellation?
Setting past the
Central Bohemian Highlands in the
Czech Republic
is Orion, one of the most identifiable
star groupings on the sky and an icon familiar to
humanity for over 30,000 years.
Orion has looked pretty much the same during this time and should continue to look the
same for many thousands of years into the future.
Prominent
Orion is high in the sky at sunset this time of year,
a recurring sign of (modern) winter in
Earth's
northern hemisphere and summer in the south.
The featured picture is a composite of over thirty images taken from the
same location
and during the same night last month.
Below and slightly to the left of
Orion's three-star belt is the
Orion Nebula,
while four of the bright stars surrounding the belt are, clockwise,
Sirius (far left, blue),
Betelgeuse (top, orange,
unusually faint),
Aldebaran (far right),
and Rigel (below).
As future weeks progress,
Orion will set increasingly earlier.
Infinite Random Loop:
Create an APOD Station in your classroom or Science Center.
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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: Orion
Publications with words: Orion
See also: