|   | 
Credit & Copyright: Elke Schulz  
  
  
Explanation:
Stars seem  
to arc through southern skies in this  
surrealistic  
time exposure -- recorded before moonrise from the  
Gemini  
South  
Observatory, Cerro Pachon, Chile,  
Planet  
Earth.  
  
During the one hour 40 minute exposure  
camera and tripod were fixed,  
so the concentric star trails are a  
reflection  
of Earth's daily rotation about its axis.  
  
The view looks to the south and includes the  
Gemini telescope enclosure in the foreground.  
  
At the apparent center of the curving trails, the South  
Celestial Pole  
lies just off the upper left edge.  
  
Two faint, wide streaks track the  
Magellanic Clouds, satellites  
of the Milky Way Galaxy, while a meteor flashes throught the scene  
just left of the observatory.  
  
Lights on the horizon are from the coastal cities of  
La  
Serena and Coquimbo.  
  
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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: Gemini telescope - star trail
Publications with words: Gemini telescope - star trail
See also:
