|
Credit & Copyright: Alvin Wu
Explanation:
An arid expanse of the
Tengger
Desert
in north-central China, planet Earth
fills the foreground of this starry scene.
A widefield panoramic view, it was recorded
shortly after moonset in the local predawn hours of December 14.
Pictured in the still dark sky, stars of the
northern winter hexagon
surround a luminous Milky Way.
Seen near the peak of the
annual
meteor shower,
the startling flash of a bright Geminid fireball meteor was also
captured on that night.
Above the western horizon and just below bright star Capella,
its dagger-like trail points back to the meteor shower's
radiant in Gemini.
Of course, the constellation Gemini is easy to spot.
Its twin bright stars, bluish
Castor and yellowish Pollux
are near top center in the frame.
|
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: Geminids
Publications with words: Geminids
See also: