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Birthday · August 5, 2024

Milky Way Over Tunisia

August 5, 2024

In the grand ledger of cosmic time, a human life is breathtakingly brief. But brevity is not insignificance.

Milky Way Over Tunisia

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APOD published August 5, 2024. Credit: Makrem Larnaout. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.

Behind the image

Milky Way Over Tunisia

Original APOD · August 5, 2024

That's no moon. On the ground, that's the Lars Homestead in Tunisia. And that's not just any galaxy. That's the central band of our own Milky Way galaxy. Last, that's not just any meteor. It is a bright fireball likely from last year's Perseids meteor shower. The featured image composite combines consecutive exposures taken by the same camera from the same location. This year's Perseids peak during the coming weekend is expected to show the most meteors after the first quarter moon sets, near midnight. To best experience a meteor shower, you should have clear and dark skies, a comfortable seat, and patience.

Image credit: Makrem Larnaout

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