June 18, 2010
Every year, the Earth returns to the same point in its orbit where it was when you were born.
Star Trails and Tajinastes
Birthday · June 18, 2010
A little universe, just for you
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APOD published June 18, 2010. Credit: Daniel López. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
What bizarre planet do these alien creatures inhabit? It's only planet Earth, of course. In this well-composed scene, the sky is filled with star trails around the north celestial pole. A reflection of the Earth's daily rotation on its axis, star trails are familiar to photographers who fix their camera to a tripod and make long exposures of the night sky. But the imposing forms gazing skyward probably look strange to many denizens of Earth. Found on the Canary Island of Tenerife, they are red tajinastes, rare flowering plants that grow to a height of up to 3 meters. Hidden among the rocks of the volcanic terrain, tajinastes bloom in spring and early summer and then die after their seeds mature. On the distant horizon, below and left of the celestial pole, lies the Teide volcano.
Image credit: Daniel López