March 14, 2017
The same forces that sculpt nebulae and spin galaxies into existence were at work the day you were born.
A Dark Winter Sky over Monfrag�e National Park in Spain
Birthday · March 14, 2017
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APOD published March 14, 2017. Credit: Jos� Luis Qui�ones (Entre Encinas y Estrellas). A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Behind the image
A Dark Winter Sky over Monfrag�e National Park in Spain
Original APOD · March 14, 2017 ↗You, too, can see a night sky like this. That is because Monfrag�e National Park in Spain, where this composite image was created, has recently had its night sky officially protected from potential future light pollution. Icons of the night sky that should continue to stand out during northern winter -- and are visible on the featured image -- include very bright stars like Sirius, Betelgeuse, and Procyon, bright star clusters like the Pleiades, and, photographically, faint nebulas like the California and Rosette Nebulas. Even 100 years ago, many people were more familiar with a darker night sky than people today, primarily because of the modern light pollution. Other parks that have been similarly protected as dark-sky preserves include Death Valley National Park (USA) and Grasslands National Park (Canada). Areas such as the city of Flagstaff, Arizona and much of the Big Island of Hawaii also have their night skies protected.
Image credit: Jos� Luis Qui�ones (Entre Encinas y Estrellas)