March 17, 2015
Somewhere between the hydrogen and the starlight, between the gravity and the grace, the universe conspired to bring you into being.
The Big Dipper Enhanced
Birthday · March 17, 2015
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published March 17, 2015. Credit: VegaStar Carpentier. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Do you see it? This common question frequently precedes the rediscovery of one of the most commonly recognized configurations of stars on the northern sky: the Big Dipper. This grouping of stars is one of the few things that has likely been seen, and will be seen, by every human generation. In this featured image, however, the stars of the Big Dipper have been digitally enhanced -- they do not really appear this much brighter than nearby stars. The image was taken earlier this month from France. The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. Although part of the constellation of the Great Bear (Ursa Major), the Big Dipper is an asterism that has been known by different names to different societies. Five of the Big Dipper stars are actually near each other in space and were likely formed at nearly the same time. Relative stellar motions will cause the Big Dipper to slowly change its apparent configuration over the next 100,000 years. Follow APOD on: Facebook, Google Plus, or Twitter
Image credit: VegaStar Carpentier