March 31, 2016
In the time it took you to read this, the Earth moved another thousand miles through space. You are not standing still. You never have been.
Big Dipper to Southern Cross
Birthday · March 31, 2016
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published March 31, 2016. Credit: Petr Horálek. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Welcome to an equatorial night. This remarkable 24 frame night skyscape was captured from Maba Beach on the Indonesian island of Halmahera during the evening of March 4. Seen from a mere 0.7 degrees northern latitude, both famous northern and southern asterisms and navigational aids lie within the panoramic view. The Big Dipper is on the far left and Southern Cross at the far right. Beyond the fading campfire on that night a yellow-orange celestial triangle is set by Mars, Antares, and Saturn. It stands above the rising central Milky Way, or "Miett" in the local Maba language. Of course, you can follow the pole pointing stars in the cup of the Big Dipper or body of the Southern Cross to the north and south celestial poles. Both lie just at the horizon in the view from the island's equatorial beach.
Image credit: Petr Horálek