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Birthday · October 7, 2014

From the Temple of the Sun to the Temple of the Moon

October 7, 2014

Your birthday is not just a date on a calendar. It is the yearly return of a moment when the universe became more observant, more feeling,...

From the Temple of the Sun to the Temple of the Moon

A little universe, just for you

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APOD published October 7, 2014. Credit: Dave Lane. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.

Behind the image

From the Temple of the Sun to the Temple of the Moon

Original APOD · October 7, 2014

What connects the Sun to the Moon? Many answers have been given throughout history, but in the case of today's featured image, it appears to be the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy. The 16-image panorama was taken in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA where two sandstone monoliths -- the Temple of the Moon on the right and the Temple of the Sun on the left -- rise dramatically from the desert. Each natural monument stands about 100 meters tall and survives from the Jurassic period 160 million years ago. Even older are many of the stars and nebulas that dot the celestial background, including the Andromeda Galaxy. Tomorrow the Earth will connect the Sun to the Moon by way of its shadow: a total lunar eclipse will be visible from many locations around the globe. New: Follow APOD on Ello

Image credit: Dave Lane

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