September 12, 2009
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.
Summer Night in Astronomy Town
Birthday · September 12, 2009
A little universe, just for you
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APOD published September 12, 2009. Credit: Babak Tafreshi. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
This serene view records a late summer night sky over the rolling, green hills of planet Earth. It was taken near the rural village of Saadat Shahr, Fars province, in southern Iran. Saadat Shahr is also known as Astronomy Town, as the inhabitants have demonstrated a remarkable passion for sky gazing. Fittingly, this Astronomy Town sky view finds a lovely part of the Milky Way near picture center. The three brightest stars are the stars of the Summer Triangle, Deneb in Cygnus (top), Altair in Aquila (left), and Vega in Lyra (right). The foreground landscape, illuminated by Astronomy Town lights, includes a kind of wild pistachio tree common in the region. To identify the stars and constellations, just slide your cursor over the image.
Image credit: Babak Tafreshi