Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Southern Ocean Sky [video]

NASA ^ | July 04, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Clouds and sky both show illuminating changes during this time lapse video from the south of Australia. In the foreground are scenes visible over a rocky coastline toward the Southern Ocean. Dark clouds flow across the sky, sometimes from different directions, sometimes blocking background starlight, but other times causing stars to appear to flare as they move in front. In the first sequence, looking toward the southwest, a nearly vertical band of zodiacal light is seen at sunset just before the band of the Milky Way Galaxy appears to settle into the sea. Soon the unusual dark patch of the Coal Sack Nebula can be seen on the Milky Way band, near the famous Southern Cross. Later, looking toward the southeast at about 2:10 in the video, Orion can be seen rising appearing nearly perpendicular to how it rises in northern skies. The composite video, winner of an award STARMUS astrophotography competition, took over a year to compile in 2009 and 2010 from over 30 hours of exposure. Mini-mystery: what are those lights moving along the horizon?

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: David Thoreson & Around the Americas; Video Credit: Alex Cherney (Terrastro); Video Soundtrack: Redmann]

[SunkenCiv]

I've substituted a very nice photo of the Southern Ocean Sky, by a different photographer, as this is a video source and I'm getting no thumbnail for today's APoD. BTW, there would have been nothing wrong with a starscape over Washington DC, or over Gettysburg, or pretty much anything related to the 4th of July.

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[rlmorel]

That has been my homepage for years...I just got home and...boom! Saw that gorgeous video.

Man, I wish I could get that to play on my new TV in a continuous loop...just beautiful.

[SunkenCiv]

Ah, now I've got it.

[TheOldLady]

Pretty.

[submarinerswife]

I’m almost expecting God’s fingertip to poke through the clouds.

Cool picture.

[JoeProBono]

[going hot]

at 2:16, orion in upside down coming in.

[JoeProBono]

[My Favorite Headache]

Just made my night complete with this. Stunning.

[TheOldLady]

The amazing part is that Alex Cherney spent over a year to compile 0:02:41 of film. That’s a labor of love, and the result is hauntingly beautiful.

[TheOldLady]

I know. Thank you, my friend.

[bigheadfred]

or pretty much anything related to the 4th of July

Anything? Sunrise at my house this morning

[TheOldLady]

That’s lovely.

We’re finally in a house where we can see the sunrise and sunset. Last house (a rental) was surrounded by evergreens that blocked the horizons in all directions all year long.

It’s nice to see the lovely painted skies again, not to forget the moon and stars.

[bigheadfred]

not to forget the moon and stars

Yeah, or that your wife just got home from work and she is tired...

[TheOldLady]

I'm not purposely being dense, but I don't get the connection. 

[bigheadfred]

My wife had just gotten home from work yesterday when she asked if she could help me. I shoulda just told her to relax, finished the coleslaw, and put the meat on the grill. Not sitting at the computer.

It is a classic case of getting caught up in the fluff that I forget the magnificence that surrounds me. I truly treasure my wife. That girl tries so hard. I hang my head.

[SunkenCiv]

That is nice!

[TheOldLady]

God bless you, Fred. Good job realizing that. Mrs. Fred must be very happy.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks JPB!