Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Veins of Heaven

NASA ^ | July 31, 2014 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Transfusing sunlight through a still dark sky, this exceptional display of noctilucent clouds was captured earlier this month above the island of Gotland, Sweden. From the edge of space, about 80 kilometers above Earth's surface, the icy clouds reflect sunlight even though the Sun itself is below the horizon as seen from the ground. Usually spotted at high latitudes in summer months the night shining clouds made a strong showing this July. Also known as polar mesopheric clouds they are understood to form as water vapor driven into the cold upper atmosphere condenses on the fine dust particles supplied by disintegrating meteors or volcanic ash. NASA's AIM mission provides daily projections of noctilucent clouds as seen from space.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: P-M Hedén (Clear Skies, TWAN)]

[SunkenCiv]

Multiple monitor system users may find this terrestrial shot to their liking.

The Big One

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[Slyfox]

If that pictures was taken just after sunrise they would be Homer’s “Rosy Fingers.”

[dr_lew]

“Rhododactylos Eos” ... that’s in Thin Red Line, “We read Homer at the Point, in Greek.”

[Vendome]

How kewel...