Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Teimareh Petroglyphs and Star Trails

NASA ^ | July 12, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Engraved in rock, these ancient petroglyphs are abundant in the Teimareh valley, located in the Zagros Mountains of central Iran. They likely tell a tale of hunters and animals found in the middle eastern valley 6,000 years ago or more, etched by artists in a prehistoric age. In the night sky above are star trails etched by the rotation of planet Earth during the long composite exposure made with a modern digital camera. On the left, the center of the star trail arcs is the North Celestial Pole (NCP), the extension of Earth's axis into space, with Polaris, the North Star, leaving the bright, short, stubby trail closest to the NCP. But when these petroglyphs were carved, Polaris would have made a long arc through the night. Since the Earth's rotation axis precesses like a wobbling top, 6,000 years ago the NCP was near the border of the constellations Draco and Ursa Major, some 30 degrees from its current location in planet Earth's sky.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Babak Tafreshi (TWAN)]

[SunkenCiv]

Looks like a Van Gogh.

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[SunkenCiv]

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This works out as a GGG topic as well -- 6000 year old petroglyphs in the Zagros mtns of Iran. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[onyx]

Looks like a Van Gogh.

Sure enough! I love it.

Thanks very much, SunkenCiv!

[left that other site]

In Iran, eh?

I am surprised that the Mad Mullahs haven’t sandblasted those symbols from a bygone “pagan” era.

[Vaquero]

Will The Pyramids Go Down Like The Twin Towers?

[left that other site]

They can TRY, but the Pyramids have survived a long time.

Since the Pyramids are considered a World Heritage Site, and the only surviving “Wonder of the Ancient World”, it will be amusing to watch the heads explode on the liberals, new agers, academics, and hippies if they actually TRY!

Where is Zawi Hawass, by the way?

[Vaquero]

I doubt that....most of those whom you speak of are rabid cowards....and afraid of Islam( and, for that matter, of their own shadows).

you know a few bunker busters, delivered by the Egyptian air 'farce' should make short work of the iconic structures...

[left that other site]

Well, that is true.

And we HAVEN’T heard from Zawi lately, have we?

[Vaquero]

You mean ‘Indiana Achhhmed’?

seems like a nice guy till you watch him berate the exchange students of european descent...then you know what a nasty 'bastage' he is...

[bmwcyle]

That is a great picture.

[left that other site]

There was a time when nearly every archaeology program on the History Channel had him on it. I used to think he was an OK guy... till I saw him interviewed on a news program and his words concerning Israel revealed him as a rabid anti-semite.

He had risen to an exalted position as director of Egyptian Activities, so I can’t help a fleeting moment of Schadenfreude over his current “situation”.

[blueunicorn6]

Just more insurance ads.

“Lions eating your family? Ogs Insurance can help take a bite out of that lion bite!”

[left that other site]

Antiquities...not “Activities”. My mind is a little preoccupied today...Moving day. Ugh!

[blueunicorn6]

The earth wobbles? Does that make us weebles?

[blueunicorn6]

“Katie! You’re driving me crazy! When will summer vacation be over? Now, take that chalk and quit messing up the driveway. Go draw on the rocks or something.”

[Conan the Librarian]

I was surprised by that too. I met him briefly a few years ago (hand shake and very small talk) and he was very nice.

I have found that people who are passionate about their field usually have little time for folks they deem ‘unworthy’, and, tend to treat them in an unfair manner whether it is deserved or not.

[Bernard Marx]

Looks like a Van Gogh.

VG's "Starry Night" was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the image.

[SunkenCiv]

Now look, just because they've done that kind of thing in the past is no reason to think that, uh...

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