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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Milky Way Over Monument Valley
NASA ^ | August 01, 2012 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 08/01/2012 2:07:49 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: You don't have to be at Monument Valley to see the Milky Way arch across the sky like this -- but it helps. Only at Monument Valley USA would you see a picturesque foreground that includes these iconic rock peaks called buttes. Buttes are composed of hard rock left behind after water has eroded away the surrounding soft rock. In the above image taken about two months ago, the closest butte on the left and the butte to its right are known as the Mittens, while Merrick Butte can be seen just further to the right. High overhead stretches a band of diffuse light that is the central disk of our spiral Milky Way Galaxy. The band of the Milky Way can be spotted by almost anyone on almost any clear night when far enough from a city and surrounding bright lights.

August 01, 2012

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; milkyway; science
[Credit & Copyright: Wally Pacholka (AstroPics.com, TWAN)]

1 posted on 08/01/2012 2:07:52 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

A special note of thanks is in order -- to me. I did this APoD on the machine at work, no wonder America has fallen behind.
APOD in Spanish: On the web and through Facebook

2 posted on 08/01/2012 2:12:29 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

heh. I’m reading this APoD on the machine at work.


3 posted on 08/01/2012 2:15:54 PM PDT by bigheadfred
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To: SunkenCiv

“The band of the Milky Way” - I’ve seen that band.....two kazoos and a whistle....not much to dance to, but the guy on the whistle can wail.


4 posted on 08/01/2012 3:51:40 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: SunkenCiv

Moderators! Moderators! SunkenCiv is showing butt pictures again! Make him stand in the corner with an eraser on his head!


5 posted on 08/01/2012 3:54:52 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: blueunicorn6

She was a big woman, her name was Bertha.


6 posted on 08/01/2012 4:06:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Somebody had to do it.

7 posted on 08/01/2012 4:11:35 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Woe to them...)
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To: SunkenCiv

“... thanks is in order-— to me”.

Thank you, Sunky! You spoil us so much. We appreciate your dedication. (of course, you can’t steal pens at work. That is a no-no!!)


8 posted on 08/01/2012 4:25:11 PM PDT by momtothree
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To: SunkenCiv

That is one stunning photograph.

I was in Hawaii (some 18 yrs ago now, oy!!) and had the opportunity to be in Volcanoes National Park at night... everyone should be so lucky, to see Dark as nature intended.... no lights, only millions of stars. I will never forget that. The sheer beauty and majesty of it was overwhelming.


9 posted on 08/01/2012 4:32:32 PM PDT by workerbee (June 28, 2012 -- 9/11 From Within)
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To: blueunicorn6

They got him to replace a butterfingers who couldn’t.


10 posted on 08/01/2012 4:33:44 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: bigheadfred

;’) I was off duty of course, but what a pain. My machine at home is at least seven years older than the work C(ra)PU, but, well, it’s one of those OS-wars kinds of things.


11 posted on 08/01/2012 4:37:49 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: momtothree

People are *always* swiping my pens, I buy them myself, maybe I’ll stop doing that.


12 posted on 08/01/2012 4:38:31 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: the invisib1e hand; workerbee

Thanks!


13 posted on 08/01/2012 4:39:30 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv
They got him to replace a butterfingers who couldn’t.

enough's enough already.

14 posted on 08/01/2012 4:45:41 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Woe to them...)
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To: SunkenCiv

When I lived in “the valleys” in California, San Gabriel as a teen and later, San Fernando (YES!! I admit it! I’m a Valley Girl fer shur), it was very easy to see, like, the Milky Way in Hacienda Heights in SGV before they installed, like, the street lights and built up the area. ;-P

In Chatsworth, SFV, there was no light pollution at all where our house was, behind a hill and shaded from the city lights, and Hubby and I would go out on the roof and watch the stars and meteors.

Here, it’s cloudy a lot, but on clear nights the stars are spectacular as well.


15 posted on 08/01/2012 6:36:10 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: TheOldLady

Having driven Hacienda Blvd (including the non-boulevarded part, very confusing) I can imagine that used to be sparsely populated. :’)


16 posted on 08/01/2012 6:42:09 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Ah, yes. Hacienda Blvd., Highway 39, all the way to Huntington Beach, baby!

My Cousin from Jersey came to visit us with her mother one summer, and she would not believe me when I told her I went to Manhattan Beach several times a week to surf and sun. I actually had to drive her over there and show her the city sign before she would admit that yes, there is a Manhattan Beach in California, LOL!


17 posted on 08/01/2012 6:57:43 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: TheOldLady; SunkenCiv

Yeah. I was on a psychotic break my last post.

Things have “improved”.

Readverticalmetrealisticallyreadtokilloverthefuckinglies.

Not to mention my aching crotch.

LOL


18 posted on 08/01/2012 7:40:39 PM PDT by bigheadfred
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To: SunkenCiv

Wow! That takes your breath away! If I lived in view of that, I would sleep under the stars every night.


19 posted on 08/01/2012 8:46:34 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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