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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Rainbow Airglow over the Azores
NASA ^ | Tuesday, March 22, 2016 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 03/23/2016 2:48:05 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Why would the sky glow like a giant repeating rainbow? Airglow. Now air glows all of the time, but it is usually hard to see. A disturbance however -- like an approaching storm -- may cause noticeable rippling in the Earth's atmosphere. These gravity waves are oscillations in air analogous to those created when a rock is thrown in calm water. The long-duration exposure nearly along the vertical walls of airglow likely made the undulating structure particularly visible. OK, but where do the colors originate? The deep red glow likely originates from OH molecules about 87-kilometers high, excited by ultraviolet light from the Sun. The orange and green airglow is likely caused by sodium and oxygen atoms slightly higher up. The featured image was captured during a climb up Mount Pico in the Azores of Portugal. Ground lights originate from the island of Faial in the Atlantic Ocean. A spectacular sky is visible through this banded airglow, with the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy running up the image center, and M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, visible near the top left.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: andromeda; apod; astronomy; m31; science
[Credit and Copyright: Miguel Claro (TWAN); Rollover Annotation: Judy Schmidt]

1 posted on 03/23/2016 2:48:05 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; disndat; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
The Big One

2 posted on 03/23/2016 2:48:50 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Unreal


3 posted on 03/23/2016 2:49:25 PM PDT by samtheman (Trump For America.)
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To: SunkenCiv
" gravity waves"?

GWs are what makes this work? Really?

4 posted on 03/23/2016 2:50:41 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: SunkenCiv

PSALM 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.


5 posted on 03/23/2016 3:54:36 PM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12)
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To: SunkenCiv

Wonderful image.


6 posted on 03/23/2016 4:04:01 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: SunkenCiv

That is really lovely! :-)


7 posted on 03/23/2016 4:09:12 PM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Gravity waves move at the speed of light. So these bands must move across the sky pretty fast.


8 posted on 03/23/2016 5:28:40 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: SunkenCiv

That’s an amazing and spectacular picture, Mr. Civilizations.

I have never seen anything like that before in any of the APODs
even after all these years. And I do love the pretty colors. ;-)

Thank you so much for the post/ping. Best terrestrial shot EVER!


9 posted on 03/23/2016 5:52:33 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: TheOldLady; left that other site; metmom; stars & stripes forever; samtheman; Paladin2; ...
It could be turn 90° to make it fit modern long screens, but then all the water'd leak out -- with or without the gravity waves. ;')
10 posted on 03/24/2016 5:25:48 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
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To: stars & stripes forever

Nailed it. Wow.

I had a friend who used to say, “I love to sit back and watch my Father paint”.


11 posted on 03/24/2016 5:27:58 AM PDT by hoagy62 (Timid Men prefer the 'Calm of Despotism' to the 'Tempestuous Sea of Liberty'. ~ T. Jefferson)
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To: Arthur McGowan

GWs must vary in amplitude, phasing and frequency. Who has studied that?


12 posted on 03/24/2016 5:31:18 AM PDT by Paladin2
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To: hoagy62

The picture is background for my desktop to remind me of GOD’S promises, goodness, mercy, faithfulness, and HIS great love for us. He is a just GOD.


13 posted on 03/24/2016 7:09:16 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12)
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To: stars & stripes forever

Thanks for the idea. It’s my background screen now as well.


14 posted on 03/24/2016 7:27:53 AM PDT by hoagy62 (Timid Men prefer the 'Calm of Despotism' to the 'Tempestuous Sea of Liberty'. ~ T. Jefferson)
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