Posted on 08/16/2021 2:50:00 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: This was an unusual sky. It wasn't unusual because of the central band the Milky Way Galaxy, visible along the image left. Most dark skies show part of the Milky Way. It wasn't unusual because of the bright meteor visible on the upper right. Many images taken during last week's Perseid Meteor Shower show meteors, although this Perseid was particularly bright. This sky wasn't unusual because of the red sprites, visible on the lower right. Although this type of lightning has only been noted in the past few decades, images of sprites are becoming more common. This sky wasn't unusual because of the nova, visible just above the image center. Novas bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye occur every few years, with pictured Nova RS Ophiuchus discovered about a week ago. What was most unusual, though, was to capture all these things together, in a single night, on a single sky. The unusual sky occurred above Zacatecas, Mexico.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Hover your cursor over the image at the link for text to identify photo features.
Ophiuchus means "serpent holder" (ophis = "serpent" in Greek). The snake in Acts 28.3 is described by a different term, echidna, "viper" (maybe to emphasize that it was a poisonous snake). The snake being held by the serpent holder is known by its Latin name (Serpens Caput and Serpens Cauda).
We now return you to your regularly scheduled herpetologist.
And it should be Recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchi, not Nova Ophiuchi.
Thanks for the lesson. I gotta brush up on my constellation lore. My astronomy club is starting up public viewing again. Finally!
See The Discarded Image, By CS Lewis for discussions of spirits that were neither angels or devils and did not quite fit into the Medieval Model of the Universe. Of course this is 2021 me saying this. Europeans 1200 years ago would not have been able to see sprites and sprites are neither alive or sentient. (As far as we know!) Slide back to NOAA Perseids and the milkyway!
I have been just writing RS Oph. The folks I was posting to knew what I meant. :D
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