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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Light Pillars and Orion over Mohe
NASA ^ | 23 Mar, 2026 | Image Credit & Copyright: Jeff Dai (TWAN)

Posted on 03/23/2026 12:04:21 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: What's happening at the end of that street? Pictured here are not auroras but light pillars, a phenomenon typically much closer. In most places on Earth, a lucky viewer can see a Sun pillar, a column of light appearing to extend up from the Sun caused by flat fluttering ice-crystals reflecting sunlight from the upper atmosphere. Usually, these ice crystals evaporate before reaching the ground. During freezing temperatures, however, flat fluttering ice crystals may form near the ground and are sometimes known as a crystal fog. These small ice crystals may then reflect not the Sun but ground lights. The featured image captured not only numerous light pillars but also the iconic constellation of Orion, and was taken in Mohe, the northernmost city in China.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

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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.

1 posted on 03/23/2026 12:04:21 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 03/23/2026 12:04:38 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 03/23/2026 12:05:21 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Beautiful.


4 posted on 03/23/2026 1:09:07 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: MtnClimber

No way.


5 posted on 03/23/2026 1:17:54 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: MtnClimber

That would be freakin’ me out! Very beautiful, though. :)


6 posted on 03/23/2026 1:37:22 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; MtnClimber

Completely agree.


7 posted on 03/23/2026 2:11:20 PM PDT by AFB-XYZ (( We have two options: 1. Stand up, or 2. Bend over))
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To: MtnClimber
Laser pens buried in a birthday cake? Maybe?

Winter Cake, the Northernmost Slice,
Buried in frosting, the pens ignite.
With colors red, green, blue and white —
Each gigantic beam wish is a vertical defiance.

8 posted on 03/23/2026 2:11:34 PM PDT by Deaf and Discerning
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To: MtnClimber

I’ve only seen a light pillar in winter at sunrise, when it’s really cold outside. Subzero temperatures. No wind, and it appeared to extend upward right out of the rising sun. Beautiful, but oh, so cold!🥶


9 posted on 03/23/2026 3:41:09 PM PDT by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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