恶魔塔上空的银河

2022年4月13日

Milky Way over Devils Tower
Image Credit & Copyright: MaryBeth Kiczenski

Explanation: What created Devils Tower? The origin of this extraordinary rock monolith in Wyoming, USA is still debated, with a leading hypothesis holding that it is a hardened lava plume that never reached the surface to become a volcano. In this theory, the lighter rock that once surrounded the dense volcanic neck has now eroded away, leaving the dramatic tower. Known by Native Americans by names including Bear’s Lodge and Great Gray Horn, the dense rock includes the longest hexagonal columns known, some over 180-meters tall. High above, the central band of the Milky Way galaxy arches across the sky. Many notable sky objects are visible, including dark strands of the Pipe Nebula and the reddish Lagoon Nebula to the tower’s right. Green grass and trees line the foreground, while clouds appear near the horizon to the tower’s left. Unlike many other international landmarks, mountaineers are permitted to climb Devils Tower.

Birthday Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995)

Tomorrow’s picture: open space

恶魔塔上空的银河
影像提供与版权: MaryBeth Kiczenski

说明: 是什么造就了恶魔塔？位在美国怀俄明州的这块不寻常巨岩，其起源仍有争议，最可信的假说认为它是没穿出地表成为火山的硬化熔岩羽流。而在火山颈周围密度较低的岩石浸蚀殆尽之后，就留在这座戏剧性的塔状地标。这块美洲原住民称为熊屋和大灰角的致密巨岩，拥有现知最长、高度超过180公尺的六角岩柱。在它上方的星空中，银河系的中央盘面蜿蜒贯过天际。除此之外，其他可见的天体，还包括恶魔塔右方的黝黑烟斗星云和泛红的礁湖星云。影像前景则散布着绿草、树和塔左方绵延至远方地平线的云层。与许多其他国际地标不同的是：登山者可以攀爬魔鬼塔。

生日惊喜: APOD在你生日那天拍了什么照片？（1995年后）

明日的图片: open space