Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2025 July 2
    [2]A skyscape is seen above an water inlet. Two rock spires rise from
    the sea, and the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy is seen between
       them. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                       Milky Way Through Otago Spires
       Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Kavan Chay; Text: [4]Ogetay Kayali
                            ([5]Michigan Tech U.)

   Explanation: Does the Milky Way always rise between these two rocks?
   No. Capturing this stunning alignment took careful planning: being in
   the right place at the right time. In the featured image taken in June
   2024 from [6]Otago, [7]New Zealand, the bright [8]central core of our
   [9]Milky Way Galaxy, home to the many of our Galaxy's 400 billion
   stars, can be seen between two picturesque rocks spires. For observers
   in [10]Earth's [11]Northern Hemisphere, the core is only visible
   throughout the summer. As Earth orbits the [12]Sun, different parts of
   the Milky Way become visible at different angles at different times of
   the [13]night. As Earth rotates, the orientation of the Milky Way in
   the sky also shifts -- sometimes [14]standing vertically as seen in the
   [15]featured image, and other times [16]stretching parallel to the
   horizon, making it harder to see. In early June, [17]observers can
   watch it emerge low on the horizon after sunset and gradually arc
   upward to reveal its full grandeur.

                     Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space
     __________________________________________________________________

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     __________________________________________________________________

    Authors & editors: [29]Robert Nemiroff ([30]MTU) & [31]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([32]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [33]Specific rights apply.
            [34]NASA Web Privacy, [35]Accessibility, [36]Notices;
                A service of: [37]ASD at [38]NASA / [39]GSFC,
                         [40]NASA Science Activation
                           & [41]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2507/MwSpires_Chay_1874.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/kchayphotos/
   4. https://www.ogetay.com/
   5. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
   6. https://youtu.be/6Ps7dcKcqS8
   7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231201.html
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/resource/the-milky-way-galaxy/
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/earth/
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hemisphere
  12. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240228.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190112.html
  15. https://www.instagram.com/p/C8qW2gMJcaF/
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241105.html
  17. https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2G61P84/curious-dog-funny-pug-looking-through-binoculars-up-in-the-sky-high-angle-owner-holding-a-tool-moon-reflecting-in-lenses-2G61P84.jpg
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250701.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  22. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  24. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  27. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250702
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250703.html
  29. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  30. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  31. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  32. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  34. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  35. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  37. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  40. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  41. http://www.mtu.edu/