                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    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.

                              2020 February 12

                     Star Trails of the North and South
                  Image Credit & Copyright: Saeid Parchini

   Explanation: What divides the north from the south? It all has to do
   with the spin of the Earth. On Earth's surface, the equator is the
   dividing line, but on Earth's sky, the dividing line is the Celestial
   Equator -- the equator's projection onto the sky.  You likely can't see
   the Earth's equator around you, but anyone with a clear night sky can
   find the Celestial Equator by watching stars move.  Just locate the
   dividing line between stars that arc north and stars that arc south.
   Were you on Earth's equator, the Celestial Equator would go straight up
   and down.  In general, the angle between the Celestial Equator and the
   vertical is your latitude.  The featured image combines 325 photos
   taken every 30 seconds over 162 minutes. Taken soon after sunset
   earlier this month, moonlight illuminates a snowy and desolate scene in
   northwest Iran. The bright streak behind the lone tree is the planet
   Venus setting.

                  Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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