                        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.

                                2022 April 13

                         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.

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