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.

                                2026 March 25
   [2]The plane of the Milky Way shines across the night sky above several
             large human statues that face away from the camera.

               The Guardians of Rapa Nui beneath the Milky Way
              Image Credit and Copyright: [3]Rositsa Dimitrova
   Text: [4]Keighley Rockcliffe ([5]NASA [6]GSFC, [7]UMBC CSST, [8]CRESST
                                     II)

   Explanation: In the words of today's astrophotographer, Rositsa
   Dimitrova, "What have these silent sentinels watched pass across the
   sky?" The volcanic [9]mo'ai (meaning statue) of [10]Ahu Tongariki stand
   guard over [11]Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua, Easter Island), [12]a
   Polynesian island (annexed by Chile in 1888) located thousands of
   kilometers off the coast of South America in the Pacific Ocean. Due to
   the island's remoteness, [13]the mo'ai, with their backs to the dark
   ocean, are able to gaze upon a clear and vibrant night sky.
   [14]Pictured, these [15]larger-than-life statues stare at the bright
   band of [16]the Milky Way, partly obscured by [17]interstellar dust and
   blurred by Earth's clouds. Under such clear night skies, the Rapa Nui
   created observatories and used astronomical observations for
   [18]navigation, calendar calibration, celebrations, and more. Images
   like this one remind us of [19]the importance of dark skies, protecting
   the land underneath them, and [20]preserving the culture that they
   inspire.

                   Tomorrow's picture: Gravitational Waves
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([35]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [36]Specific rights apply.
            [37]NASA Web Privacy, [38]Accessibility, [39]Notices;
                A service of: [40]ASD at [41]NASA / [42]GSFC,
                         [43]NASA Science Activation
                           & [44]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2603/rapa_nui_milky_way.jpeg
   3. http://instagram.com/tripswithrosie
   4. https://kerockcliffe.com/
   5. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/keighley.e.rockcliffe
   6. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
   7. https://csst.umbc.edu/directory/
   8. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
   9. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/easter/civilization/giants.html
  10. https://rapanuitravelguide.com/sightseeing-in-rapa-nui/ahu-tongariki/
  11. https://nativeplanet.tv/episode/respecting-the-moai/
  12. https://smarthistory.org/easter-island-moai/
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241105.html
  14. https://www.instagram.com/p/DVte8JhDNHG/
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap091012.html
  16. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/science-overview/science-explainers/is-the-milky-way-unique/
  17. https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/D/Dust+Grain
  18. https://www.maajournal.com/index.php/maa/article/view/678/614
  19. https://www.americantrails.org/resources/public-lands-preserving-and-protecting-night-skies
  20. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nightskies/cultural.htm
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260324.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  27. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  30. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260325
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260326.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  34. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  40. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  43. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  44. http://www.mtu.edu/