Circumpolar startrails over the Atacama

This picture, taken looking toward the south, uses a long series of exposures at night in order to capture these impressive star trails over the Atacama Desert. The stars appear as trails because of the apparent motion of the sky, which is, in fact, due to the rotation of the Earth on its own axis. The celestial south pole is visible on the right.

Credit:

ESO/B. Tafreshi (twanight.org)

About the Image

Id:atacamacircumpolar15
Type:Photographic
Release date:21 February 2013, 21:43
Size:6144 x 4096 px

About the Object

Name:Atacama Desert
Type:Unspecified : Sky Phenomenon : Night Sky : Milky Way
Category:Chile

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