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.

January 19, 1999
See Explanation.  Clicking on the picture will download 
 the highest resolution version available.

Telescope with Lightning
Credit & Copyright: AURA/ NOAO

Explanation: Telescopes are not very useful during lightning storms. Nevertheless, with lightning illuminating a dark landscape, the picturesque dome of the famous Kitt Peak 2.1-metre Telescope makes for a dramatic photograph. A passing car created the red and yellow streaks visible in the foreground. The 2.1-metre Telescope has participated in many important astronomical discoveries including the discovery of the Lyman-alpha forest, the first gravitational lens, and the first pulsating white dwarf.

Tomorrow's picture: Planets and Dust


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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Technical Rep.: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA/ GSFC
&: Michigan Tech. U.