View Astronomy Picture of the Day Archives
Nov 10, 2013
Comet Between Fireworks and Lightning
Image Credit & Copyright: Antti Kemppainen
Courtesy of http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Comet Between Fireworks and Lightning
Image Credit & Copyright: Antti Kemppainen
Courtesy of http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Sometimes the
sky
itself is the best show in town.
In January 2007, people from
Perth,
Australia
gathered on a local beach to
watch a sky light up with delights near and far.
Nearby, fireworks exploded as part of
Australia Day celebrations.
On the far right,
lightning from a
thunderstorm
flashed in the distance.
Near the image center, though, seen through clouds,
was the most unusual sight of all: Comet McNaught.
The
photogenic comet was so bright that it even
remained visible though the din of Earthly flashes.
Comet McNaught
has now returned to the outer Solar System and is now
only visible with a large telescope.
The
above image
is actually a three photograph panorama digitally processed to reduce
red reflections from the exploding
firework.
