SCIENCE · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
NASA Captures Star Trails Above Paranal Observatory
WHY IT MATTERS
This image showcases the unique perspective of Earth's rotation and the beauty of celestial mechanics, highlighting the importance of continued astronomical research and observation.
What happened
Astronomers at the European Southern Observatory's Paranal Observatory in Chile have captured a stunning image of star trails above the observatory.
The image, composed of 300 consecutive exposures, reveals the apparent rotation of the night sky due to Earth's rotation.
The star trails are centered at the south celestial pole, with one of the observatory's auxiliary telescopes visible in the foreground.
DEVELOPING STORY
Story timeline
PRIMARY SOURCES
APOD: 2026 August 28 – The Sky Turns Above Paranal
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