Clipmarks | Gegenschein Clips

The Gegenschein Over Chile

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:53:22 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: t seen at the site

2008 May 7

The Gegenschein Over Chile
Credit & Copyright: Yuri Beletsky (ESO)

Here a deep exposure of an extremely dark sky over Paranal Observatory in Chile shows the gegenschein so clearly that even a surrounding glow is visible. In the foreground are several of the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescopes, while notable background objects include the Andromeda galaxy toward the lower left and the Pleiades star cluster just above the horizon. The gegenschein is distinguished from zodiacal light near the Sun by the high angle of reflection. During the day, a phenomenon similar to the gegenschein called the glory can be seen in reflecting air or clouds opposite the Sun from an airplane.

The gegenschein is sunlight back-scattered off small interplanetary dust particles.

The Gegenschein Over Chile

Wed, 07 May 2008 13:59:14 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator

Clip Source: antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov

Clip Source: www.coolscifi.com

a rarely discernable faint glow known as the gegenschein (German for "counter glow") can be seen 180 degrees around from the Sun in an extremely dark sky. The gegenschein is sunlight back-scattered off small interplanetary dust particles. These dust particles are millimeter sized splinters from asteroids and orbit in the ecliptic plane of the planets.

The gegenschein is distinguished from zodiacal light near the Sun by the high angle of reflection. During the day, a phenomenon similar to the gegenschein called the glory can be seen in reflecting air or clouds opposite the Sun from an airplane.

notable background objects include the Andromeda galaxy toward the lower left and the Pleiades star cluster just above the horizon.

Tags: space, gegenschein, chile, counter-glow, sunshine