Explanation:
Was Devils Tower once an explosive volcano?
Famous for its appearance in films such as
Close Encounters, the origin of
Devil's Tower in
Wyoming,
USA is still debated, with a leading hypothesis holding that it is
a hardened lava plume that probably never reached the surface to become a
volcano.
The lighter rock that once surrounded the dense
volcanic neck
has now eroded away, leaving the dramatic tower.
High above, the central band of the Milky Way galaxy arches across the sky.
Many notable sky objects are
visible, including dark strands of the
Pipe Nebula and the reddish
Lagoon Nebula to the tower's right.
Green grass and trees line the moonlit foreground, while clouds appear near the horizon to
the tower's left.
Unlike many other international landmarks, mountaineers are permitted to climb
Devils Tower.
digg_url = 'http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090729.html'; digg_skin = 'compact';
Note:
An APOD editor will review great space images this Saturday night at Ft. Wilkins, Michigan.
