Explanation:
From Sagittarius to
Carina, the Milky Way Galaxy
shines in this dark night sky
above planet Earth's lush island paradise
of Mangaia.
Familiar to denizens of the southern hemisphere,
the
gorgeous skyscape includes the bulging
galactic center at the upper left and bright stars
Alpha and Beta Centauri just right of
center.
About 10 kilometers wide, volcanic
Mangaia is
the southernmost of the Cook Islands.
Geologists estimate that at 18 million years old
it is the oldest island in the Pacific Ocean.
Of course, the Milky Way is somewhat older, with the galaxy's
oldest stars
estimated to be over 13 billion years old.
(Editor's note:
This
image holds the distinction of being selected as winner in
the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Astronomy Photographer of the
Year competition in the Earth and Space category.)
