Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2023 September 27
    [2]A rural road is pictured running to the horizon with rural grassy
   fields on both sides. Rising from the lower left is the central band of
    our Milky Way Galaxy. Rising from the horizon -- just at the visible
    end of the road, is a thin twisting band of light twisting green and
   red bands -- a STEVE. The STEVE crosses in front of the Milky Way band
                                making a big

                  STEVE and Milky Way Cross over Rural Road
                 Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Theresa Clarke

   Explanation: Not every road ends in a STEVE. A week ago, a sky
   enthusiast's journey began with a goal: to photograph an [4]aurora over
   [5]Lake Huron. Driving through rural [6]Ontario, [7]Canada, the
   forecasted sky show started [8]unexpectedly early, causing the
   photographer to stop before arriving at the scenic [9]Great Lake.
   Aurora images were taken toward the north -- but over land, not sea.
   While waiting for a second round of auroras, a [10]peculiar band of
   light was noticed to the west. Slowly, the photographer and friends
   realized that this western band was likely an unusual type of aurora: a
   [11]Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE). Moreover,
   this [12]STEVE was putting on quite a show: appearing intertwined with
   the central band of our [13]Milky Way Galaxy while intersecting the
   horizon just near the end of the country road. After capturing [14]this
   cosmic X on camera, the photographer paused to appreciate the
   [15]unexpected awesomeness of finding extraordinary beauty in an
   ordinary setting.

   Your Sky Surprise: [16]What picture did APOD feature on your birthday?
                                 (post 1995)
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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    Authors & editors: [28]Robert Nemiroff ([29]MTU) & [30]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([31]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [32]Specific rights apply.
              [33]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [34]ASD at [35]NASA / [36]GSFC,
                         [37]NASA Science Activation
                           & [38]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2309/SteveMw_Clarke_4177.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/tc_1865/
   4. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/
   5. https://youtu.be/iM73QjPiiwU
   6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario
   7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada
   8. https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=18&month=09&year=2023
   9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Lakes
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210505.html
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STEVE
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201117.html
  13. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/285/the-milky-way-galaxy/
  14. https://www.instagram.com/p/CxZdU7rsPiW/
  15. https://medicaregranny.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/5cfa3122210000690de6bfca.jpeg
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230926.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  21. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  26. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=230927
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230928.html
  28. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  29. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  30. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  31. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  33. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  34. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  35. https://www.nasa.gov/
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  37. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  38. http://www.mtu.edu/