National Geographic Moai Desktop Pic

National Geographic has some fantastic photos available to download for your desktop: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/download

If you go to the March 2008 group, there's a great photo of the Easter Island moai

Very cool! (Although I didn't see the Moai in March '08)

The moai is the fourth pic

The stars in the background really bring out the mystique...

You can see the North Celestial Pole (near Polaris) just above the second Moai from the left. It's the point at the center of the circle of star trails. When you you have a timed exposure with a fixed camera against the background of stars, the Earth's rotation is noted in the star trails. It is also a nice view of looking back toward the central hub of the Milky Way Galaxy. You can see the glow of stars and patches of interstellar dust that forms the galactic spiral disk.

On 2008-04-17 08:34, The Gnomon wrote:
You can see the North Celestial Pole (near Polaris) just above the second Moai from the left. It's the point at the center of the circle of star trails. When you you have a timed exposure with a fixed camera against the background of stars, the Earth's rotation is noted in the star trails. It is also a nice view of looking back toward the central hub of the Milky Way Galaxy. You can see the glow of stars and patches of interstellar dust that forms the galactic spiral disk.

Isn't it the South Celestial pole since the island is in the southern hemisphere?

On 2008-04-17 14:57, johnnievelour wrote:

On 2008-04-17 08:34, The Gnomon wrote:
You can see the North Celestial Pole (near Polaris) just above the second Moai from the left. It's the point at the center of the circle of star trails. When you you have a timed exposure with a fixed camera against the background of stars, the Earth's rotation is noted in the star trails. It is also a nice view of looking back toward the central hub of the Milky Way Galaxy. You can see the glow of stars and patches of interstellar dust that forms the galactic spiral disk.

Isn't it the South Celestial pole since the island is in the southern hemisphere?

You would see the Southern Cross Mate! :wink:

Nice! Keep scrolling down the line of images... There's a great shot of the Hokule'a. 11th from the end.
aloha,
:tiki:

On 2008-04-17 14:57, johnnievelour wrote:

On 2008-04-17 08:34, The Gnomon wrote:
You can see the North Celestial Pole (near Polaris) just above the second Moai from the left. It's the point at the center of the circle of star trails. When you you have a timed exposure with a fixed camera against the background of stars, the Earth's rotation is noted in the star trails. It is also a nice view of looking back toward the central hub of the Milky Way Galaxy. You can see the glow of stars and patches of interstellar dust that forms the galactic spiral disk.

Isn't it the South Celestial pole since the island is in the southern hemisphere?

Doh! Right you are. I was so wrapped up with the views of the Milky Way and the tail end of my codeine cough syrup I completely lost my bearings.