Astronomy Picture of the

Day
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.

2022 March 28

Gems of a Maldivean Night

Image Credit & Copyright: Petr Horálek (ESO Photo
Ambassador, Inst. of Physics in Opava)

Explanation: The southernmost part of the Milky Way

contains not only the stars of the Southern Cross, but
the closest star system to our Sun -- Alpha Centauri.
The Southern Cross itself is topped by the bright,
yellowish star Gamma Crucis. A line from Gamma
Crucis through the blue star at the bottom of the cross,
Acrux, points toward the south celestial pole, located
just above the small island in the featured picture --
taken in early March. That island is Madivaru of the
Maldives in the Indian Ocean. Against faint Milky Way
starlight, the dark Coal Sack Nebula lies just left of the
cross, while farther left along the Milky Way are the
bright stars Alpha Centauri (left) and Beta Centauri
(Hadar). Alpha Centauri A, a Sun-like star anchoring a
three-star system with exoplanets, is a mere 4.3 light-
years distant. Seen from Alpha Centauri, our own Sun
would be a bright yellowish star in the otherwise
recognizable constellation Cassiopeia.

Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator

Tomorrow's picture: planet planet

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry

Bonnell (UMCP)
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