Read more: "The night: The nocturnal journey of body and mind"
ASTRONOMERS like to talk about when power blackouts have snuffed out the lights in New York City and Los Angeles. Citizens are bemused and delighted at the spectacle above their heads. Some call the emergency services to report smoke in the night sky. Others, that aliens are behind the strange lights. They are, in fact, glimpsing something that fewer and fewer of us can see – the Milky Way. The 360-degree panorama above shows the Milky Way arching across the sky above the Paranal Observatory in Chile.
You don't need a telescope to see the universe's wonders. For your best view, wait for a clear, moonless night and head to the countryside. Better still, visit a dark sky park or reserve, which give exceptional quality views of ...
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