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. 2022 April 13 [2]The featured image shows Devils Tower in Wyoming, USA under a brilliant sky that includes a deep image of the central bank of our Milky Way galaxy. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. Milky Way over Devils Tower Image Credit & Copyright: [3]MaryBeth Kiczenski Explanation: What created Devils Tower? The origin of this [4]extraordinary rock monolith in [5]Wyoming, [6]USA is still debated, with a leading hypothesis holding that it is a hardened lava plume that never reached the surface to become a volcano. In [7]this theory, the lighter rock that once surrounded the dense volcanic neck has now eroded away, leaving [8]the dramatic tower. Known by [9]Native Americans by names including [10]Bear's Lodge and Great Gray Horn, the dense rock includes the longest [11]hexagonal [12]columns known, some over 180-meters tall. High above, the [13]central band of the [14]Milky Way galaxy arches across the sky. Many notable sky objects are visible, including dark strands of the [15]Pipe Nebula and the [16]reddish Lagoon Nebula to the tower's right. Green grass and trees line [17]the foreground, while clouds appear near the horizon to the tower's left. Unlike many other international landmarks, mountaineers are permitted to [18]climb Devils Tower. Birthday Surprise: [19]What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995) Tomorrow's picture: open space __________________________________________________________________ [20]< | [21]Archive | [22]Submissions | [23]Index | [24]Search | [25]Calendar | [26]RSS | [27]Education | [28]About APOD | [29]Discuss | [30]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [31]Robert Nemiroff ([32]MTU) & [33]Jerry Bonnell ([34]UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman [35]Specific rights apply. [36]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: [37]ASD at [38]NASA / [39]GSFC & [40]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2204/DevilsWay_Kiczenski_1402.jpg 3. https://www.shelbydiamondstar.com/emotional 4. https://i.imgflip.com/3379n3.png" 5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming 6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States 7. https://www.nps.gov/deto/learn/nature/tower-formation.htm 8. https://youtu.be/aGRC7hwo3gk 9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States 10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Tower 11. https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/hexagon.html 12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columnar_jointing 13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap211025.html 14. https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/objects/milkyway1.html 15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200807.html 16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap181112.html 17. https://youtu.be/raLN8Jx46zU 18. https://youtu.be/cCv9_Iv-8j8 19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220412.html 21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 24. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss 27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 29. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=220413 30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220414.html 31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 33. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 34. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 36. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 37. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 38. https://www.nasa.gov/ 39. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 40. http://www.mtu.edu/