Kitt Peak and the Belt of Venus
A (nearly) 360-degree panorama of the Kitt Peak summit during sunset as seen from the WIYN 0.9-meter telescope's parking lot. The telescopes on the far left of the image are the 16-inch visitor telescope and the WIYN 3.5-meter telescope. The KPNO 4-meter is the largest telescope in the distance near the center of the image. The KPNO 2.1-meter and WIYN 0.9-meter telescopes are on the right. The image nicely shows an effect called the Belt of Venus. This is the purple-dark blue band that runs across the image from the 4-meter telescope to the WIYN 0.9-meter telescope. This is the shadow of the Earth cast upon the atmosphere. It can be seen just after sunset or just before sunrise, in the direction opposite of the sun.
| Astronomer: | Dr. Travis Rector |
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| Date of Observation: | 01-02-2004 |
| Exposure Times: | |
| Location of Image: | Kitt Peak, Arizona |
| Link to Larger Image | |
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