Milky Way over Deadvlei in Namibia (APOD)

[Ptah]

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180418.html

Explanation: What planet is this? It is the only planet currently known to have trees. The trees in Deadvlei, though, have been dead for over 500 years.

Located in Namib-Naukluft Park in Namibia (Earth), saplings grew after rainfall caused a local river to overflow, but died after sand dunes shifted to section off the river. High above and far in the distance, the band of our Milky Way Galaxy forms an arch over a large stalk in this well-timed composite image, taken last month.

The soil of white clay appears to glow by reflected starlight. Rising on the left, under the Milky Way's arch, is a band of zodiacal light -- sunlight reflected by dust orbiting in the inner Solar System.

On the right, just above one of Earth's larger sand dunes, an astute eye can find the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our galaxy. Finding the Small Magellanic Cloud in the featured image, though, is perhaps too hard.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

1. Holy smokes..

that's a great picture!
A view from the Sagitarian Arm of the Spiral Galaxy looking towards the central Black Hole?

[AJT]

2. Wow that's stunning and other worldly

[c-rational]

3. Thank you. Wonderful photo that makes me feel wonder.

[Lucky Luciano]

4. Amazing! I was there once! Incredible place! nt

[Paka]

7. I was there, also, in 2002.

Climbed Dune 45.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Too beautiful.

To see that in person just might be an overload.

Thank you, Ptah.

[Demovictory9]

6. Wonderful photo

[stonecutter357]

8. Thank you. Where are we in the Milky Way?

[More_Cowbell]

9. I've never seen the Milky Way except in pictures

i hope someday to live where I can see it for real.

[colorado_ufo]

11. I can see it over my house

However, it is just faint. This photo actually took my breath away!

[packman]

10. Amazing photo

[Martin Eden]

12. This must be how the Sindar Elves saw Middle Earth

Before the days of the Sun and the Moon.