Astronomy Picture of the Day

Explanation: Graceful star trail arcs reflect planet Earth's daily rotation in this colourful night skyscape. To create the timelapse composite, on May 12 consecutive exposures were recorded with a camera fixed to a tripod on the shores of the Ashokan Reservoir, in the Catskills region of New York, USA. North star Polaris is near the centre of the star trail arcs. The broad trail of a waxing crescent Moon is on the left, casting a strong reflection across the reservoir waters. With intense solar activity driving recent geomagnetic storms, the colourful aurora borealis or northern lights, rare to the region, shine under Polaris and the north celestial pole.