**Astronomy Picture of the Day**

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Kind-1 (TextNote)

2026-03-26T04:06:15Z

Astronomy Picture of the Day

26 March 2026

The Guardians of Rapa Nui beneath the Milky Way

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2603/rapa_nui_milky_way_1024.jpeg

Image Credit: Rositsa Dimitrova, Keighley Rockcliffe, NASA, GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II

Explanation:
In the words of today's astrophotographer, Rositsa Dimitrova, "What have these silent sentinels watched pass across the sky?" The volcanic mo'ai (meaning statue) of Ahu Tongariki stand guard over Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua, Easter Island), a Polynesian island (annexed by Chile in 1888) located thousands of kilometers off the coast of South America in the Pacific Ocean. Due to the island's remoteness, the mo'ai, with their backs to the dark ocean, are able to gaze upon a clear and vibrant night sky. Pictured, these larger-than-life statues stare at the bright band of the Milky Way, partly obscured by interstellar dust and blurred by Earth's clouds. Under such clear night skies, the Rapa Nui created observatories and used astronomical observations for navigation, calendar calibration, celebrations, and more. Images like this one remind us of the importance of dark skies, protecting the land underneath them, and preserving the culture that they inspire.

#APOD #RapaNui #MilkyWay #Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260325.html

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  "content": "**Astronomy Picture of the Day**\n\n26 March 2026\n\n**The Guardians of Rapa Nui beneath the Milky Way**\n\nhttps://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2603/rapa_nui_milky_way_1024.jpeg\n\nImage Credit: Rositsa Dimitrova, Keighley Rockcliffe, NASA, GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II\n\nExplanation:  \nIn the words of today's astrophotographer, Rositsa Dimitrova, \"What have these silent sentinels watched\npass across the sky?\" The volcanic \nmo'ai \n(meaning statue) of \nAhu Tongariki \nstand guard over \nRapa Nui \n(Isla de Pascua, Easter Island), \na Polynesian island \n(annexed by Chile in 1888) located thousands of kilometers off the coast of South America in the Pacific Ocean. Due to the island's remoteness, \nthe mo'ai, \nwith their backs to the dark ocean, are able to gaze upon a clear and vibrant night sky. \nPictured, \nthese \nlarger-than-life statues \nstare at the bright band of \nthe Milky Way, \npartly obscured by \ninterstellar dust \nand blurred by Earth's clouds. Under such clear night skies, the Rapa Nui created observatories and used astronomical observations for \nnavigation, calendar calibration, celebrations, and more. \nImages like this one remind us of \nthe importance of dark skies, \nprotecting the land underneath them, and \npreserving the culture \nthat they inspire.\n\n#APOD #RapaNui #MilkyWay #Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space\n\nhttps://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260325.html\n",
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