APOD: 2026 August 16 – Milky Way over Yellowstone
The post APOD: 2026 August 16 – Milky Way over Yellowstone appeared first on NASA Science .
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day features a stunning view of the Milky Way over Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, USA. The stunning photograph, taken in 2014, showcases a colorful pool of water, known as Silex Spring, illuminated artificially by layers of bacteria that grow in the hot spring. The steam rising from the spring is heated by magma located underground, connected to the Yellowstone Hotspot.
Whilst the Milky Way creates a breathtaking backdrop, the central band of our galaxy is unrelated to the spring and lies far in the distance. The picture is a 16-image panorama that captures the beauty of the scene. However, the Yellowstone Hotspot has a potential for a supervolcanic eruption, which if it were to happen again, as it did around 640,000 years ago, would have significant consequences for North America.
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- APOD: 2026 August 16 – Milky Way over Yellowstone science.nasa.gov
