Sunday, June 21, 2009

Astronomy Picture of the Day with Classical Content

Astronomy Picture of the Day is one of the most popular astronomical web sites on the 'net. Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer

Today's picture is that of the Parthenon, with a dramatic background of the rising Sun.

parthenon_ayiomamitis_big 
(picture created and copyrighted by Anthony Ayiomamitis)

I've put together a list of all the Classically themed pictures which I've found. Of course, many more of the pictures have some classical connection because so many of the night sky is named after Greek and Roman gods, heroes and miscellanies...

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090621.html - Sunrise over the Parthenon
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090320.html - Sunset at the Portara
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap081221.html - Analemma Over the Porch of Maidens
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap081216.html - Orion over  Nemrut Dagh
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080718.html - Jupiter over Ephesus
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070420.html - Pantheon Earth and Moon
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap061223.html - The Analemma and the Temple of Olympian Zeus
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap061205.html - The Antikythera Mechanism
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040621.html - Analemma over Ancient Nemea
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040229.html - Julius Caesar and Leap Days
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap030320.html - Sunrise Analemma
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap020113.html - Hypatia of Alexandria
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap000229.html - Julius Caesar and Leap Days
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap960229.html - Julius Caesar and Leap Days

I'll update this list whenever I think a new picture is classically themed. If you know of one I've missed, them please drop me a note.