Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2026 March 25 [2]The plane of the Milky Way shines across the night sky above several large human statues that face away from the camera. The Guardians of Rapa Nui beneath the Milky Way Image Credit and Copyright: [3]Rositsa Dimitrova Text: [4]Keighley Rockcliffe ([5]NASA [6]GSFC, [7]UMBC CSST, [8]CRESST II) Explanation: In the words of today's astrophotographer, Rositsa Dimitrova, "What have these silent sentinels watched pass across the sky?" The volcanic [9]mo'ai (meaning statue) of [10]Ahu Tongariki stand guard over [11]Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua, Easter Island), [12]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, [13]the mo'ai, with their backs to the dark ocean, are able to gaze upon a clear and vibrant night sky. [14]Pictured, these [15]larger-than-life statues stare at the bright band of [16]the Milky Way, partly obscured by [17]interstellar dust and blurred by Earth's clouds. Under such clear night skies, the Rapa Nui created observatories and used astronomical observations for [18]navigation, calendar calibration, celebrations, and more. Images like this one remind us of [19]the importance of dark skies, protecting the land underneath them, and [20]preserving the culture that they inspire. Tomorrow's picture: Gravitational Waves __________________________________________________________________ [21]< | [22]Archive | [23]Submissions | [24]Index | [25]Search | [26]Calendar | [27]RSS | [28]Education | [29]About APOD | [30]Discuss | [31]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell ([35]UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn [36]Specific rights apply. [37]NASA Web Privacy, [38]Accessibility, [39]Notices; A service of: [40]ASD at [41]NASA / [42]GSFC, [43]NASA Science Activation & [44]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2603/rapa_nui_milky_way.jpeg 3. http://instagram.com/tripswithrosie 4. https://kerockcliffe.com/ 5. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/keighley.e.rockcliffe 6. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/ 7. https://csst.umbc.edu/directory/ 8. https://cresst2.umd.edu/ 9. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/easter/civilization/giants.html 10. https://rapanuitravelguide.com/sightseeing-in-rapa-nui/ahu-tongariki/ 11. https://nativeplanet.tv/episode/respecting-the-moai/ 12. https://smarthistory.org/easter-island-moai/ 13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241105.html 14. https://www.instagram.com/p/DVte8JhDNHG/ 15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap091012.html 16. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/science-overview/science-explainers/is-the-milky-way-unique/ 17. https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/D/Dust+Grain 18. https://www.maajournal.com/index.php/maa/article/view/678/614 19. https://www.americantrails.org/resources/public-lands-preserving-and-protecting-night-skies 20. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nightskies/cultural.htm 21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260324.html 22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 27. https://apod.com/feed.rss 28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 30. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260325 31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260326.html 32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 34. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 38. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/ 39. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/ 40. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 41. https://www.nasa.gov/ 42. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 43. https://science.nasa.gov/learners 44. http://www.mtu.edu/