拱门与银河, 阿拉巴马山, 内华达山脉, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, Sierra Nevada, California, USA (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)

银河系，摇滚吧！ Rock on, Milky Way!

拱门与银河, 阿拉巴马山, 内华达山脉, 加利福尼亚州

在今天这张照片中，阿拉巴马山的花岗岩拱门将银河框入加州东部内华达山脉崎岖的地貌之中。这片区域以其圆润的巨石和风化的岩层而闻名，大约在1亿年前由火山活动形成。水和风逐渐将岩石塑造成如今光滑的形状。游客可以探索天然拱门，在岩石间徒步，拍摄独特的景观，骑马或骑山地自行车，并欣赏季节性的野花盛开。

由于光污染极少，这些山丘是观星和夜间摄影的热门地点。在晴朗的夜晚，构成我们银河系的密集星带肉眼可见。虽然如今这里看起来像一片宁静的沙漠，但这片地形却在银幕上扮演过许多角色。自20世纪20年代以来，数百部电影和电视剧都曾以这些山丘为背景，拍摄西部片和科幻冒险片，其中包括格里高利·派克主演的《黄沙》、昆汀·塔伦蒂诺执导的《被解救的姜戈》以及乔恩·费儒执导的漫威经典之作《钢铁侠》。

Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, Sierra Nevada, California

In today's image, the granite arches of the Alabama Hills frame the Milky Way over a rugged landscape in California's eastern Sierra Nevada. Famous for its rounded boulders and weathered rock formations, this area formed when molten rock cooled deep underground around 100 million years ago. Water and wind gradually shaped the stone into the smooth shapes seen today. Visitors can explore the natural arches, hike among the rocks, capture photographs of the unique landscape, ride horses or mountain bikes, and enjoy seasonal displays of wildflowers.

With minimal light pollution, the hills are popular for stargazing and night photography. On a clear night, the dense band of stars that forms our galaxy is visible to the naked eye. While it might look like a peaceful desert today, this terrain has played many roles on screen. Since the 1920s, hundreds of movies and television shows have used these hills as a backdrop for westerns and sci-fi adventures, including 'Yellow Sky' with Gregory Peck, 'Django Unchained' by Quentin Tarantino, and the Marvel classic 'Iron Man' by Jon Favreau.

安扎-博雷戈沙漠州立公园上空的银河, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Milky Way over Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, USA (© Kevin Key/Slworking)/Getty Images)

当灯光熄灭之后 After the lights go down

银河

当夜幕降临，宇宙便开始上演一场壮丽的“光影秀”。每年四月举行的国际暗夜周，邀请人们重新发现夜晚的魅力，并了解为什么黑暗同样值得被保护。这项活动始于2003年，旨在提醒公众关注过度的人造光照对野生动物、人类健康、能源消耗以及我们观测星空能力所带来的影响。减少不必要的灯光并不意味着降低安全性——通过科学、合理的照明设计，完全可以在保证安全的同时减少光污染。

这张银河高悬在安扎-博雷戈沙漠州立公园上空的照片，正好诠释了这一理念。作为加利福尼亚州最大的州立公园**，这里同时也是被正式认定的国际暗夜公园，因此拥有全美一流的观星条件。在晴朗的夜晚，天空中会出现行星、星团以及我们所在星系——银河系那条明亮的星带。这样的壮丽景象，在许多城市地区由于光污染已经很难看到了。

国际暗夜周鼓励人们从一些简单的行动做起，例如为门廊灯加装遮光罩，或参加当地的观星活动。抬头仰望夜空，保持好奇心，也一起努力，让夜晚继续保有自然的璀璨星光。

International Dark Sky Week

When the lights go down, the universe puts on a show. International Dark Sky Week, celebrated each April, invites everyone to rediscover the night and learn why darkness is worth protecting. Launched in 2003, the week highlights how excessive artificial light affects wildlife, human health, energy use, and our ability to see the stars. Fewer lights don't mean less safety—smart, well-designed lighting can do both.

The image of the Milky Way glowing above Anza-Borrego Desert State Park captures this idea perfectly. As California's largest state park and an officially designated International Dark-Sky Park, Anza-Borrego offers some of the best stargazing in the country. On a clear night, the sky fills with planets, star clusters, and the bright band of our home galaxy—views that have vanished from many urban areas.

International Dark Sky Week encourages simple actions, from shielding porch lights to joining a local star party. Look up, get curious, and help keep nights naturally brilliant.

夜晚的箭袋树与银河，基特曼斯胡普，纳米比亚 Quiver trees under the Milky Way, Keetmanshoop, Namibia (© Wim van den Heever/naturepl.com)

星光下的颤动之树 Quivering under starlight

箭袋树，基特曼斯胡普，纳米比亚

在地球上所有的植物中，箭袋树或许最像来自未来的生命。它们分布于非洲南部，尤其是纳米比亚的干旱地区。虽然名字里有“树”，但它其实是一种芦荟属植物，经过漫长岁月的适应，能在炙热的沙漠中顽强生存。厚实的树干储存水分，分枝则能反射热量，帮助它抵御极端环境。箭袋树可高达7米，有的寿命超过百年，是沙漠生态系统中不可或缺的一环。在几乎没有其他树木的荒原上，它为鸟类提供了珍贵的栖息与筑巢之所。

“箭袋”这一名称正源于当地桑人的古老习俗，他们曾将树枝挖空制作箭袋。位于基特曼斯胡普附近的箭袋树森林如今被列为纳米比亚国家纪念地，也是该国最受摄影师喜爱的景点之一。这片沙漠拥有地球上最清澈的夜空，是观星的绝佳之地。在今日图片中，箭袋树的轮廓映衬在银河之下，仿佛在星光中轻轻颤动。尽管气候变化正在改变它们的自然分布范围，这些树依然是纳米比亚粗犷之美的象征，提醒着我们，大自然总能以最富想象力的方式适应与延续。

Quiver trees, Keetmanshoop, Namibia

Of all the plants on Earth, the quiver tree looks the most like a vision from the future. Found in Southern Africa, including parts of Namibia, these striking giants are not true trees but a species of aloe adapted to life under the desert's scorching sun. Their thick trunks store water, while their branches reflect heat, helping them endure harsh conditions. Reaching up to 23 feet in height, with some living for more than 100 years, quiver trees are also vital to their ecosystem. They offer rare perches and nesting sites for birds in landscapes where few other trees exist.

The name 'quiver' comes from the Indigenous San people, who once hollowed out the branches to craft lightweight arrow holders, or quivers. The Quiver Tree Forest near Keetmanshoop is a national monument and one of Namibia's most photographed sites. With some of the clearest skies on Earth, the desert provides a perfect backdrop for stargazing. In today's image, quiver trees stand silhouetted against the Milky Way. Though climate shifts are altering their natural range, these trees remain a symbol of Namibia's rugged beauty—and a reminder of how nature adapts in the most imaginative ways.

马头岩上空的银河, 新南威尔士州, 澳大利亚 The Milky Way over Horse Head Rock, New South Wales, Australia (© Philip Thurston/Getty Images)

海岸线附近的“马戏” Horsing around the coastline

马头岩，新南威尔士州，澳大利亚

人们常说：“你可以牵马到水边，却无法强迫它饮水。”当然，马头岩除外。这块岩石屹立于澳大利亚新南威尔士州伯马吉附近的蓝宝石海岸。如今日图片所示，这块古老的岩石宛如大自然亲手雕刻的一匹神话中的骏马，永远在低头畅饮海水。据估计，马头岩已有5亿年历史，其酷似一匹弯颈饮水的马，这正是风蚀与海浪侵蚀共同作用的结果。作为该地区最古老且最具象征意义的地质地标之一，马头岩全年吸引着徒步旅行者、摄影师与自然爱好者前来观赏。最佳观景点位于骆驼岩与穆鲁纳角之间的高地步道，而更富冒险精神的访客则可在退潮时，从骆驼岩冲浪海滩绕行至此。

伯马吉位于悉尼以南约240英里处，坐落于古拉加山（又称单峰骆驼山）脚下。古拉加山是澳大利亚原住民尤因族的圣山，被尊称为“母亲山”。这一地区还拥有众多自然景观，包括骆驼岩、瓦拉加湖、伯马吉蓝池以及含羞草岩国家公园。此外，这里也是野生动物栖息和迁徙的重要区域，探索海岸线时，不妨留心观察正在迁徙的鲸鱼、嬉戏的海豚与翱翔的海鹰。

Horse Head Rock, New South Wales, Australia

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink—unless, of course, you're talking about Horse Head Rock, perched off the Sapphire Coast near Bermagui in New South Wales, Australia. This ancient formation, pictured here, seems as if nature itself has sculpted a mythical creature forever poised to drink from the sea. Estimated to be 500 million years old, the rock's uncanny resemblance to a horse bending its neck is the result of wind and wave erosion. As one of the region's oldest and most iconic landmarks, it attracts hikers, photographers, and nature lovers year-round. The best views are from the elevated track between Camel Rock and Murunna Point, while the more daring can scramble around from Camel Rock Surf Beach, though only safely at low tide.

Bermagui, about 240 miles south of Sydney, sits under Gulaga, also known as Mount Dromedary. Gulaga is a sacred mountain for the Yuin peoples, an Australian Aboriginal group, who call it Mother Mountain. This area is also home to other highlights, like Camel Rock, Wallaga Lake, the Bermagui Blue Pool, or Mimosa Rocks National Park. Wildlife is abundant too—keep an eye out for migrating whales, playful dolphins, and soaring sea eagles as you explore the coastline.

拱门国家公园双拱门映衬下的银河，犹他州，美国 The Milky Way framed by Double Arch in Arches National Park, Utah, USA (© Adventure_Photo/Getty Images)

让我们一起庆祝宇宙 Let's celebrate the cosmos

国际天文日快乐！

你是否曾好奇，通过望远镜看到的土星环是什么样子？又或者，天文学家是如何发现遥远星系的？国际天文日正是探索这些奥秘的绝佳时机！这一年度活动最早于 1973 年发起，其官方主题是：“将天文学带给大众”。 从当地公园到天文俱乐部、博物馆，再到天文台，游客们可以参与望远镜观测、太空讲座，甚至体验模拟月球重力的装置！这一想法起源于加利福尼亚的一位天文学家道格·伯杰。他不再等待人们走进天文台，而是直接把望远镜带到热闹的公共场所。这一招奏效了，人们很快就迷上了仰望星空！如今，世界各地都在庆祝国际天文日，加拿大、瑞典、阿根廷等许多国家都有举办相关活动。今天，就是探索宇宙的好时机。找一架望远镜，一起仰望星空、庆祝宇宙的壮丽吧！

Happy International Astronomy Day!

Ever wondered what Saturn's rings look like through a telescope? Or how astronomers spot distant galaxies? International Astronomy Day is the perfect time to find out. This annual event, first launched in 1973, is all about 'Bringing Astronomy to the People'—the official theme of Astronomy Day. From local parks to astronomy clubs, museums, and observatories, visitors can enjoy activities like telescope viewings, space talks, and even moon gravity simulators.

The event started when Doug Berger, an astronomer in California, decided to take telescopes to busy public spaces rather than wait for people to visit observatories. It worked—people got hooked on stargazing. Astronomy Day is celebrated worldwide, with events in countries like Canada, Sweden, and Argentina, among many others. Today is the day to explore the universe. Find a telescope and celebrate the cosmos!

银河下的约书亚树，加利福尼亚州，美国 Joshua trees under the Milky Way, California, USA (© Chao Zhang/Getty Images)

银河的魔力之下 Under the spell of the Milky Way

国际暗黑周

想象一下，站在一片漆黑的天空下，银河像一条发光的丝带横跨天际。这正是“国际暗黑周”希望带给我们的体验。每年四月，在新月周（今年是4 月 21 日至 27 日）期间，人们被邀请关闭灯光，仰望星空。这项活动由高中生詹妮弗·巴洛于2003 年发起，旨在对抗光污染。体验夜空之美的最佳地点之一是位于加利福尼亚州东南部的约书亚树国家公园，这是一个国际黑暗公园。在这里，由于没有人工光源的干扰，游客可以看到我们的祖先曾经看到过的星星。你知道吗？光污染使我们无法看到银河系中的大多数星星。通过减少光污染，我们可以重新与宇宙的美丽和神奇建立联系。

International Dark Sky Week

Imagine standing under a sky so dark that the Milky Way stretches across it like a luminous ribbon. This is the experience that International Dark Sky Week aims to bring back. Every April, during the week of the new moon (this year from April 21 to 27), we are invited to turn off our lights and gaze at the stars. The event was initiated by Jennifer Barlow, a high school student in 2003, to combat light pollution. One of the best places to experience the night sky's beauty is Joshua Tree National Park in southeastern California, an International Dark Sky Park. Here, the absence of artificial light allows visitors to see the stars as our ancestors once did. Did you know that light pollution prevents us from seeing most of the stars in the Milky Way? By reducing it, we can reconnect with the universe's beauty and wonder.

银河，阿伊特本哈杜杜，摩洛哥 Milky Way, Aït Benhaddou, Morocco (© Cavan Images/Getty Images)

红尘中的宇宙美景 Cosmic views over earthly hues

阿伊特本哈杜杜，摩洛哥

准备好迎接摩洛哥的星空之夜吧！在这里观星真的很神奇，广阔的天空和极少的光污染让每个夜晚都变得璀璨夺目。你看到的每一颗星星都是银河系的一部分，银河系得名于它在最黑暗的天空中呈现出的乳白色光带。在今天的图片中，你可以看到这种宇宙之美在阿伊特本哈杜杜的上空闪耀，这是摩洛哥瓦尔扎扎特省一个历史悠久的筑有防御工事的村庄。该遗址最早建于11世纪，它是古代连接撒哈拉沙漠和马拉喀什贸易路线上的重要一站。村庄坐落在乌尼拉河边的山坡上，是一个由保护墙、塔楼和大门包围起来的建筑群。这里的粘土建筑由夯土、土坯和木材建成，展现了传统的手工艺。这一联合国教科文组织世界遗产因其原汁原味的历史风貌而闻名，还因为致力于保护传统建筑技术和避免使用现代混凝土而得到认可。

Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

Get ready for a starry Moroccan night! Stargazing here is truly magical, as the vast skies and minimal light pollution transform each evening into a dazzling display. Every star you see is part of our galaxy, the Milky Way, which appears as a creamy band of light in the darkest skies. In today's image, you can see this cosmic beauty glowing over Aït Benhaddou, a historic fortified village known as a ksar, in the Ouarzazate province of Morocco. This site was first fortified in the 11th century. It was a key stop on the ancient caravan trade route connecting the Sahara and the city of Marrakesh. Perched on a hillside by the Ounila River, this village is a cluster of buildings encircled by a protective wall, complete with towers and a gate.

The earthen clay architecture here, built from rammed earth, adobe, and wood, showcases traditional craftsmanship. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is celebrated for its authenticity and is known for preserving conventional building techniques and avoiding modern concrete.

埃尔博河上空的银河，阿尔伯塔省，加拿大 (© Alan Dyer/Getty Images)

埃尔博河上空的银河

埃尔博河上空的银河，阿尔伯塔省，加拿大

在阿尔伯塔省风景如画的南部，埃尔博河发源自加拿大落基山脉中的埃尔博湖。这条120公里长的河流蜿蜒地穿过山谷，然后在海拔1040米的卡尔加里与弓河汇合。沿河而行可以看到埃尔博瀑布，这是一个由一系列的叠水瀑布组成的自然奇观。冬季，这里会变成一个冰雪仙境，夏季则是奔腾的水流，非常适合漂流、皮划艇、钓鱼、远足和其他休闲活动。

晚上，埃尔博河区域有着迷人的夜景，正如图片所示的那样：银河横跨天际，为人类提供了一个绝佳的仰望星空的机会。埃尔博河是卡尔加里市的“母亲河”，供应着该市40%的饮用水。这些水储存在韦斯尔黑德平原和格伦牟水库。无论您是想体验激流勇进的快感，还是想享受徒步旅行的宁静，这个自然奇观都不会让您失望。

大弯国家公园上空的银河，得克萨斯州，美国 Milky Way over Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA (© wisanuboonrawd/Adobe Stock)

星光盛宴 A galactic gig

大弯国家公园周年纪念日

准备好探索大自然了吗？让我们走进西得克萨斯的大弯国家公园，今天正好是它的80周年纪念日。它于1944年6月12日成立，当时德克萨斯州将这片土地转让给了联邦政府。该公园占地超过1,250平方英里，是奇瓦瓦沙漠最大的保护区。

大弯国家公园是“发现”历史的好去处，里面不仅有古老的历史性地标，如卡斯托隆历史街区、温泉城历史街区，还有近代拓荒者、牧场主以及矿工的活动印记。除此之外，这片土地还是北美首屈一指的观星胜地。由于周边地区没有人类活动，因此大弯国家公园光污染较少，拥有最黑暗的夜空。如果您是观星爱好者，不妨带上您的双筒望远镜，去享受一个充满银河美景、流星雨、星空奇观的夜晚，不要忘记为迷人的夜空拍照留念哦。

Big Bend National Park turns 80

Ready to channel your inner nature enthusiast? Let's explore Big Bend National Park in West Texas, which is celebrating its 80th birthday today. The park is the largest protected area in the Chihuahuan Desert, covering over 1,250 square miles. It was established on June 12, 1944, when the state of Texas transferred this land to the federal government.

Within the park lie landmarks like the Castolon Historic District, where US and Mexican cultures met in one rural border community, and the Hot Springs Historic District, developed in the early 1900s, but with evidence of human occupation dating back thousands of years. Here you can walk in the footprints of modern pioneers, ranchers, and miners. This land is also one of North America's premier destinations for stargazing. With little light pollution from the surrounding areas, it has some of the darkest night skies in the area. Bring your binoculars and enjoy an evening full of Milky Way vistas, meteor showers, and taking pictures of the stunning night sky.

西南阿连特茹和维森廷海岸自然公园上空的银河，葡萄牙 Milky Way over Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, Portugal (© Daniel Garrido/Getty Images)

黑夜里的“彩虹” A rainbow's nocturnal cousin

秋季天文周

美国一年里有两次天文日，分别是春季天文日（4月中旬到5月中旬）和秋季天文日（9月中旬至10月中旬）。在这个特别的节日，科学博物馆、天文台、天文俱乐部和天文馆将举办专业人士主持的讲座、展览和工坊活动。对夜空的科学观测从早期文明时代就开始了，而天文学被称为最早的自然科学学科，是研究天体及相关现象的学科。今天照片里的是葡萄牙的西南阿连特茹和维森廷海岸自然公园，这里远离光污染，是个观星的好地方哦。

Fall Astronomy Week

The Milky Way has billions of stars; among them, our own sun finds its place. The galaxy's name is derived from the radiant, pale appearance of the band of stars and gas clouds that graces Earth's sky. Methodical observations of the night sky started with early civilizations but astronomy, the oldest natural science, remains a source of fascination today. It's what brings stargazers to Portugal's Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, a site free from heavy light pollution. Now's a good time to seek out your own celestial spectacle, as it is Astronomy Week and the main event, Saturday's Fall Astronomy Day, this year coincides with the autumnal equinox.