The Milky Way Over Devil's Tower


Was Devil's Tower once an explosive volcano? Famous for its appearance in films
such as Close Encounters, the origin of Devil's Tower in Wyoming, USA is still
debated, with a leading hypothesis holding that it is a hardened lava plume that
probably never reached the surface to become a volcano. The lighter rock that
once surrounded the dense volcanic neck has now eroded away, leaving the
dramatic tower. High above, the central band of the Milky Way galaxy arches
across the sky. Many notable sky objects are visible, including dark strands of
the Pipe Nebula and the reddish Lagoon Nebula to the tower's right. Green grass
and trees line the foreground, while moon-illuminated clouds appear near the
horizon to the tower's left. Unlike many other international landmarks, mountaineers
are permitted to climb Devil's Tower.