APOD 2.3

This picture, posted on the 4th of November, 2013, depicts a partial solar eclipse over the city of New York. A total solar eclipse was viewed by people in just south of Ghana in the Atlantic Ocean. People in the United States viewed the solar eclipse at an angle making it look as if there was a chunk taken out of the sun as it rose over the city. The nearest total solar eclipse that can be viewed from the United States will occur on the 21st of August in the year 2017.

APOD 2.2

This picture was taken on September 12, 2013 but was not posted until October 31, 2013. It is a picture of an area in northeaster Iceland called Hverir. The Northern Lights can be seen as the tall curtains of light dance across the sky. The tall tunnels seen in the picture are funnels of steam evaporating from the volcanic activity in the area. It's interesting to see such spectacular events occurring on what seems like a ghost planet. In reality, it occurs right here on our planet that we call home.

APOD 2.1

This picture posted on October 23, 2013 depicts the northern celestial hemisphere. The picture was taken using a series of 30-second consecutive exposures to form the star trails shown in the picture. In what appears to be the center of the star trails lies Polaris, the "Northern Star". Polaris is a star which is a part of the constellation Ursa Minor, more commonly known as the "Little Dipper" constellation. In several thousands of years later, Polaris will no longer be the "Northern Star" due to Earth's precession.