Uluru, formerly Ayers Rock: Australia’s milestone seen from space

You will see it many times. Because you don’t really understand what’s in front of your eyes. French ESA astronaut Thomas Pesket recently sent an image to Earth from the International Space Station, which annoys the viewer: a rock, an asteroid, flying? What can be seen in the background? The surface of a distant planet, Mars probably?

No, Basket took a picture of the earth. The thing that appears to be floating above the surface is actually very firmly attached to it. There was a time when the structure in the film was called Ayers Rock. Meanwhile, rock formation in the Central Australian desert is again known by its traditional name, Uluru. The hill is considered as a sacred hill by the local tribes known as Ananku who have been living here for thousands of years. That’s why there has been a climb for tourists for almost two years No longer allowed. In this way, traditional rock carvings can also be better preserved.

Ananku really doesn’t want to photograph certain parts of the mountain anymore. The view from the Northeast is particularly affected. “Considering the great cultural significance of the Northeast face, Ananku asks that photographers only take long shots from a distance and avoid showing any details on the top left of the rock.” On a website Of the National Park. Photographed by astronaut Pesket 400 km away.

Always different colors

Massif consists of a rock like sandstone. It stretches for 350 meters from the barren landscape of the region and is one of Australia’s greatest landmarks. It is indebted to the weather of the rock for its characteristic color, during which the iron compounds are oxidized. The hue can change significantly depending on the position of the sun and the weather.

The rock is known Writes Pesquet, “I agree from space that it changes color and that sunrise or sunset changes its tone and that it shines in a different light.”

Interestingly, the Massif is like a glacier: the vast area cannot be seen. Below the surface, the uru is said to continue to a depth of six kilometers. But such a thing is certainly not recognizable to the tourists on site or to the visitor from space.

Ayers Rock is the name of the Massif, which was first discovered by William Goss, a European and British nature enthusiast who traveled with three other whites, three Afghans and one tribe. He named the mountain after the then Prime Minister of South Australia, Henry Ayers. But that time is now over, and in the best two terms, the colonial name and the traditional name are used simultaneously.

But one more thing. Australia and the Rock – Anything? Oh yes exactly. AC / DC.

By the way, astronaut Basket is considered a complete music fan. He has Playlists His space travels Also available in general. Also Angus Young and the like would fit in at least as well, and in addition to the modern tracks there are also works by Guns N Roses, Queen or Greetens Clearwater Revival.