Skyborn
Home
PULL · 19 NOV 2003

This was
your sky.

Light Can Twist as Well as Spin

NASA APOD · M. J. Padgett, J. Leach (U. Glasgow) et al., Royal Society
COSMIC MESSAGE

Light can carry orbital angular momentum, a property distinct from its spin. This means light waves can twist as they propagate, similar to how a planet orbits the Sun while also spinning on its axis. This discovery adds another layer of complexity to how we understand and measure light.

CREDIT
© COPYRIGHTED M. J. Padgett, J. Leach (U. Glasgow) et al., Royal Society · M. J. Padgett, J. Leach (U. Glasgow) et al., Royal Society · used by permission via NASA APOD · not for redistribution. · View source
Try another date
EXPORT AS
On paper
Take home a plate from the same week

We cannot put this date's photograph on paper at poster size. We can print the nearest public archive plate to your date instead.

See print sizes

From $29.00

SB-2003-11-19 ©
COMMON
Light Can Twist as Well as Spin
2003-11-19 · ♏
SKYBORN
Light Can Twist as Well as Spin
NASA APOD · M. J. Padgett, J. Leach (U. Glasgow) et al., Royal Society
BORN 8326 days ago
SKYBORN.APP

Move your cursor across the card to tilt it. Holographic foil ripples through the edges and surface as you go.

ZODIAC CONTEXT
♏
SCORPIO

In tropical astrology, 19 NOV 2003 falls under Scorpio (♏). The sign's window runs from 10-23 through 11-21. Scorpio is marked by Antares, a red supergiant the size of Mars's orbit. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 19 NOV 2003.

THE ALMANAC FOR 19 NOV 2003
DAY
Wednesday
MOON
Waning crescent, 23% lit
POSITION
Day 323 of 365
METEOR SHOWER
Leonid shower, peaked 2 days ago
SAME DAY, OTHER YEARS
NEARBY DATES