Astronomy Picture of the Day ·
A Sonic Boom
The Astronomy Picture of the Day for February 21, 2001 is “A Sonic Boom,” an image. It is credited to Credit: Ensign John Gay, USS Constellation , US Navy. The original explanation runs about 157 words.
From the explanation
“Many people have heard a sonic boom, but few have seen one. When an airplane travels at a speed faster than sound, density waves of sound emitted by the plane cannot precede the plane, and so accumulate in a cone behind the plane.”
— APOD editors, February 21, 2001
Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov
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At a glance
- Date
- February 21, 2001
- Type
- Image
- Credit
- Credit: Ensign John Gay, USS Constellation , US Navy
- Copyright
- No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
- Explanation length
- About 157 words