@markmccaughrean @mpi_astro

It's a spectacular photo—that deep scarlet contrast against the green leaves is stunning, but it's a moth, not a butterfly!

It is incredibly common for people to mistake it for a butterfly because it breaks almost all the "rules" we are taught about moths:

It flies during the day: While most moths are nocturnal, the Scarlet Tiger loves bright sunshine and flits around gardens just like a butterfly.

#moth

@appassionato Sorry, yes, it’s a moth – complete brain freeze, as I was typing while also half listening to the ongoing conference about star & planet formation 😬✌️

I’ll edit the original to reflect that, but thank you for saving my blushes 🫢

@markmccaughrean

You should have pointed the JWST at it!

😜

@markmccaughrean

Just beware of moths in telescopes:

Astronomers took a gorgeous image of the spiral galaxy Messier 65 using a 4-meter telescope. However, the raw images had a giant, blurry cosmic blemish on them. When technicians investigated, they discovered that a literal, earthly moth had somehow crawled into the telescope's internal mechanism and died right inside the camera's filter wheel. The image had to be digitally processed to remove the "blotch created by a moth".

#M65
#APOD

@markmccaughrean

Space flight or fight?
And technically, Mothra is Godzilla’s legendary ally, not his foe. But don't worry, the Jaeger team doesn't discriminate when L2 is on the line!