Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Observatory, Mountains, Universe

NASA ^ | December 30, 2014 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: The awesomeness in this image comes in layers. The closest layer, in the foreground, contains the Peak Terskol Observatory located in the northern Caucasus Mountains of Russia. The white dome over the 2-meter telescope is clearly visible. The observatory is located on a shoulder of Mt. Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, with other peaks visible in a nearby background layer. Clouds are visible both in front of and behind the mountain peaks. The featured three-image composite panorama was taken in 2014 August. Far in the distance is the most distant layer: the stars and nebulas of the night sky, with the central band of the Milky Way rising on the image right.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Boris Dmitriev (Night Scape)]

[SunkenCiv]

2015 APoD Calendar Now we've bounced into Russia, of course. Tomorrow we'll be in Iran, or Venezuela, or maybe Nicaragua.

The Big One

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Terrestrial and composite and Russia....

But pretty nonetheless.

[TheOldLady]

It’s certainly very Russian, dark and gloomy.

The shot of the Milky Way is good, and an observatory on the shoulder
of the highest mountain in Europe is certainly a great perch to investigate
the night sky.

Earthbound but beautiful regardless. Thank you, Mr. Civilizations.