Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Yosemite Winter Night

NASA ^ | December 25, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: In this evocative night skyscape a starry band of the Milky Way climbs over Yosemite Valley, Sierra Nevada Range, planet Earth. Jupiter is the brightest celestial beacon on the wintry scene, though. Standing nearly opposite the Sun in the constellation Taurus, the wandering planet joins yellowish Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster. Below, Orion always comes up sideways over a fence of mountains. And from there the twin stars of Gemini rise just across the Milky Way. As this peaceful winter night began, they followed Auriga the charioteer, its alpha star Capella near the top of the frame.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Wally Pacholka (AstroPics.com, TWAN)]

[SunkenCiv]

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[Conservative4Ever]

Beautiful!!

[bmwcyle]

WOW

[chris37]

That is just stunning!

I wish I could see an even larger version of that pic.

[thecodont]

Thank you.

“Below, Orion always comes up sideways over a fence of mountains.”

:)

I haven’t seen Orion this winter. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong part of the sky for this winter constellation?

[Cincinna]

Thanks, Civ. magical and majestic!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[convocation]

Gorgeous. Thanks!

[null and void]

Load the Sky Walk app on your iPhone...

[bimboeruption]

WOW! It looks 3D.

[Inyo-Mono]

I have met the photographer, Wally Pacholka, on several occasions and even gave him tips on good places to go in the wilderness of the Eastern Sierra of California to get shots like this. He is a real pioneer in this type of night photography.

[KoRn]

Very nice image!!!

I believe you can make out at least one of Jupiter’s moons. (the orange/reddish looking object to the right of it)

[mylife]

Beautiful.
I always wanted to spend a winter night at Yellowstone. Old Faithful.

http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/npsg/railroad/yell/images/photo10.jpg

[mylife]

[mylife]

Yall note the nice tertiary purple and orange colors.

Gods hand is all over this stuff

Merry Christmas.

[P.O.E.]

Purty. Thanks!

[gotribe]

That has to be doctored. Never ever seen Jupiter like that.

[left that other site]

That would make a nice Christmas Card! :-)