Yosemite Winter Night

[pokerfan]

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

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.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap121225.html

[Bennyboy]

1. Wow.

My favorite place in the world right there. Surprised they got that much clear sky last night.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. What a lovely peaceful pic for Christmas.

Thank you so much for sharing it.

[niyad]

3. such a beautiful image--thank you for sharing it.

[LiberalEsto]

4. so beautiful

I just emailed it to friends and family

thank you

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Beautiful...

I was eyeballing Jupiter last night, wishing I had a telescope.

[question everything]

23. Indeed. We had a clear night and Jupiter was close to the moon

we could watch it from inside the house instead of shivering outside.

[Shrike47]

6. Thank you for posting.

With all the lights we have now, the sky is almost startling when really seen.

[gateley]

7. My new wallpaper -- it just instantly calms me. Thank you!

[alfredo]

9. Check their archives too. They go back to 1995.

[gateley]

22. Again, thanks!

[alfredo]

8. APOD has been a daily routine of mine, even longer than DU. Thanks for the image.

[pokerfan]

12. Me too

I only the post the really stunning ones. Like this one.

[alfredo]

17. The backlit Saturn was one that caught my eye.

[Joey Liberal]

10. Beautiful!

Thx!

[riverbendviewgal]

11. Awesome, Incredible , spellbinding

illuminating, soulful, peaceful


Thanks for posting.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Orion seems to be situated somewhat differently than it is in Alaska's night sky.

Is that possible?

[alfredo]

18. In the morning sky it will be different.

[liberal_at_heart]

14. that's incredible

Makes me want to go to Yosemite. Thank you for posting it.

[begin_within]

15. That's my new desktop background

Thanks!

[WiffenPoof]

16. How Fortunate We Are...

...as humans to witness such beauty.

[KurtNYC]

19. I spent a whole winter in those mountains

(working for Mammoth Mountain). Beauty taken to a spiritual level.

[HappyMe]

20. How lovely and peaceful.

Thanks for posting.

[Phentex]

21. Gorgeous!

Wish I were there!

[question everything]

24. Amazing. I can stare at it and just be awed (nt)