APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

[APOD Robot]

Yosemite Winter Night

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.

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[Ann]

What a lovely image!

The fantastic diffraction spikes around Jupiter may or may not have been added artificially. In any case, they sure make this brilliant stellar beacon look like "the Christmas star". The cold clear sky sparkles with millions little points of light, and the dramatic but serene winter landscape completes the beautiful scene.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Ann

[geckzilla]

Good job, Wally... maybe next time we can get it at slightly larger than postage stamp resolution.

[Boomer12k]

BRRRRRRR!!!!!! Now that is dedication. I get too cold to do anything in the winter, plus it is mostly overcast. I hope he had something hot to warm him up out there!!!!

Orion is just awesome, as is the whole scene.

Merry Xmas!!!

:---[===] *

[Anthony Barreiro]

This would make a lovely Christmas card!

[Doug Martin]

a perfect Christmas display. Thanks

[biddie67]

A beautiful picture!! Merry Christmas to all you good folks !!

[starstruck]

Looks like the perfect Christmas scene; beautiful photo.
Merry Christmas everybody!

[ta152h0]

being today Christmas day for many, is this image suggesting Jupiter was the star of Bethlehem ?

[Anthony Barreiro]

being today Christmas day for many, is this image suggesting Jupiter was the star of Bethlehem ?

In his "Astronomical Companion" Guy Otewell has an interesting discussion of the possible origins of the Star of Bethlehem that heralded the birth of Jesus. There are several possibilities, including a triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 BCE and/or a naked-eye observation of Uranus in that same year. But Ottewell says that people were always reporting miraculous celestial vision in those days, and other people credulously believed them. One big difference between the Star of Bethlehem and all the other contemporaneous heavenly apparitions is that many people today still read the Gospels, whereas few still read Josephus and the other chronicles of those times.

[Ann]

It should be pointed out that there are four retellings of the life of Jesus in the Bible, but the star of Bethlehem is only mentioned in one of them. And to my knowledge, the star if Bethlehem is not mentioned anywhere outside the Bible. It is doubtful, therefore, if the star of Bethlehem ever existed.

It is true, however, that there was a conjunction between Venus and Jupiter at about the time when Jesus was born. It must have been a splendid sight.

Ann

[Beyond]

It should be pointed out that there are four retellings of the life of Jesus in the Bible, but the star of Bethlehem is only mentioned in one of them. And to my knowledge, the star if Bethlehem is not mentioned anywhere outside the Bible. It is doubtful, therefore, if the star of Bethlehem ever existed.

It is true, however, that there was a conjunction between Venus and Jupiter at about the time when Jesus was born. It must have been a splendid sight.

Ann

Sometimes 'stars' are not what they seem to be. Especially in Hollywood

[ta152h0]

may I add to trhe list " sports stars " ?

[3AZUPTAK]

may I add to trhe list " sports stars " ?

Sure you can add that if it really pleases you. And feel free to add something constructive as well in the future!

Happy Holidays, Happy New Years and God speed all...

And thank you Wally! Absolutely beautiful and genius composition.