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Credit: Jimmy Westlake
(Colorado
Mountain College)
Explanation:
Orion
always comes up sideways ... and was caught in the
act earlier this month by astronomer Jimmy Westlake,
stargazing eastward over the Rocky Mountains north of
Leadville, Colorado, USA.
To make this gorgeous image,
Westlake placed his camera on a tripod for two exposures.
The first lasted for 18 minutes allowing the
stars to trail as
they rose above the mountain range.
After a minute long pause, the second exposure began and
lasted only 25 seconds
decorating the end of each trail with a celestial point
of light.
The three bright stars in Orion's belt stand in a nearly
vertical line above the mountain peak right of center.
Hanging from his belt, the stars and
nebulae
of the Hunter's sword follow the slope down and to the right.
A festive yellow-orange Betelgeuse
is the brightest star above the
peak just left of center, but brighter still, planet
Saturn shines near the upper left corner.
In the foreground on planet Earth, a frozen lake and snowy
mountains are lit by a four day old crescent Moon.
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes from
APOD!
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Orion - star trail
Publications with words: Orion - star trail
See also: