Comments and questions about the
APOD on the main view screen.
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APOD Robot
- Otto Posterman
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by APOD Robot » Tue Dec 25, 2012 5:08 am
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.
[/b]
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Ann
- 4725 Å
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by Ann » Tue Dec 25, 2012 5:16 am
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
Color Commentator
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geckzilla
- Ocular Digitator
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by geckzilla » Tue Dec 25, 2012 6:36 am
Good job, Wally... maybe next time we can get it at slightly larger than postage stamp resolution.
Just call me "geck" because "zilla" is like a last name.
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Boomer12k
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by Boomer12k » Tue Dec 25, 2012 9:24 am
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!!!
:---[===] *
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Anthony Barreiro
- Turtles all the way down
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by Anthony Barreiro » Tue Dec 25, 2012 1:10 pm
This would make a lovely Christmas card!
May all beings be happy, peaceful, and free.
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Doug Martin
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by Doug Martin » Tue Dec 25, 2012 4:30 pm
a perfect Christmas display. Thanks
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biddie67
- Science Officer
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by biddie67 » Tue Dec 25, 2012 6:59 pm
A beautiful picture!! Merry Christmas to all you good folks !!
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starstruck
- Science Officer
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by starstruck » Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:21 pm
Looks like the perfect Christmas scene; beautiful photo.
Merry Christmas everybody!
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ta152h0
- Schooled
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by ta152h0 » Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:44 pm
being today Christmas day for many, is this image suggesting Jupiter was the star of Bethlehem ?
Wolf Kotenberg
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Anthony Barreiro
- Turtles all the way down
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by Anthony Barreiro » Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:14 am
ta152h0 wrote: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.
May all beings be happy, peaceful, and free.
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Ann
- 4725 Å
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by Ann » Thu Dec 27, 2012 5:54 pm
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
Color Commentator
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Beyond
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by Beyond » Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:46 pm
Ann wrote: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
To find the Truth, you must go Beyond.
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ta152h0
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by ta152h0 » Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:32 pm
may I add to trhe list " sports stars " ?
Wolf Kotenberg
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3AZUPTAK
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by 3AZUPTAK » Mon Dec 31, 2012 6:38 pm
ta152h0 wrote: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.