APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

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APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post by APOD Robot » Tue Dec 25, 2012 5:08 am

Image 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
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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post 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
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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post 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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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post 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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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post 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.

Doug Martin

Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post by Doug Martin » Tue Dec 25, 2012 4:30 pm

a perfect Christmas display. Thanks

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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post by biddie67 » Tue Dec 25, 2012 6:59 pm

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

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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post by starstruck » Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:21 pm

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

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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post 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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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post 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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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post 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.

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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post 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
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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post by ta152h0 » Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:32 pm

may I add to trhe list " sports stars " ?
Wolf Kotenberg

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Re: APOD: Yosemite Winter Night (2012 Dec 25)

Post 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.