Today's Amateur Astronomy Photo of the Day:
AAPOD2 Image Archives
"End of Orion Season"
As we are slowly approaching the end of Orion season, here’s a panorama of the setting winter Milky Way arc over the iconic landscape of the Alabama Hills.
The amount of hydrogen-rich emission nebulae in this part of the Milky Way makes it one of my favorite subjects. As a special treat, part of the Gum Nebula is peeking like a flame over the southern horizon on the very left, collaborating with red and green airglow to beat the yellow light pollution from distant Los Angeles. Next to it, the Seagull Nebula soars high above Boot Arch, silhouetted against strong green airglow, while Orion sets over Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the Sierra Nevada.
Further to the right, the zodiacal light almost drowns the Pleiades cluster and cuts through the Milky Way as a reminder of the Sun being not too far below the horizon. On the far right, the Heart and Soul Nebulae and the Cosmic Question Mark shine through red airglow as the Milky Way slowly dips below the northern horizon.
