Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2021 April 10

                               Zodiacal Night
              Image Credit & Copyright: Jean-Francois Graffand

   Explanation: An intense band of zodiacal light is captured in this
   serene mountain and night skyscape from April 7. The panoramic view was
   recorded after three hours of hiking from a vantage looking west after
   sunset across the Pyrenees in southern France. At 2838 meters altitude,
   Mont Valier is the tallest peak near center. In the sky above, the
   familiar stars of Orion and the northern winter Milky Way are
   approaching the rugged western horizon. At the shoulder of Orion,
   Betelgeuse is one of three bright yellowish celestial beacons. It forms
   a triangle with fellow red giant star Aldebaran located below
   Betelgeuse and to the right, and the red planet Mars. Mars shines just
   under the band of the Milky Way, still immersed in the bright zodiacal
   light.

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