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.

                              2020 December 25

                            Northern Winter Night
                    Image Credit & Copyright: Adam Block

   Explanation: Orion always seems to come up sideways on northern winter
   evenings. Those familiar stars of the constellation of the Hunter are
   caught above the trees in this colorful night skyscape. Not a star at
   all but still visible to eye, the Great Nebula of Orion shines below
   the Hunter's belt stars. The camera's exposure reveals the stellar
   nursery's faint pinkish glow. Betelgeuse, giant star at Orion's
   shoulder, has the color of warm and cozy terrestrial lighting, but so
   does another familiar stellar giant, Aldebaran. Alpha star of the
   constellation Taurus the Bull, Aldebaran anchors the recognizable
   V-shape traced by the Hyades Cluster toward the top of the starry
   frame.

            Tomorrow's picture: Fox Fur, Unicorn, Christmas Tree
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

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