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.