This 360-degree digitally stitched panorama shows the view from 4,400-meter high Mt. Whitney in Sequoia National Park, California. In the foreground, angular boulders populate Mt. Whitney's summit while in the distance, just below the horizon, peaks from the Sierra Nevada mountain range are visible. Sky sights include light pollution emanating from Los Angeles and Fresno, visible just above the horizon. Dark clouds, particularly evident on the image left well above the horizon, are the remnants of a recent thunderstorm near Death Valley. High above, the band of the Milky Way Galaxy arches across the image left. Bright air-glow bands are visible all over the sky but are particularly prominent on the image right. The planet <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Jupiter" title="Jupiter">Jupiter</a> appears as the brightest point on the image left. A discerning eye can also find a faint image of the far distant <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andromeda&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Andromeda (page does not exist)">Andromeda</a> galaxy, a satellite trail, and many constellations. The historic stone shelter on Mt. Whitney is visible toward the image right.
D. Duriscoe, C. Duriscoe, R. Pilewski, &amp; L. Pilewski, U.S. NPS Night Sky Program.
2009-08-27
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