Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


Galaxy and Planets Beyond Bristlecone Pines
<< Yesterday 19.06.2016 Tomorrow >>
Galaxy and Planets Beyond Bristlecone Pines
Credit & Copyright: Brad Goldpaint (Goldpaint Photography)
Explanation: What's older than these ancient trees? Nobody you know -- but almost everything in the background of this picture. The trees are impressively old -- each part of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest located in eastern California, USA. There, many of the oldest trees known are located, some dating as far back as about 5,000 years. Seemingly attached to tree branches, but actually much farther in the distance, are the bright orbs of Saturn (left) and Mars. These planets formed along with the Earth and the early Solar System much earlier -- about 4.5 billion years ago. Swooping down diagonally from the upper left is the oldest structure pictured: the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy -- dating back around 9 billion years. The featured image was built from several exposures all taken from the same location -- but only a few weeks ago.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 < June 2016  >
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su


12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930


Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Based on Astronomy Picture Of the Day

Publications with keywords: Mars - Milky Way
Publications with words: Mars - Milky Way
See also:
All publications on this topic >>