Gems of the Winter Sky

Gems of the winter sky shine above the moonlit landscape of Mount Emei, a world mixed cultural and natural heritage in southwestern of China. Bright star Procyon is visible on the top left and prominent constellation Orion is in the top center. The south direction of the line connecting the three stars of Orion belt leads you to Sirius; the brightest star in the night sky. While its north direction reaches the red Aldebaran at the Bull’s eye (upper right). More interesting is a bright star rising by the side of the traditional Chinese temple. It is Canopus, the second brightest star of the night sky, which is not as dazzling in this image because it is visible through dimming atmospheric layers through the horizon. Canopus is also known as “the star of the old man”, which means health and longevity in the old Chinese culture.