Linz at Night

Captured from the beautiful river bank of Danube, stars are trailed around the north celestial pole in this hour-long exposure from Linz, Austria. In this fish-eye view Orion is about to set at left. Some other bright stars of the Winter Triangle are higher over the western horizon. Cassiopeia is at lower right and Polaris, the North Star, lies at upper right near the celestial pole. The foreground is a picturesque part of Linz. Astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler worked in this historic city for several years. In 1620 he observed a lunar eclipse from Pöstlingberg church which is visible in this picture (at right) on top of a 540-meter mountain overlooking Danube and the city. Click on the second photo to see a close-up view of the church.