Sirius and the Mayan King

Sirius, the brightest star of our night sky, and the rest of the constellation Canis Major appear through the passing clouds in this moonlit night of Guatemala. Pictured in the foreground is an ancient temple and the tomb of a Mayan king in Tikal World Heritage Site; one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Tikal was the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. Though architecture at the site dates back as far as the 4th century BC, Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, about 200 to 900 AD. During this time, the city dominated much of the Maya region. The pyramid monument is known as Temple I or the Temple of the Great Jaguar. It stands 47 meters high and is built in the 8th century. © Stephane Guisard