Southern Star Trails from Sierra Negra

A Notable Photo of the 2015 International Earth & Sky Photo Contest

From the photographer: “Southern constellations wheel around the South Celestial Pole, just 21 degrees below the horizon, as seen from the summit of Sierra Negra, Mexico, at 5000m altitude and 19 degrees north latitude, home of the Large Millimeter Telescope/Gran Telescopio Milimetrico (LMT/GTM). Below, the lights of Atzitzintla compete with the rose-colored dawn to the east (left).”

James D. Lowenthal