Vega and El Capitan

Bright star Vega and the first sign of the Milky Way appears over Yosemite valley in this early morning winter view. El Capitan, a prominent vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park appears on the left. The granite monolith extends about 3,000 feet (900 m) from base to summit and is one of the world’s favorite challenges for rock climbers. © Wally Pacholka