The Star of New Year's Eve

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Dec 27

2016

by project nightflight

Fireworks and celebrations, that's what many people associate with the coming of the New Year. But as the countdown is peaking and expectations are running high, there is yet another show going on in the sky. The brightest star visible from Earth reaches its highest point of its apparent path across the night sky. Sirius culminates around midnight on New Year's Eve. This is a phantastic coincidence. And, of course, this happens every year at midnight as the old year ends and the next year begins and is visible from almost everywhere on Earth. So, if the skies are clear and you have a moment, look due south at midnight on New Year's Eve and perhaps you can glimpse Sirius adding celestial splendor to the fireworks.



This image was taken by project nightflight during a culmination of Sirius above the volcanos of La Palma island. It shows the constellation Canis Major, the Great Dog, of which Sirius is the most prominent star, and the dark, volcanic landscape that is typical of the Canary Islands. Whisps of Cirrus clouds added dramatically to the image that is the result of nine untracked digitally combined original shots.

We wish all our followers, friends and partners around the world a Happy New Year 2017!