Andromeda By Moonlight

A nearly full moon bathes the terrestrial landscape in light and washes out all but the brightest stars in the sky around 8:15 PM, Friday, February 18, 2011. This 20-second exposure at f/5 with an ISO rating of 800 looks southwest at Bowman Woods Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Extended warm weather had reduced a 12-inch snowpack the week before into a nearly snow free ground on this day. The two bright stars situated close together at left center are part of the constellation Aries. The two bright stars above the pointed tree top at right center are Almach (upper) and Mirach (lower) in the constellation Andromeda. M31, the Andromeda galaxy (pictured as a small fuzzy vertical blob), is faintly seen just right and below the two dimmer stars right of Mirach. The moon at this time was rising in the eastern sky and was about 16 degrees above the horizon.