Dazzling East Sky

Planets, constellations and star clusters spangle the east sky as seen from the grounds at Echo Hill Presbyterian Church near Marion, Iowa around 4:34 AM, Monday, July 30, 2012. The -4.40 magnitude planet Venus stands out brightest at center with the -2.15 magnitude planet Jupiter above and right of it. The constellation Auriga is seen at upper left, Taurus just right of Jupiter and the star cluster Pleiades above the Jovian planet. Also peeking above the horizon below and right of Venus are the stars Betelgeuse (lower) and Bellatrix in the constellation Orion. Image is a 30-second exposure at f/3.5, 320 ISO and 18mm focal length. Clouds had just recently moved out toward the south (right) allowing this clear-sky shot.