This is my 2016 Christmas Image, displaying a stunning nightscape shot last September, in my usual imaging site. The Milky Way was already setting due West, with its Central Core near the center of the image. To its right side, Sagittarius, Scutum, Aquila and Cygnus in the Norhtern side of the Milky Way. To its left, the constellations Scorpius is already going away behind the mountais. Further left, in the corner of the image, it’s another galaxy itself that captures our attention: the Small Magellanic Cloud, a Milky Way’s satellite, along with its Large “companion”, LMC, which can only be hint behind the trees. The sky changes, from the Winter striking overhead Milky Way, to the dark, full of stars skies of Spring.

This image has yet more to be discovered: despite the bright light pollution dome in the center is from nearby city Cristina, there is more: The foreground of this image displays a tree, a young Araucária, which is Brazilians pine tree. These magnificient trees, whose scientific designation is Araucaria angustifolia can grow up to 30 meters or ~100ft, and are found in the southernmost regions of Brazil, along the higher altitudes of Southwestern Brazil, in the mountains of Serra da Mantiqueira, where this image was taken.

Indeed, in an metaphorical, poetical way, the light pollution dome serves this image as Christmas lights for the Araucária tree.

With this image, I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

*Please check the full image 5000px - resized from original ~17000px)*

Constructive criticism, comments and suggestions are more than welcome in the comments section. Thank's for taking your time to look at this image.

Taken from Rural Skies (Bortle 3-4; NELM ~6.2; SQM ~21.6*calculated), from Cristina, MG, Brazil (22ºS latitude).

Date and Time: September 24th, 2016, at 22:30h (UTC-3, start of capture)

Camera: Unmodded Canon T4i/650D, at ISO 3200

Lens: Canon 18-135mm STM lens, operating at 18mm, f/4.0

Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ3-2 with RA motorization, tracking, unguided

Exposure Detail: 17 panel Panorama, each 60s, total 17min;

Processing: Microsoft ICE (stitching), Adobe PS (processing), LR (file management and final touches)