Summer Triangle in Winter

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As its name implies, the Summer Triangle rides high in the evening sky throughout the warm summer months. As summer progresses into fall, this triangle formed by three bright stars sets earlier each evening -- but the sunset also shifts earlier, keeping the triangle seemingly fixed above the western horizon after sunset. During the first days of winter, as shown in this photo, the triangle is barely visible above the evening twilight horizon, its long run over for another year. Position your mouse cursor over the image to show the outline of the triangle and the three stars that form it.

Date: December 30, 2006
Time: 6:48 p.m. PST
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Camera: Olympus OM-1 35mm SLR on fixed tripod
Film: Kodak Elite Chrome 400 slide (pushed one stop)
Focal length: 24 mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure time: 30 seconds
Scanner: Nikon Coolscan LS-2000