Comet Lovejoy

Comet Lovejoy - Rising in dawn's twilight, arcing above the eastern horizon, its tails are swept back by the solar wind and sunlight. Seen here is the comet's early morning appearance alongside the southern Milky Way. The short star trails include bright southern sky stars Alpha and Beta Centauri near the center of the frame, but the long bright streak that crosses the comet tails is a little closer to home. The photographer also caught the International Space Station still glinting in the sunlight as it orbits (top to bottom) above the local horizon. — at Image Credit: Carlos Caccia/NASA - (Intendente Alvear, Argentina - 12/24/11).