Happy Fourth of July!

Fireworks, lightning, and a comet! Who could ask for more? Sometimes the sky itself is the best show in town. On January 26, people from Perth, Australia gathered on a local beach to watch a sky light up with delights near and far. Nearby, fireworks exploded as part of Australia Day celebrations. On the far right, lightning from a thunderstorm flashed in the distance. Near the image center, though, seen through clouds, was the most unusual sight of all: Comet McNaught. The photogenic comet was so bright that it even remained visible though the din of Earthly flashes. (The above image is actually a three photograph panorama digitally processed to reduce red reflections from the exploding firework, click to enlarge it.)