This is Messier 106, a spiral galaxy, along with some neighboring galaxies:

Some photos from a trip to New York City, including the sun setting over its fire escape-lined apartment buildings,

the moon rising over a constellation of lights,

and neon colors softly illuminating a city that never sleeps.

This is the M 66 group, also alled the Leo Triplet, which consists of three galaxies in the Leo constellation: the Hamburger Galaxy (NGC 3628, left), M 65 (right top), and M 66 (right bottom):

I made a return trip to Banff this past month, where again I am awed by the majesty of the Canadian Rockies. But where there were verdant greens and aquamarine lakes when I last visited in summer, now there are dramatic snowscapes and waterfalls in suspended animation. Both seasons are beautiful in their own way, but the contrast is striking.

Mount Rundle as seen from downtown Banff in the winter versus the summer:

Johnston Canyon in the winter versus the summer:

Lake Louise in the winter versus the summer:

A beautiful sunset over the Los Angeles skyline, taken last December: