Today's Amateur Astronomy Photo of the Day:

In a remote corner of Joshua Tree National Park, a small stone dragon gazes upward as the Milky Way rises above the distant mountains.

Sculpted by aeons of wind and weather, the dragon blends seamlessly into its surroundings, its earthy tones echoed in the galaxy’s golden star fields and reddish-brown clouds of cosmic dust.

While scorpions are among the most feared creatures of the desert, the celestial scorpion glowing on the right side of the frame is a far more welcome presence. This vibrant region of the night sky seems to fascinate the silent dragon as it keeps watch beneath the turning heavens.