Galaxy and Planets Beyond Bristlecone Pines

Explanation: What's older than these ancient trees? Nobody you know -- but almost everything in the background of this picture. The trees are impressively old -- each part of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest located in eastern California , USA . There, many of the oldest trees known are located , some dating as far back as about 5,000 years . Seemingly attached to tree branches, but actually much farther in the distance, are the bright orbs of Saturn (left) and Mars . These planets formed along with the Earth and the early Solar System much earlier -- about 4.5 billion years ago. Swooping down diagonally from the upper left is the oldest structure pictured: the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy -- dating back around 9 billion years . The featured image was built from several exposures all taken from the same location -- but only a few weeks ago.