Magazine Posts

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

On August 11 a Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched from a rotating planet. With a small satellite on board its mission was dubbed A Sky Full of SARs (Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites), departing for low Earth orbit from Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand's north island. The fiery trace of the Electron's graceful launch arc is toward the east in this southern sea and skyscape, a composite of 50 consecutive frames taken over 2.5 hours. Fixed to a tripod, the camera was pointing directly at the South Celestial Pole, the extension of planet Earth's axis of rotation in to space. But no bright star marks that location in the southern hemisphere's night sky. Still, the South Celestial Pole is easy to spot. It lies at the center of the concentric star trail arcs that fill the skyward field of view. Gallery: Perseid Meteor Shower 2024 and Aurorae

Photo by Rory Gannaway

There are times,
in this short life, ours,
when you need a friend,
not a "cheer leader."

I lost an important,
person in my life.
I'm still grieving, but, sometimes,
others, can suck the air from the room.

It exhausts me,
when I hear talk about
the past. Not your fault,
but sometimes, "Silence is golden."

Wicked comes a calling,
reaching out to me.
Should I stay to challenge,
or run away and flee?

Wicked has many ways,
she says will set you free.
I'm uncertain if she means it.
I know it won't be me.

Have to fight temptation,
when it gets in the way.
Start again on the morrow,
when I may go or stay.

When the jagged, little edges,
have left their frame to play,
will the empty panes of glass,
vanish and go away?

I don't know the answer,
and probable never will,
but I will tell you now,
I won't take another pill.

Walking through, the day of now,
searching for yesterday,
when I came upon tomorrow,
in a most peculiar way.

There will be no future,
if you don't recognize today,
while clearing your head,
and walking away.

There are too many actions,
of which we won't say,
better get out to vote,
if you will want your way.

If you become complacent,
ignoring facts today,
your freedom will leave,
and will walk away.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

A single exposure made with a camera pointed almost due north on August 12 recorded this bright Perseid meteor in the night sky west of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The meteor's incandescent trace is fleeting. It appears to cross the stars of the Big Dipper, famous northern asterism and celestial kitchen utensil, while shimmering curtains of aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, dance in the night. Doubling the wow factor for night skywatchers near the peak of this year's Perseid meteor shower auroral activity on planet Earth was enhanced by geomagnetic storms. The intense space weather was triggered by flares from an active Sun. Gallery: Perseid Meteor Shower 2024 and Aurorae

Photo by Jason Dain

When love says, its last goodbye,
when your lover has left you to die.
What is your next recourse?
Deal with your grief, of course.

What light shines, through
the window, far?
Me thinks it maybe
the Northern Star.

A star which guides,
our life at night,
to assure we all,
will live just right.

When the Whippoorwill calls,
the time will be when,
we will see the World change,
over and over again.

The Whippoorwill calls,
should set up an alarm,
about the attention is ready,
for her who our Democracy harm.

Insurrectionists no matter,
what you may say,
Traitors to our Government,
in every waking way.

If you believe in this country,
and the Democracy, you see,
then it's time to take action,
and not the criminal way.

A jagged edge,
along the screen,
Broken glass,
at the scene.

What has happened,
where were we,
when all the rats,
began to flee.

Take back our country,
from the Sedonistic crowd.
Don't be quiet,
speak out loud.

If you care,
for this, your land,
we will love to take
a stronger stand.