Magazine Posts

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

This was a sky to show the kids. Early this month the two brightest planets in the night sky, Jupiter and Venus, appeared to converge. At their closest, the two planets were separated by only about the angular width of the full moon. The spectacle occurred just after sunset and was seen and photographed all across planet Earth. The displayed image was taken near to the time of closest approach from Wiltingen, Germany, and features the astrophotographer, spouse, and their two children. Of course, Venus remains much closer to both the Sun and the Earth than Jupiter -- the apparent closeness between the planets in the sky of Earth was only angular. Jupiter and Venus have passed and now appear increasingly far apart. Similar planetary convergence opportunities will eventually arise. In a few months, for example, Mars and Venus will appear to congregate just as the Sun sets. Jupiter & Venus Conjunction Gallery: Notable Submissions to APOD

Photo by Michael LuyTrier Observatory

I hate this life,
of losing thee,
to a disease
of infamy.

Through the dark shadows,
he rode his new bike.
Wheels all wobbly,
should have been a trike.

Writing fast,
as I see,
depression wants,
a piece of me.

Why must,
I be sad?
I'm trying hard,
avoiding bad.

Thoughts again,
reel with pain,
in this world
of more rain.

If I say,
to you,
keep your
humor, too,

will that help,
you understand,
my smallness
as a man?

The garden grows,
in hottest sun.
Flowers in bloom,
for everyone.

Long were the shadows,
beneath the tree,
where I pledged,
my troth to thee.

The sun had risen,
I was awake,
praying to God,
my soul not to take.

My life thoughts,
weren't the first time
but my choice of words,
were meant to rhyme.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Stars are forming in the Soul of the Queen of Aethopia. More specifically, a large star forming region called the Soul Nebula can be found in the direction of the constellation Cassiopeia, whom Greek mythology credits as the vain wife of a King who long ago ruled lands surrounding the upper Nile river. Also known as Westerhout 5 (W5), the Soul Nebula houses several open clusters of stars, ridges and pillars darkened by cosmic dust, and huge evacuated bubbles formed by the winds of young massive stars. Located about 6,500 light years away, the Soul Nebula spans about 100 light years and is usually imaged next to its celestial neighbor the Heart Nebula (IC 1805). The featured image is a composite of exposures made in different colors: red as emitted by hydrogen gas, yellow as emitted by sulfur, and blue as emitted by oxygen.

Photo by José Jiménez

Ten thousand days
of wedded bliss,
starting with
our first kiss.

I dread the day,
when you are gone,
for you, my love
are still the one.

I walk this path, slowly,
alone, as a man.
I'll try to do better,
do the best I can.

Lonesome, the trail,
I view through a lens.
A warped view of life's game,
a visual, "Let's Pretend."

Will you be here tomorrow,
when the game ends,
for life, its sweet sorrow,
it won't heal, no matter when.

Soon, it will be,
April 3rd,
I await the day,
to see your face.

How many masked
people will we know,
after the masks are gone
and we see each other's face?

"...Astonishingly, honeybees possess one of the most complicated examples of nonhuman communication. They can tell each other where to find resources such as food, water, or nest sites with a physical “waggle dance.” This dance conveys the direction. distance and quality of a resource to the bee's nestmates" .....Read more at The Conversation