Magazine Posts

Why is there an emptiness in me,
when we meet and then you leave?

Photo shared by Heather Cox Richardson from Letters from an American

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Where does space begin? For purposes of spaceflight some would say at the Karman line, currently defined as an altitude of 100 kilometers (60 miles). Others might place a line 80 kilometers (50 miles) above Earth's mean sea level. But there is no sharp physical boundary that marks the end of atmosphere and the beginning of space. In fact, the Karman line itself is near the transition between the upper mesophere and lower thermosphere. Night shining or noctilucent clouds are high-latitude summer apparitions formed at altitudes near the top of the mesophere, up to 80 kilometers or so, also known as polar mesopheric clouds. Auroral bands of the northern (and southern) lights caused by energetic particles exciting atoms in the thermosphere can extend above 80 kilometers to over 600 kilometers altitude. Taken from a cockpit while flying at an altitude of 10 kilometers (33,000 feet) in the realm of stratospheric aeronautics, this snapshot captures both noctilucent clouds and aurora borealis under a starry sky, looking toward planet Earth's horizon and the edge of space.

Photo by Ralf Rohner

She approached the man
from the rear.
Placed her hand close
to his left ear,
"I feel blessed", she said,
"to find you still here.
Do you want me to stay
or should I disappear?"

A strange moment.
An awkward hello.
I tripped over my tongue
as I attempted to show,
my sophistication.
A few stumbling words,
did not fare well
and I embarrassed myself.
A job I did like ringing a bell.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Sprawling emission nebulae IC 1396 and Sh2-129 mix glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds in this 10 degree wide field of view toward the northern constellation Cepheus the King. Energized by its bluish central star IC 1396 (left) is hundreds of light-years across and some 3,000 light-years distant. The nebula's intriguing dark shapes include a winding dark cloud popularly known as the Elephant's Trunk below and right of center. Tens of light-years long, it holds the raw raw material for star formation and is known to hide protostars within. Located a similar distance from planet Earth, the bright knots and swept back ridges of emission of Sh2-129 on the right suggest its popular name, the Flying Bat Nebula. Within the Flying Bat, the most recently recognized addition to this royal cosmic zoo is the faint bluish emission from Ou4, the Giant Squid nebula.

Photo by Patrick Hsieh

A dog, a cat and a horse
named Blue.
Sat in the meadow with
nothing to do.
The cat hit the dog
with it's open paw,
then hopped on the horse,
with a "Yippee Kayoo"
and rode into the sunset,
looking for you.

Does it matter
when I miss writing
on a page, as my
hands are a tremble?
A volunteer movement,
what ever it means,
when your hand will shake
if your grip is loose.
A staccato of noise,
a rattling plate,
to see the movement,
of shimmy and shake.
Nothing to be concerned about
my Doctor states.
It's just a reaction,
so do not fear,
it will still be there
the following year.

When life comes at you
like a speeding train,
stand your ground; firm your stand,
for nothing is easy in this our great land.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Point your telescope toward the high flying constellation Pegasus and you can find this expanse of Milky Way stars and distant galaxies. NGC 7814 is centered in the pretty field of view that would almost be covered by a full moon. NGC 7814 is sometimes called the Little Sombrero for its resemblance to the brighter more famous M104, the Sombrero Galaxy. Both Sombrero and Little Sombrero are spiral galaxies seen edge-on, and both have extensive halos and central bulges cut by a thin disk with thinner dust lanes in silhouette. In fact, NGC 7814 is some 40 million light-years away and an estimated 60,000 light-years across. That actually makes the Little Sombrero about the same physical size as its better known namesake, appearing smaller and fainter only because it is farther away. In this telescopic view from July 17, NGC 7814 is hosting a newly discovered supernova, dominant immediately to the left of the galaxy's core. Cataloged as SN 2021rhu, the stellar explosion has been identified as a Type Ia supernova, useful toward calibrating the distance scale of the universe.

Photo by CHART32 Team

A picnic table without pasta salad feels like something is missing. This Pasta and Bean Picnic Salad is a spin on classic pasta salad with a white beans, fresh summer vegetables, and a light vinaigrette. No mayo. Click the Image below to read Sheryl Julian's recipe.

#salad

It is 3 AM
and I've been up, almost an hour,
writing words, from my memory
and asking the question.
Who are you searching for?
Do you know my name
or where I live?
Must I accept you, once more?
If I leave now
will there be a big chance
to stay here with you,
in our life's final dance?