Magazine Posts

May 19, 2021

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Normally faint and elusive, the Jellyfish Nebula is caught in this alluring scene. In the telescopic field of view two bright yellowish stars, Mu and Eta Geminorum, stand just below and above the Jellyfish Nebula at the left. Cool red giants, they lie at the foot of the celestial twin. The Jellyfish Nebula itself floats below and left of center, a bright arcing ridge of emission with dangling tentacles. In fact, the cosmic jellyfish is part of bubble-shaped supernova remnant IC 443, the expanding debris cloud from a massive star that exploded. Light from that explosion first reached planet Earth over 30,000 years ago. Like its cousin in astrophysical waters the Crab Nebula supernova remnant, the Jellyfish Nebula is known to harbor a neutron star, the remnant of the collapsed stellar core. Composed on April 30, this telescopic snapshot also captures Mars. Now wandering through early evening skies, the Red Planet also shines with a yellowish glow on the right hand side of the field of view. Of course, the Jellyfish Nebula is about 5,000 light-years away, while Mars is currently almost 18 light-minutes from Earth.

Photo by Jason Guenzel

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

What celestial body wears the Necklace Nebula? First, analyses indicate that the Necklace is a planetary nebula, a gas cloud emitted by a star toward the end of its life. Also, what appears to be diamonds in the Necklace are actually bright knots of glowing gas. In the center of the Necklace Nebula are likely two stars orbiting so close together that they share a common atmosphere and appear as one in the featured image by the Hubble Space Telescope. The red-glowing gas clouds on the upper left and lower right are the results of jets from the center. Exactly when and how the bright jets formed remains a topic of research. The Necklace Nebula is only about 5,000 years old, spans about 5 light years, and can best be found with a large telescope toward the direction of the constellation of the Arrow (Sagitta).

When the body rejects
the food put in your mouth,
does this have any meaning,
as your life's trending South?

I apologize for writing
about my love or disdain.
For writing of words,
relieves not the fear or pain,
so I will write words to you,
for this is my way, it's what I do.

I have so many flaws,
I won't name them for you,
for my flaws can be more
or they may be a few.
Depends on who you talk to
or these flaws you see,
our mine; I know not of thee.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Is our Milky Way Galaxy this thin? Magnificent spiral galaxy NGC 4565 is viewed edge-on from planet Earth. Also known as the Needle Galaxy for its narrow profile, bright NGC 4565 is a stop on many telescopic tours of the northern sky, in the faint but well-groomed constellation Coma Berenices. This sharp, colorful image reveals the spiral galaxy's boxy, bulging central core cut by obscuring dust lanes that lace NGC 4565's thin galactic plane. An assortment of other background galaxies is included in the pretty field of view. Thought similar in shape to our own Milky Way Galaxy, NGC 4565 lies about 40 million light-years distant and spans some 100,000 light-years. Easily spotted with small telescopes, sky enthusiasts consider NGC 4565 to be a prominent celestial masterpiece Messier missed.

Photo by CFHT

It was big.
It was dark,
blotting out the Sun.
I was cornered here,
no where to run.
The fear which comes
to you, on a lonely night,
is yours to deal with,
Yours to fight.

My balance is gone,
there goes my chance,
to go on stage,
to sing and dance.
My skill sets gone,
left in the car,
no longer can I be
a singing, dancing star.

Out of the darkness,
it came.
A warm breath of air,
with rain,
to wet the dry earth
and tame,
the day of hot rays,
not blame,
as new life grew
and became,
a greener life for all,
no shame.