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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

The Tarantula Nebula, also known as 30 Doradus, is more than a thousand light-years in diameter, a giant star forming region within nearby satellite galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud. About 160 thousand light-years away, it's the largest, most violent star forming region known in the whole Local Group of galaxies. The cosmic arachnid is near the center of this spectacular image taken during the flight of SuperBIT (Super Pressure Balloon Imaging Telescope), NASA's balloon-borne 0.5 meter telescope now floating near the edge of space. Within the well-studied Tarantula (NGC 2070), intense radiation, stellar winds and supernova shocks from the central young cluster of massive stars, cataloged as R136, energize the nebular glow and shape the spidery filaments. Around the Tarantula are other star forming regions with young star clusters, filaments, and blown-out bubble-shaped clouds. SuperBIT's wide field of view spans over 2 degrees or 4 full moons in the southern constellation Dorado.

My head overflows
with thoughts, about you,
yet, here I am,
away, alone now, too

My head is clogged,
with too many words.
Nouns, verbs, adjectives,
and a bunch of adverbs.

Some paragraphs here,
a sentence or two.
The kaleidoscope of words,
belong in a word, letting zoo.

The land lay fallow,
no plowing to do.
We must replant,
in a year or two.

Tilling the soil,
after the long rest,
plowing and harrowing,
will work the best.

When the dew,
falls from the Rose,
the day will be warmer,
The Sun has rose.

When the grass,
is still wet,
the Sun isn't at
apex, hasn't set.

The wind will blow,
through, the trees,
as my Soul is
no longer at ease.

Why, in the World,
when everything is gone,
I'm on my way,
in the words of a song?

I wasn't first,
wasn't last.
Don't talk about
a forgotten past

You were young.
I was too old.
You weren't bashful,
I was too bold.

The errors we made
in a checkered past,
are not returning,
gone away, didn't last.

The Great Alcohol Health Flip-Flop Isn’t That Hard to Understand—if You Know Who Was Behind It More at Slate Magazine ➜

Would you walk, in the shadows
alongside of me,
if you lost your vision,
and could no longer, see?

You were seasoned,
you wouldn't talk.
Now I am the problem,
"New kid on the block."

Too few the words,
stuck in my head,
need to get creative
and go back to bed.

The lack of sleep is
taking its due.
I must take care,
if I am to care for you.

My eyes light up, as if
a beacon might do,
when I look,
finally seeing you.

You, I remember,
The best of all.
You I would die for,
if that was the call.

A small wind chime,
sways, in the tree,
hanging near buds,
blooming, to see.

The limb structures
of this old tree,
is craggy, rough,
but a pleasure to see.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Was this a lucky shot? Although many amazing photographs are taken by someone who just happened to be in the right place at the right time, this image took skill and careful planning. First was the angular scale: if you shoot too close to the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, the full moon will appear too small.  Conversely, if you shoot from too far away, the moon will appear  too large and not fit inside the Arc. Second is timing: the Moon only appears centered inside the Arc for small periods of time -- from this distance less than a minute. Other planned features include lighting, relative brightness, height, capturing a good foreground, and digital processing. And yes, there is some luck involved -- for example, the sky must be clear. This time, the planning was successful, bringing two of humanity's most famous icons photographically together for all to enjoy. Today's adventure link: Click "Paris" (above)

Photo by Stefano Zanarello