Contributor Posts

A smattering of light
spreading across floor and stair,
as if water had spilled, everywhere.
It was in early evening
in the nights, crisp air,
when I dreamt of you
and you were there.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

This is a sky filled with glowing icons. On the far left is the familiar constellation of Orion, divided by its iconic three-aligned belt stars and featuring the famous Orion Nebula, both partly encircled by Barnard's Loop. Just left of center in the featured image is the brightest star in the night: Sirius. Arching across the image center is the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy. On the far right, near the top, are the two brightest satellite galaxies of the Milky Way: the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Also on the far right -- just above the cloudy horizon -- is the constellation of Crux, complete with the four stars that make the iconic Southern Cross. The featured image is a composite of 18 consecutive exposures taken by the same camera and from the same location in eastern Australia during the last days of last year. In the foreground, picturesque basalt columns of the Bombo Quarry part to reveal the vast Pacific Ocean.

Photo by Lucy Yunxi Hu

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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Sometimes the dark dust of interstellar space has an angular elegance. Such is the case toward the far-south constellation of Chamaeleon. Normally too faint to see, dark dust is best known for blocking visible light from stars and galaxies behind it. In this four-hour exposure, however, the dust is seen mostly in light of its own, with its strong red and near-infrared colors giving creating a brown hue. Contrastingly blue, the bright star Beta Chamaeleontis is visible just to the right of center, with the dust that surrounds it preferentially reflecting blue light from its primarily blue-white color. All of the pictured stars and dust occur in our own Milky Way Galaxy with -- but one notable exception: the white spot just below Beta Chamaeleontis is the galaxy IC 3104 which lies far in the distance. Interstellar dust is mostly created in the cool atmospheres of giant stars and dispersed into space by stellar light, stellar winds, and stellar explosions such as supernovas.

Photo by Jarmo RuuthTelescope LiveHeaven's Mirror Observatory

My mind has gone stale.
New ideas do not appear.
I'm locked in a mental jail.
No thoughts, it's just the fear,
of the virus, hot on our trail.

I will take a break
from this writing weakness.
It's been a good ride
but I am mentally drained.

I apologize in advance
taking a break.
MFish

I need to return to the Sea.
To a place, on the Oregon Coast.
A small Inn, close to the beach.
Hearing Gulls cry, smell the salt air.
Walking the beach on warm sand,
down near the water, icy cold.
Take into my senses, sights odors and sound,
relaxing for the moment, on blanket covered sand.
while reflecting upon the loneliest time,
about a life of memories of mine.
Bask in the Sun, enjoying the day,
watching the tide start ebbing away.

Golden the flowers,
kissed by the Sun,
providing Spring beauty,
to all, to everyone.
Daffodils, Hyacinth and Tulips,
will soon be in bloom,
when the weather warms

Long was the river,
down from the hills.
A grand old river
of yellow Daffodils/

My love grew stronger
with every passing day,
until the disease Dementia,
stole her mind away.

The love we had
over these 64 years,
vanished from her mind,
amidst all my fears.

How can it be
a life lived and well done,
when it's your memory
becomes the only one.

Yet, she will say,
"I love you"
every waking day,
until it's tomorrow,
it's all gone away.

What kind of World,
in which we live,
causes this much anger.
Will we ever forgive?

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

What type of cloud is that? This retreating cumulonimbus cloud, more commonly called a thundercloud, is somewhat unusual as it contains the unusual bumpiness of a mammatus cloud on the near end, while simultaneously producing falling rain on the far end. Taken in mid-2013 in southern Alberta, Canada, the cloud is moving to the east, into the distance, as the sun sets in the west, behind the camera. In the featured image, graphic sunset colors cross the sky to give the already photogenic cloud striking orange and pink hues. A darkening blue sky covers the background. Further in the distance, a rising, waxing, gibbous moon is visible on the far right.

Photo by Alan DyerThe Amazing Sky