Contributor Posts

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Clusters of stars can be near or far, young or old, diffuse or compact. The featured image shows two quite contrasting open star clusters in the same field. M35, on the lower left, is relatively nearby at 2800 light years distant, relatively young at 150 million years old, and relatively diffuse, with about 2500 stars spread out over a volume 30 light years across. Bright blue stars frequently distinguish younger open clusters like M35. Contrastingly, NGC 2158, on the upper right, is four times more distant than M35, over 10 times older, and much more compact. NGC 2158's bright blue stars have self-destructed, leaving cluster light to be dominated by older and yellower stars. In general, open star clusters are found in the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy, and contain anywhere from 100 to 10,000 stars -- all of which formed at nearly the same time. Both open clusters M35 and NGC 2158 can be found together with a small telescope toward the constellation of the Twins (Gemini).

Photo by CFHT

I write these words to you.
The words I write
are yours to read and review.
It may seem trite
to many readers; one or two,
when I write of love,
the words you can persue.

Words from a song,
ring in my head.
"Can't live,
living here without you,
can't live anymore,
can't live"
I need a word smyth
to help, rid these thoughts.
Remove from this page,
for "I can't begin to tell you
how my heart breaks."

Photo shared by Heather Cox Richardson from Letters from an American on May 9, 2021  

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

The dark Horsehead Nebula and the glowing Orion Nebula are contrasting cosmic vistas. Adrift 1,500 light-years away in one of the night sky's most recognizable constellations, they appear in opposite corners of the above stunning mosaic. The familiar Horsehead nebula appears as a dark cloud, a small silhouette notched against the long red glow at the lower left. Alnitak is the easternmost star in Orion's belt and is seen as the brightest star to the left of the Horsehead. Below Alnitak is the Flame Nebula, with clouds of bright emission and dramatic dark dust lanes. The magnificent emission region, the Orion Nebula (aka M42), lies at the upper right. Immediately to its left is a prominent reflection nebula sometimes called the Running Man. Pervasive tendrils of glowing hydrogen gas are easily traced throughout the region. Astrophysicists: Browse 2,500+ codes in the Astrophysics Source Code Library

Photo by Roberto Colombari

There was an old insect.
I think it was a Flea.
He had escaped from the Circus
and he needed to flee.
He will find a way, to leave town,
perhaps on the underbelly
of a small dogs, fluffy down.
He hoped it would be a good ride
and that his new residence,
did not to scratch an itch.
I hate to be struck by a paw,
scratching for me
even if I am just a Flea.

Out in the field,
I can only grow rocks.
A worthless crop,
but it's what I have
and all I can raise.
A child of the depression,
who will never be brave.
No longer the pillar,
no longer to crave.
No longer the person,
who's Soul you can save.

These words are written, with love too.
Wishing a Happy Mother's Day to you.
I miss my Mother in many ways,
recalling all of those happy days.
Of time spent in raising me,
into this World; Land of the Free.
Happiest Mother's Day, my wish to you.

 Those of us who are truly lucky have more than one mother. They are the cool aunts, the elderly ladies, the family friends, even the mentors who whip us into shape. By my count, I’ve had at least eight mothers. One of the most important was Sally Adams Bascom Augenstern.....Click to read this beautiful story by Heather Cox Richardson

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

In this evocative night scene a dusty central Milky Way rises over the ancient Andean archaeological site of Yacoraite in northwestern Argentina. The denizens of planet Earth reaching skyward are the large Argentine saguaro cactus currently native to the arid region. The unusual yellow-hued reflection nebula above is created by dust scattering starlight around red giant star Antares. Alpha star of the constellation Scorpius, Antares is over 500 light-years distant. Next to it bright blue Rho Ophiuchi is embedded in more typical dusty bluish reflection nebulae though. The deep night skyscape was created from a series of background exposures of the rising stars made while tracking the sky, and a foreground exposure of the landscape made with the camera and lens fixed on the tripod. In combination they produce the single stunning image and reveal a range of brightness and color that your eye can't quite perceive on its own.

Photo by Franco Meconi

It was a long trail, as I recall.
Well used by deer and man alike.
A slight incline, along the hillside,
only grass and shale with Sagebrush, a few.
Climbing higher, one encounters some trees.
There were many Pine trees and Fir.
Looking down the trail you climbed,
the view was grand; seeing the valley floor,
with majestic snow capped peaks on the horizon.
A scenic, Panoramas, words can't describe.
How small we are in this World sublime,
yet there I was on my first hill climb.