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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Changes in the alluring solar corona are detailed in this creative composite image mapping the dynamic outer atmosphere of the Sun during two separate total solar eclipses. Unwrapped from the complete circle of the eclipsed Sun's edge to a rectangle and mirrored, the entire solar corona is shown during the 2017 eclipse (bottom) seen from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the 2023 eclipse from Exmouth, Western Australia. While the 2017 eclipse was near a minimum in the Sun's 11 year activity cycle, the 2023 eclipse was closer to solar maximum. The 2023 solar corona hints at the dramatically different character of the active Sun, with many streamers and pinkish prominences arising along the solar limb. Of course, the solar corona is only easily visible to the eye while standing in the shadow of the Moon. NASA Coverage: Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 April 8

Photo by Barden Ridge Observatory

If a question
is raised,
should you
be appraised,

no matter the infraction,
asked of you,
provide a reason for
your point of view?

A void, a blank exists,
in the front of my head.
No longer a thought,
now just a thread,

to a life clear,
of something I said.
Can you please help me,
is what should be read.

Life's incredulous tragedies,
is there instead.
Please go away,
ignore what I said.

A single female,
had the most delectable lip,
made my new adventure,
a reasonable trip.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

In dark evening skies over June Lake, northern hemisphere, planet Earth, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks stood just above the western horizon on March 30. Its twisted turbulent ion tail and diffuse greenish coma are captured in this two degree wide telescopic field of view along with bright yellowish star Hamal also known as Alpha Arietis. Now Pons-Brooks has moved out of the northern night though, approaching perihelion on April 21. On April 8 you might still spot the comet in daytime skies. But to do it, you will have to stand in the path of totality and look away from the spectacle of an alluring solar corona and totally eclipsed Sun. NASA Coverage: Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 April 8

Photo by Dan Bartlett

Was it wrong,
to fall in love with you?
It depends on asking,
about what to do.

I pray you were
able to sleep,
for you're who I adore.
I want our friendship to keep.

Does it make any sense,
to write about scents,
when you are thinking
about cents?

Since it's hard to explain,
or make any sense,
when you speak about
words, considered to be nonsense.

At what point,
should you give in,
to a love pursuit,
you can't win?

It begs the question,
to ask, once more.
Should I stay,
or go out the back door?

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

What created this unusual celestial firework? The nebula, dubbed Pa 30, appears in the same sky direction now as a bright "guest star" did in the year 1181. Although Pa 30's filaments look similar to that created by a nova (for example GK Per), and a planetary nebula (for example NGC 6751), some astronomers now propose that it was created by a rare type of supernova: a thermonuclear Type Iax, and so is (also) named SN 1181. In this model, the supernova was not the result of the detonation of a single star, but rather a blast that occurred when two white dwarf stars spiraled together and merged. The blue dot in the center is hypothesized to be a zombie star, the remnant white dwarf that somehow survived this supernova-level explosion. The featured image combines images and data obtained with infrared (WISE), visible (MDM, Pan-STARRS), and X-ray (Chandra, XMM) telescopes. Future observations and analyses may tell us more. NASA Coverage: Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 April 8