Starship Asterisk*

It's been a bit since I last posted but my wife got me a simple Celestron scope for Christmas and I couldn't be happier!! That night I went out and observed Orion's Belt. Since then, the nights have been very cloudy but I did brave the biting winds to look at the moon last week. It looks so much mor...

Here are some more:

The three "big dogs" back from the barber!
The three dogs attack my gym bag every morning! Lance found my wristband and washcloth!

I have 8 dogs!!!

Wasn't meant to be that way, just sort of happened

Here is Spot and Canoli Here is sweet little Sasha Here are Patches and Spot taking a siesta

Hello I do not have a science background but am curious nonetheless. I was driving to work this morning and reflecting on a "How the Universe Works" show I saw on Discovery Science. It made me wonder if anyone has ever theorized about the universe ultimately getting too big and completely ...

Thank you everyone for the informed replies. I didn't think it was, but I wanted to be sure. My 10 year old son is going to be upset though. I told him it was "possible but not likely" I had to keep telling him that several times till finally he goes "Dad, don't ruin this for me! :) E...

All apologies but I am still very very green in terms of understanding astronomy and space related sightings. I live in Pennsylvania. Last night around 8:30 it appeared as if there was a quarter moon. It had an orange tint (possible harvest moon soon????) Any chance this was a lunar eclipse? Be gent...

I think I am seeing a quarter moon with Venus and Mars running in a straight line the last 2 mornings I have awoken.

Why do I suddenly want to play with lego's?

I feel very fortunate to be alive and able to experience this.

To answer "Guest"'s post- I think I read that NASA is going to get as much information on pluto as possible and then New Horizons will just keep on cruising along

The accompanying text calls the rings "surprisingly thin". How thick (thin) are the rings? According to Wikipedia the rings' thickness ranges from ten meters to one kilometre. Thank you for that :) I was curious as well Now, why would the ring be so thin? What force is essentially keeping...

Congratulations APOD!!! Way to go!!! Thank you for everything you have done. I have learned quite a lot while reading the pictures and related discussions. Here's to another 20 more years!!!

Yayyy!!! I actually knew what the image in the picture was before I read the description!!! Go ME!!!

Animal of Stone wrote:Wonderful idea to transport my imagination to another world. Cant wait til postcards from the Red Planet are a reality.

Agreed!!! It really had a sci-fi quality to this mornings APOD. What a neat compare and contrast!!

has shown that water being expelled by 67P has a significant difference with water on Earth, indicating that Earth's water could not have originated from ancient collisions with comets like 67P. [/b] That's a pretty significant development or am I behind the times? Everything Ive heard claims that ...

Awesome picture. Thanks so much for the identification overlay. We very basic amateurs need all the help we can get. Couldnt agree more!! Easily one of the best Ive seen in quite sometime!!! Curious but why is there an LBN 917 and an LBN 915/917? It makes me think at some point in time some of LBN ...

Sorry but a little 101 question here- I don't seem to see how this Nebula got its name the Pelican Nebula? Can anyone offer any light on this?

On another note- I think the APOD of late have been really really good!!

Whoops- sorry- looks like there is a link to explain the 1054 documentation - appears as if Chinese astronomers witnessed it then- thank you!!!

Couple questions from a novice:

1- why is it called a crab nebula? I dont really see the connection except for perhaps the orange coloring?

2- astronmers saw the phenomenon take place in 1054- is this actually documented somewhere or is it theorized/hypothesized?

Thank you!!

i wonder if there is a thin mint galaxy

That's a very pretty picture. I do like it. Interesting to see the galaxy at that angle.

Really an exciting picture. Such a historic bit of work being done. Very exciting times.

Great pic for today!!! Im getting ready to host a DnD event with my kids tonight!!!

What a really neat picture!!!

So, is anyone running the odds on the success of the Philae Lander attaching itself to the comet surface??? Anyone heard anything in terms of how long they hope the lander maintains itself on the comet?

Man alive, I just love this picture!!! I am always at a loss for words when I read about the size and dimensions of all things concerning space. 500km winds!!! 2000 km wide storms. It is really incomprehensble for me.

Pretty interesting read- has this been hypothesized before?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... shape.html