Starship Asterisk*

Isn't it a matter of perspective though. if you look at a clock face on, the hands rotate clockwise (hence the phrase) but if you look at the clock from the reverse side the hands appear to rotate counter-clockwise. All galaxies may in fact rotate in only one direction but due to our perspective, th...

Considering one important fact: "The belt of venus appears opposite the sun" it would have to be the moon. The belt of venus is caused by the sun shining through the atmosphere and the earths shadow.

I think it is an arched rock with a crack in the arch. The dark coat is the opening to the night sky on the other side. It is a cool illuson though. I would like to see a day time picture of the same area. Any out there?

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2005/20/ Another fine example of the reasons for maintaining the Hubble Telescope. This image shows literally thousands of proto galaxies and a few well formed ones too. I cast my vote to keep the Hubble working and upgraded as necessary. Do...

This is caused by the brightness of the star itself. If you look at the stars from the city, and then from the darkness of the country side, you will notice far more stars from the country side. The city lights obscure the dimmer stars. A similar thing happens when comparing the brightness of the st...

Tthis link:
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page1 ... heme=light
shows a good representation of the solar ecliptic vs the galactic ecliptic.

Note the orbit of mercury vs the "galactic equator" noted on the left side of the image

If the galactic center lies in the constellation Sagittarius, then prime time for viewing would be when the constellation Sagittarius is opposite the sun. This optimum time would be 5-21 ~ 6-21 during Gemini as sagittarious is then opposite the sun.

Hope this helps

1) The ecliptic plane of our solar system lies almost on its side relative to the plane of the galaxy. Polaris lies in our arm of the spiral and slightly above the galactic ecliptic plane. 2) The (nearly) full moon was positioned over the galactic center during the solstice last month, so it is visi...

I prefer the false color enhancements my self as this does serve to make the unseen, viewable. Without the enhancements all you would see is this
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000816.html
which is only the small central part of the picture. Where the eliptical galaxy ends, the radio lobes begin.

BOLDRA,
I agree with you. I find it to be a breath taking image too. I especially like the conjoined galaxy pair in the lower left corner
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I think everyone was confusing the image of the sombrero galaxy as the rings of Saturn due to the orientation. A great hide if you ask me

I like the second answer better. It seems to be more descriptive.

Looking closely at the two images, you will notice that in this image http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0310/sombrero_hst_big.jpg there is a bright star in the lower right quadrant near to the galaxy that isn't in this one http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0505/ngc3370_hst_full.jpg. The ga...

This is the spitzer link....

http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/re ... -11a.shtml

I thought this hubble heritage photo was great. The same image on the spitzer site shows it to be a ring galaxy. It's a long address but a cool picture. Notice down at the lower left corner, directly above the "STScl", the pair of interacting galaxies. COOL!!! :D :shock: http://www.space.c...

It may be just an optical illusion caused by the ring shadow.

I was watching a show on Leonardo DaVinci the other day and was amazed to see a similarity between his writings as they were presented and this manuscript. It was said that he wrote backwards so no one could read his notes. Just an interesting thought. 8)