Only this first image is linked to the APOD site. You can click and go read the entire description there if you like.
An alternate view
Yet Another Profile
Panning Back a Little (Lower Left)
Within an image of Barnard's Loop in Visible light
It's near center in a bright stripe of light
And now as Father Sarducci might say "Finda The Horse-a-head inna the Nebula"
I can't. Heck I can't even find Barnard's Loop
More great wonders to behold and contemplate! It makes me feel awed, humbled and practically speechless.
ReplyDeleteHow could anyone remain arrogantly opinionated and act like a know-it-all when faced with never-ending mystery, terror and incredible beauty of a Reality that so far exceeds our ability to comprehend with our five pathetically limited senses, and modes degree of intelligence?
It does seem the farther ahead we seem to go, and the more we learn, the more mysterious and incomprehensible our place in the Cosmos becomes. Do you think it's possible that we might matter to anyone but our tiny little selves?
Could it be possible that "others" –– somewhere "out there" share our peculiar gifts of Consciousness and Curiosity?
Does it matter?
FT, Well verbalized.
DeleteIt just occurred to me that the "horse head" optical illusion looks as much like our imaginary visions of "Nessie," the Loch Ness Monster, as it does any steed –– especially when seen at closer range.
ReplyDeleteFT, It does look more like Nessie.
Delete" ". (practically speechless)
ReplyDeleteEd, hard to summarize.
DeleteAnd they all are found on that tiny spot on a tadpole's tail----simply amazing!
ReplyDeleteRon, yea, I love this stuff. The big picture.
DeletePS, The Orion nebula is very easy to zero in on with a small telescope in the fall in North America. It is therefore one of the most looked at celestial item by amateur sky gazers.
ReplyDeleteJust...just....for lack of better words.....Mind blowing. This speck of dust and debris that we ride on is so insignificant...we're not even worth being mentioned.
ReplyDeleteImpertinent, I agree.
DeleteWe matter, Imp, because we are ALIVE, and because we are CONSCIOUS –– AND we are responsible for the decisions we make.
DeleteSIZE has nothing to do with it, but I certainly agree that getting a clearer picture of how "we" relate to to the unfathomable Immensity of Reality in its Entirety aka The Cosmos should help us be less arrogant, less conceited, less able to think we could ever possibly Know It All. To my way of thinking such knowledge ought to bring us closer to an honest belief in a Creative Power and Guiding Force at whose nature we can only guess.
We've talked here before about the possibility (endorsed by Carl Sagan of all people) that Reality is as infinitely SMALL as it is infinitely LARGE. Some have asserted that "WE" have been placed in the MIDDLE of all that, and thus have a unique opportunity to examine the Cosmos more objectively. I'm not sure about that, but it's an intriguing idea.
Good to see you! A rare treat these days. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Thanks FreeThinke.....I've missed your insight and perspective. Glad to see you again.
DeleteI'm with FT. I kept thinking of the Loch Ness Monster!
ReplyDeleteZ, I'm thinking more Nessie than Horse myself. I keep thinking about those Tiger stripes too :)
Deleteum. you might be glad to know I've stopped thinking of the Loch Ness Monster now :-)
ReplyDeleteZ, I"m glad your mind has returned to it's normal state of calmness and beauty.
DeleteI hate to be the wet blanket, the bucket of cold water, Kid, but I think it is time you should know the truth: all of these photos of 'outer space' are fake. Yes, that's right. They were just concocted by some guy with a kaleidoscope, printed out and passed off as the mythical 'celestial galaxy.'
ReplyDeleteMuch like those phony moon shots, taken in the Arizona dessert, these phony baloney photos are put out there just to keep the dreamers busy ogling what in reality only exists in the minds of a few sickos.
Time for you to come 'back down to earth,' Kid. To terra firma, and put aside such foolishness. The earth is the center of the universe, the sun rotates around us, and everybody knows it. To think otherwise is just to dream.
Wake up, get your head out of the clouds and back down here, where you can plant your feet solidly on the flat earth.
Just doing you a favor, Kid.
Fredd, You believe there is a "sun" ?
DeletePfffffttttt
This is some sort of "IN JOKE" between you two guys, right?
DeleteI'd hate to think it's meant to be taken at face value.
FT, Naw, Fredd just likes to pull my chain. And I respond is all.
DeleteOH!
Delete