Posted on 01/19/2012 5:16:02 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Begirt with many a blazing star, Orion, the Hunter, is one of the most easily recognizable constellations. In this night skyscape from January 15, the hunter's stars rise in the northern hemisphere's winter sky, framed by bare trees and bounded below by terrestrial lights around Lough Eske (Lake of Fish) in County Donegal, Ireland. Red giant star Betelgeuse is striking in yellowish hues at Orion's shoulder above and left of center. Rivaling the bright red giant, Rigel, a blue supergiant star holds the opposing position near Orion's foot. Of course, the sword of Orion hangs from the hunter's three belt stars near picture center, but the middle star in the sword is not a star at all. A slightly fuzzy pinkish glow hints at its true nature, a nearby stellar nursery visible to the unaided eye known as the Orion Nebula.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: Brendan Alexander (Donegal Skies)]
Never get tired of Orion!
I just wish I had the spunk like I did as a kid to take the telescope out in the winter.
Aint happening!
I was just out with the dogs and its cold tonight.
Yeah, those were the days, startling to do the math on how long ago they were.
Winter nights are the best for seeing, other than the whole 100% overcast thing we have here in the basin of the Great Lakes. :’)
Seems we are all getting a little ‘long in the tooth.’ But getting older isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.
I heard somewhere that Rigel has planets.
And that one of them is a very hedonistic and wild resort.
Neato astronomy lesson! Thanks, Civ.
I never get tired of Orion either.
I look for it each morning, weather permitting, before I head off to work.
One obvious complaint about the Holodeck is that there’s no way the starships would ever leave on a mission, or finish one. Either everyone would be engaged in separate synthehol-fueled orgies with multiple simulated partners and they’d never get under way, or, they’d just “get lost” on the way and pull a crew of the Bounty thing.
“The replicator statistics show this crew of 2000 synthesizing 800 gallons a day of Gatorade, sir.”
What is even worse is when those pesky holodeck characters gain sentience, cross the border illegally, and then demand all kinds of accommodations!
Back in the mid 90s I remember spending the better part of my stargazing looking for the Horsehead Nebula, located under Orion’s belt. I was using a fairly small scope but still couldn’t seem to spot it. Later upgraded to a 10” and boom, there it was!
Yeah, I love how I”m usually about the third one from the end.
the Horsehead Nebula, located under Orion’s beltThat's what she said.
The explanatory text was pretty darned good, lifted this terrestrial pic out of the literal mundane.
:’)
We’re not getting old, Cripplecreek. We are becoming wiser, more mature and just filled to the brim with wisdom. (it’s all how you look at it, hon)
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