Look How They Shine for You

(Galaxy, Nebula and Stars, oh my.  All images via NASA.) 

Friday night, we went to a lecture at the Air & Space museum about Galaxy Clusters.  (Lest that sounds too intellectual, I spent Sunday morning catching up on Jersey Shore, which apparently equals book suicide!)

My main take-aways from the lecture :
1) Space is really, really awesome.  And overwhelmingly huge.
2) No one has told Physicists that Comic Sans font is unacceptable.

Spread the word.

Space Shuttle

(Courtesy of dno1967b)

Today marks the end of a 30 year stretch.  The final space shuttle launches.

I have such fond memories growing up on the Space Coast of Florida.  Sitting on top of the car, pulled over on the side of the road, to see the launch.  Watching the smoke trail climb higher and higher until it finally disappeared.  The sound of my Dad’s radio set to KSC’s Launch Control.  Feeling the “boom” of the boosters hitting the ocean.

And while it was an expensive program, it's sad to see the shuttle program come to a close.  Manned space flight isn't ending - but it's taking a new course. NASA has other projects in the works, like deep space exploration.

Until then: Here's to you, Atlantis STS-135.

Over Christmas, I stayed up until 2 am with my Dad talking about the first moon landing.  He explained the complicated logistics behind it all, much to my confusion.  So, to illustrate, he set up a diagram of all the pieces required for space flight...using Christmas candies.  Daddy, you are the smartest person I know.  And that Dos Equis guy has nothing on you.

Zodiac Switch

Have you heard the Zodiac drama going on?  Astronomers in Minnesota found that zodiac signs need adjusting due to slight shifts in the Earth's axis.

I'm not into astrology.  But I must confess that I was excited about a potential zodiac switch.  When I was in middle school, it was trendy to wear your astrological sign on clothes.  Everyone would wear Libra shirts, or Pisces necklaces, or whatever suited their celestial fancy.  But I am a Cancer.  And no one wants to wear a shirt that just says Cancer.

According to the new system, I've been upgraded from a Cancer to a Gemini.  Which is much cooler.  You get NASA manned spacecrafts!  And a roller coaster at Cedar Point!

Alas, it turns out that the shift doesn't apply to the tropical zodiac that is commonly used in the West.  Just going to have to stick to my water sign ways.  Whatever those are.