I Hope

A quick screenshot mashup of what's coming on TV tonight:



I hope they put it on enough channels.

Two Tails to Tell

Galaxy Cluster Has Two 'Tails' to Tell

Two spectacular tails of X-ray emission have been seen trailing behind a galaxy using the Chandra X-ray Observatory. A composite image of the galaxy cluster Abell 3627 shows X-rays from Chandra in blue, optical emission in yellow and emission from hydrogen light -- known to astronomers as 'H-alpha' -- in red. The optical and H-alpha data were obtained with the Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope in Chile.

At the front of the tail is the galaxy ESO 137-001. The brighter of the two tails has been seen before and extends for about 260,000 light years. The detection of the second, fainter tail, however, was a surprise to the scientists.

The X-ray tails were created when cool gas from ESO 137-001 (with a temperature of about ten degrees above absolute zero) was stripped by hot gas (about 100 million degrees) as it travels towards the center of the galaxy cluster Abell 3627. What astronomers observe with Chandra is essentially the evaporation of the cold gas, which glows at a temperature of about 10 million degrees. Evidence of gas with temperatures between 100 and 1,000 degrees Kelvin in the tail was also found with the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Galaxy clusters are collections of hundreds or even thousands of galaxies held together by gravity that are enveloped in hot gas. The two-pronged tail in this system may have formed because gas has been stripped from the two major spiral arms in ESO 137-001. The stripping of gas is thought to have a significant effect on galaxy evolution, removing cold gas from the galaxy, shutting down the formation of new stars in the galaxy, and changing the appearance of inner spiral arms and bulges because of the effects of star formation.

Image Credits: X-ray: NASA/CXC/UVa/M. Sun et al; H-alpha/Optical: SOAR/MSU/NOAO/UNC/CNPq-Brazil/M.Sun et al.

Download image as wallpaper

Over My Eyes

You Are Wool

You are down to earth, practical, and no nonsense. You need a fabric that's durable and hearty. You don't mind if wool is itchy... at least it keeps you warm! And you're responsible enough to take care of wool properly. You aren't superficial or frivolous. You value substance over style and function over form. You are humble and thoughtful. You are happy with who you are, and you don't like vanity get the best of you.

What Kind of Fabric Are You?

The First Rule of Blogthings Is: You Don't Talk About Blogthings

Winter Moon

This might strain this blog's "G" rating but darn it, it's funny.

A warning might be due for the music, too. Now I can't get that tune out of my head.

prevaricate

prevaricate \prih-VAIR-uh-kayt\ , intransitive verb;
1. To depart from or evade the truth; to speak with equivocation.

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Already had done this word from a listing on my Excite start page

Obfuscate the Truth

Just to prove I don't prevaricate.

Not in this case, anyway.

In the Name of Obedience

When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion.

- C. P. Snow