JonasM

From childhood, I was fascinated by the stars. I got my first telescope in 1973, when I was 9 years old. Math & science were always my favorite subjects. In college, I came "this close" to a degree in Astrophysics, but the prospect of teaching (what most astronomers/astrophysicists end up doing when they aren't doing research) finally put me off (I'm a terrible teacher). However, the wonder of the cosmos has remained with me to this day.

Check out the best of 2006, and let your sense of wonder soar!

Top Ten Astronomy Images of 2006

Enjoy!

JonasM

HydnHood

Yeah there are some great photos out there. I use this one as my background image/screen saver. Nothing can make you feel smaller than seening this entire galaxy and all the galaxies you can see behind it. Taken from the Hubble. It is stored as full size of my desktop 2562x1026.

Matt_in_VA

I have to laugh at myself. Back in the early 70's, the first time that I saw Saturn up close and personal through a telescope my reacation was: Wow it looks just like the pictures! :-)

Years later back in the early 90's I bought an 8" mirror reflecting telescope for my self as a toy. I was in our back yard one evening when my next door neighbor saw me in the shadows and asked If that was me? I called him over to see what I was looking at. His reaction apon seeing Saturn for the first time (up close) was: Wow! It looks just like the pictures! :-)

Grannyrod

This doesn't have much to do with astrology but it does have to do with our planet. Did anyone see or hear of a volcano erupting in the Carribean where parts of an island had to be evacuated? I just caught a glimpse of it last night once and never saw anything else on it.

Palmateer

False colors are useful for delineating features, but it might mislead folks into thinking that's how things actually look.

valentine

This is all I saw about a volcano over the weekend:

Volcanic Ash/Venezuela/grounds flights

Grannyrod

Thanks dear, that sounds like the one I got a glimpse of. I knew it was one of the big ones. That's one bad volcano and the last time it erupted, it made the highlights of every documentary on volcanoes ever filmed. Such awesome power.

S1997

Jonas, I just now had time to look at the photos link. Thanks much for posting it. I have a telescope in Colorado, where the night sky is much more prominent that down here, but wow what images in your post! Every time I get into the universe mode and perspective, and in awe, I am just more acutely aware of the utter foolishness of the conflicts and lack of unity among the human temporary occupants of the blue planet.

But ETs apparently have their conflicts, too!

Grannyrod

[QUOTE=Hardtopguy,Jan 9 2007, 09:42 AM] Just like you have all over us Granny.
Months of Therapy and I'm still addicted to Granny and her kisses