This Week in Space #7

Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

November 25: Galaxies in Pegasus (c) Dietmar Hager
November 26: An Iridescent Cloud Over Colorado (c) August Allen
November 27: Moon Over Pigeon Point Lighthouse (c) Tyler Westcott
November 28: Space Station Over the Ionian Sea, credit: STS-118 Shuttle Crew, NASA
November 29: Comet Holmes from the Hubble Space Telescope, credit: A. Dyer, NASA, ESA, H. Weaver (JHU APL)
November 30: Stardust in Perseus (c) Jeff Lunglhofer
December 1: M74: The Perfect Spiral, credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI / AURA)- ESA / Hubble Collaboration; Acknowledgment: R. Chandar (Univ. Toledo) and J. Miller (Univ. Michigan)

Cosmic Log by Alan Boyle

November 30: Strange Space Bedfellows
November 29: Holiday greetings from Space
November 27: Hubbles for our home planet
November 26: Space vs. Education?
November 26: Your Daily Dose of Science on the Web

NASA

Launch Schedule
Latest News: Atlantis 'Go' for Dec. 6 Launch
November 28, 2007: Instrument to Unveil New Worlds by Blocking Out Starlight, Joshua Rodriguez/PlanetQuest
November 28, 2007: NASA Scientist Confirms Light Show on Venus
November 28, 2007: Youthful Star Sprouts Planets Early, Written by Linda Vu
November 29, 2007: Embryonic Star Captured With Jets Flaring

NASA Image of the Day

November 25: Cape Verde, Mars; Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell
November 26: Salt Ponds, Botswana; Image Credit: NASA
November 27: Spirit's Winter Work Site; Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
November 28: Mariner 2; Image Credit: NASA/JPL
November 29: Dancing with the Stars; Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Sky & Telescope

Earth at Night: Not a Pretty Sight by Kelly Beatty
How Far is the Orion Nebula? by Roger Sinnott
A Revival of Comet Holmes by Alan MacRobert
Saturn in the Morning by Tony Flanders
December's Audio Guide to the Heavens by the Editors of Sky & Telescope
This Week's Sky at a Glance by Alan M. MacRobert
A Guide to Eyepieces by Adrian R. Ashford
Make a Star Wheel by the editors of Sky & Telescope
Observing the Sun by Projection by Jeffery Sandel
Photographing Iridium Flares by Dennis di Cicco
Nova Hunters by Stephen James O'Meara
Your Audio Sky Tour: December 2007

Space.com

Spot the Great Andromeda Galaxy by Joe Rao
Planet Formation is Child's Play by Dave Mosher
Space Flight: Delta 2
Scientists Learn How to Deal with Rogue Asteroid Threats by Dave Mosher
Daily Space Trivia
Rate It: Strangest Thing in Space - Antimatter
Rate It: Most Amazing Galactic Image - Jupiter's Great Red Spot
Amazing Images: User Submitted Earth & Space Imagery

Template 36 by Trish H. Designs; Artistic Fall kit (c)e-scrapeandscrape; Font: Walt Disney Script

Thankfully Tribulant

Fri 11/30 Blog Prompt: What are you thankful for that we haven’t mentioned this month?

I am thankful that my children and I can communicate. That nothing really is off-bounds to discuss and that we feel comfortable with it. I am thankful they can call me for advice and with advice.

I am also thankful that my granddaughter, the Princess, and I share so many favorites. Photography, scrapbooking, reading and so much more.

Now that she has a computer again, she is set up with PSP X and her own digital scrapbook kits to use, along with her own pictures. She has also been doing the camera hunt with me, so I try to use at least one of her pictures in my layouts. She took the picture of the bridge in this one. I have included just the picture below the layout along with the other bridge picture she took. It was a toss up as to which one to use.

Paper fold (c)Paula Yagisawa; Distressed Overlay (c)Christina Wall; Button (c)Michelle Swadling; Fonts: Arial Rounded, Vladimir

Stately Tribulations

Thurs 11/29 Blog Prompt: What places (in your home, or state, or country, or world) are you most thankful for?

I am most thankful for the country I live in that allows me the personal freedoms to worship as I chose, to vote for whom I think will best represent me in our government, to live a safe and productive life and to protect me from those who want to take that away.

Template by Andrea Gold; Pink Paradise kit (c)Amélie Scrap; Font: Angelina

A Girl Cheese Sandwich Tribulation

Was talking with Bombshell on the phone yesterday. She was grocery shopping and had Indy in tow. And she had to relay the following conversation:

B: Do you want grilled cheese sandwich for dinner?
I: No.
B: What do you want then?
I: Boy cheese sandwiches

Inventions and Tribulations

Wed 11/28 Blog Prompt: What inventions are you most thankful for and why?

The freezer and need you ask. Just think of all the fresh foods you can buy now; then enjoy again when they are no longer in season.

Washer and dryer. I just cannot see myself down by the river pounding my clothes clean with rocks. And I really like having fresh clean clothes everyday.

Printing press. For the news, for entertainment; nothing beats reading.

Template by Mars Olson; Paper (c)dt-photomama, felynn, Koko, lbijowa, mommabyrd2003, sandilyn; Overlay (c)Hoozeig; Ribbon (c) SallieK; Font: Sylfaen

Natural Tribulations

Tues 11/27 Blog Prompt: What things in nature are you most thankful for and why?

Surely you know where this one is going, LOL. The stars fill my eyes and heart with the wonders that are beyond us. Oh, I know what they are made of, how they work and the possibility of other planets. But I am thankful that they are there to guide us when we are lost, to provide light when all seems dark and company when we are alone.

Template by Mars Olson; Paper (c)dt-photomama, felynn, Koko, lbijowa, mommabyrd2003, sandilyn; Overlay (c)Hoozeig; Ribbon (c)SallieK; Font: Sylfaen

Sense-ual Tribulations

Mon 11/26 Blog Prompt: Which one of your 5 senses are you most thankful for and why?

Sight would definitely be at the very top of my list of those I am most thankful for. To be able to see the gleam in Indy's eyes when he is being mischivious, the pert attitude that shows in Ballerina's mannerism or the way the Princess' smile lights up an entire room. Though hearing would be next as I don't get to see the Ballerina all that often, but do get to talk to her. I would miss that.

I would like to think I would endure if I lost my sight; but it would be hard. Very hard.

Template by MaureenH; Paper (c)CarrieAnn; Charms (c)Minnmom79; Fonts: Back to the Future 2002, Aja

This Week in Space #6

Astronomy Picture of the Day

November 18 - M45: The Pleiades Star Cluster (c)Antonio Fernandez-Sanchez
November 19 - Aurora in the Distance (c)Lance McVay
November 20 - Earthrise from Moon-Orbiting Kaguya (c)SELENE Team, JAXA, NHK
November 21 - Expansive Comet Holmes (c)Jean-Charles Cuillandre (CFHT), Hawaiian Starlight, CFHT
November 22 - Pleiades and Stardust (c)Tony Hallas
November 23 - The Medusa Nebula (c)Don Goldman
November 24 - Galaxies in Pegasus (c)Dietmar Hager

HubbleSite

Tonight's Sky
Gallery: Picture Album
Gallery: Wallpaper
Gallery: Movie Theater
Hubble Discoveries

NASA

Watching Galaxies Grow Old Gracefully
For Kids: Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn & Titan
Kids Club
IOTD: Crew wraps up launch practice
earth Observatory: IOTD

Sky and Telescope

Callf or Images of Venus, by Dennis di Cicco
Swimming a Salty Sea by Leslie Mullen
This Week's Sky at a Glance by Alan M. MacRobert
Understanding Celestial Coordinates by Alan M. MacRobert
Solar Filter Safety by Ralph Chou
Make a Star Clock! by Dennis Schatz and Paul Allan
How to Start Right in Astronomy by Alan M. MacRobert
The Minima of Algol by Adrian R. Ashford and Alan M. MacRobert
A Solar Observing Refresher Course by Jeff Medkeff
Accurate Polar Alignment by Alan M. MacRobert

Space.com

Moonlight Madness: The Frustrating Full Phase By Joe Rao
What Space Telescopes of Tomorrow Will See By Dave Mosher
Spacewalkers Outfit Space Station's Newest Room By Tariq Malik
Earth's Moon is Rare Oddball By Dave Mosher
New Way to ID Stars in Night Sky Photos By Dave Mosher

Science Daily

Massive Project Will Scour Universe For Gravity Waves; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2007, November 18)
Hubble Zooms In On Heart Of Mystery Comet -- Comet Holmes; ESA/Hubble Information Centre (2007, November 16)
How To Make The Brightest Supernova Ever: Explode, Collapse, Repeat; University of California - Santa Cruz (2007, November 15)
Planets Forming In Pleiades Star Cluster, Astronomers Report; University of California, Los Angeles (2007, November 15)


Template by MaureenH; Paper (c)BethH; Paper (c)tjmuse; Buttons (c)dathamary; Pins (c)sueya; Fonts: Back to the Future 2002, Aja

Wandering Tribulations

I know I usually post astronomy links today, but it has been such a long one that I think it is better that I don't even try.

We started by getting up before 6:30 a.m., waiting for Bombshell to show up with the kids, because she is working a triple today and really needed to get to work before 7. Not a normal thing at all but this year the restaurant she manages was having a "Kringle Mingle" breakfast. And since she didn't bother to really explain it until it was almost time, the only opening they still had was at 8 a.m.

Things got better though. As I was trying to get shoes and different shirts on the kids and motivate Pan, Bombshell calls and wants me to stop by her house because she left her work keys behind.

Surprisingly enough we still managed to get there just a little after 8 and they reserved the Princess' favorite booth for us. And being a sports bar restaurant the booths all had televisions and there were large screen tvs situated throughout the restaurant, all of which were playing Rudolph. Each child was presented with a foam memory book to put together and a choice of french toast or pancakes with eggs and either bacon or sausage. Adults pretty much the same thing only no french toast. And being so early I really scarved up the coffee, LOL. Santa made his appearance and went by each and every table talking to all the children, then made his way to his special chair where they could get their pictures taken with him. Upon leaving the kids were presented with a bag of small toys, candy and bubbles.

Then it started all over again at 9:30 for the poor waiters and waitresses. They really did a good job putting it all together. Will try to get some layouts posted next week (or the first week of December) of our time there along with a photo of the near life-size elephant topiary all decked out for the holidays.

Template by MaureenH; Papers (c)azpatch; Buttons (c)LindaSH85; Fonts: Back to the Future 2002, Aja

Happy Day After Tribulations

Well we finally made it back from having Thanksgiving with our families. Everything was yummy (and I even managed to sneak a couple of bites from ddpup's table). We stayed the night with Pan's folks in the hopes of flying model airplanes this morning, but the wind put a damper on that one. Oh well, it is nice to be home and I will have to catch up with the blog prompt later. In the meantime, here is this week's camera hunt layout being hosted by Paula Yagisawa at Gotta Pixel and what the photos are:

1. Something that flies: The Blue Angels
2. Landscape: Shoreline across from the park
3. Flowers: Floral arrangement made by a friend
4. Color Brown: The backdrop on Indy's photo
5. A Historic place: I went a lot outside the box on this one. Way back when I lived in Pensacola and worked on Palafox Street near the municipal auditorium they were tearing up the street to repave it. When they ripped up the concrete they found the original brick road from the late 1800's. One morning when I got to work I picked up a couple of the bricks and brought them home; one for each of the kids. But this is the only one that I still have.
6. A Water Tower: The princess likes to take pictures as much as I do and when I was going through her recent folder to put some on her computer to make scrapbook pages, I came face to face with this one that she had taken while I was driving. How cool of a job did she do?
7. A lamp or lamppost: We don't have any unusual or decorative lampposts around (or maybe we do and I just don't look hard enough), so I opted to regal you with a lamp that I had made over 20 years ago. Probably closer to 25 and it is still working great. Paint is beginning to chip though.
8. "My House:" This was taken just before we left on Thursday and you can see that the leaves on the trees are starting to realize that we are really in fall. :)

Template by Paula Yagisawa; Timeless kit (c)Brenda Miller; Font: P22 Corinthia

Happy Thanksgiving USA (and tribulations of food)

Thurs 11/22 Blog Prompt: What food are you thankful for?

The list would be longer than my blog, so I'm going to truncate it and say ALL (okay most foods). Top of the list would be turnip greens, salads, just about anything cooked on a teppan table and spaghetti with marina sauce.

For those celebrating Thanksgiving Day, I wish you a very happy and full day with your loved ones and friends.

Grandma's China kit (c)Derek M. Designs; Font: ArkansasD

Entertainingly Tribulant

Wed 11/21 Blog Prompt: What sources of entertainment are you thankful for?

This is a given.... Books, books and more books. I love to read and fortunately so does Pan. Which means we pretty much have a room dedicated to books as well as books in every room of the house. Yes EVERY room.

I'm also pretty thankful for dvds which means I can watch shows I like on the days there is nothing on (like most days, LOL).

And, of course, computer games. Right now it is solitaire but I like others as well.

Grid template by Lauren Bavin; Paper (c)ballykissangel; Stamps (c)Ethyl; Fonts: Walt Disney Script, Sylfaen

Comfortable Tribulations

Tues 11/20 Blog Prompt: What things that comfort you are you thankful for?

Pillows. When feeling down and blue, nothing says comfort like nesting in a half dozen downy pillows.

Chicken and dumplings. The kind from my grandfather's cookbook that calls for a teacup of flour and heaping spoon of lard (okay, I use shortening, but I don't think they had it when the cookbook was written).

Hugs and kisses from Indy, Ballerina and the Princess. Indy is really into hugs and kisses right now and I am enjoying each and every one, since I know it won't be too long before he feels too grown up for that kind of thing.

Pan's shoulder. Anytime, anyplace, anyhow.

And a sidenote. The video card fan in my computer has finally, pretty muchly bit the dust. No one in town carries them so Pan had to order it online which means it won't be fixed tomorrow. So I will only be turning on my computer only periodically (if possible) to do the blog prompts. :)

Close 2 you template by Stacey Jewell Stahl; Papers (c)Tink2Zoe; Ribbon (c)dranet; Filigree (c)spotty; Filigree (c)moog25; Buttons (c)Mom of Six; Fonts: Walt Disney Script, Sylfaen

Integrity? I have no tribulations with that.

When I received this award from Lemon Stand I was... speechless. I know, I know, hard to believe. LS, thank you, you have made my day even more special.

And like her, I ran right over to Aussie Cynic's site to see what needed to be done. And to quote Aussie Cynic:

All these bloggers incorporate within their wonderful sites, an integrity not always seen.

They share terrific stories, topics, discussions and images. All Well worth a look.

So in the spirit of Wonderful blogs

I would like to award the Bloggers with Integrity Award to:

For Creativity
Art: So Much to Do, So Little Time. Derek has taken the plunge into something that normally is associated with women.... Digital scrapbook designing. He has definitely brought a new and wonderful outlook to scrapbooking style.
Writing: The Wonderful World of Nothing. Michael has a style of writing that can best be described as intriging. Even if you don't comment, you just have to check it out day to day to see what else is posted. His tidbits on Ethyl and Lucy will touch parents everywhere; his lists will have you rolling off your seat. And if you want a real treat and chuckle, check out his podcasts.
Both men also share a love of mine.... Disney, :)

For The Spirit of Giving
MyDigiSTYLE. Mabelle is another scrapbook designer whose love of life and humanity show clearly in her work, not only those sets she sells, but those she gives away free. In reading her blog, she also gives a lot of herself and in return you learn something of yourself.

For Staying True To Their Beliefs
Bad Example. In the two plus years that I have been blogging, I can honestly say that I know what to expect when I visit granddad Harv's blog. He has never waivered in his beliefs. Thanks Harv.

For Social Conscience
House of Zathras. Besides being a person that all should strive to emulate, she is also an elementary school teacher. Her posts are insightful and entertaining, but she does not shy from broaching touchy subjects which we all need to be aware of.

Keeping it Real
Maybe Baby. The diary of a man who wants to be a father. Blog-brother Matt exposes his thoughts and concerns about infertility and his and Constance's choice to try to have a child. Sometimes amusing; sometimes heartretching, but always well worth reading. Be sure to look out for those gems posted by Constance.

Again thank you LS for seeing something in me, I don't usually see or look for.

Inherited Tribulations

Mon 11/19 Blog Prompt: What things or traits you have inherited are you thankful for?

Oh, oh, oh, I know, I know.....

My hair. Granted it is now nearly 2 feet shorter (thank goodness), but I have inherited the most perfect hair. That is unless you like curly, in that case it is not perfect. It is shiny and thick. And now that the I am getting on in years and it is starting to turn, the Princess and I have discovered that it is not white nor grey, but the most beautiful silver (though you still have to look to see much of it, maybe one strand in a thousand). That is the other thing I apparently inherited I'm not going to be totally grey for a long time yet.

And about that 2 feet of lost hair... most went to Locks of Love; some went to one of the local schools for a science project on chlorination. When I used to go to 10th Avenue salon in another town, they would keep my hair to test new products. How is that for perfect? LOL.

Another trait that I am thankful for is my high cheekbones. Yep, my great grandfather was Indian or part Indian I have have inherited those from him.

Then there's little feet and little hands (now if the rest of my body would just cooperate). Not nearly as little as ddpup's, but just right for me.

Template by Showme; Papers (c)Rachel A.H.; Element (c)cupcake; Leaf Element (c)bandwife; Fonts: Walt Disney Script, Sylfaen

Consumer Product Safety Recalls 11/12-11/17

Release #08-081. Nike Recalls Football Helmet Chin Straps
Release #08-084. Hobby Lobby Stores Recalls Halloween-Themed Baskets
Release #08-085. Children's Wooden Storage Rack Recalled By Jetmax International Following Child's Death

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.


Template by Mars Olson; Papers & Button (c) lilladybug979; Element (c)karen_76123; Buttons (c)Donnatopia; Fans (c)debbers; Fonts: Walt Disney Script, Sylfaen

This Week's Events in Space #5

Astronomy Picture of the Day

November 11 - NGC 6888: The Crescent Nebula
November 12 - Cosmic Rays from Galactic Centers
November 13 - The Inner Coma of Comet Holmes
November 14 - Tunguska: The Largest Recent Impact Event
November 15 - M13: The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules
November 16 - Rocket Fuel
November 17 - Forest and Sky

Sky & Telescope

This Week's Sky at a Glance by Alan M. MacRobert
Leonids 2007
Alfredo Jose Serra Pereira has discovered a nova in the constellation Puppis
Hunting Asteriods from your Backyard by Dennis di Cicco
111 Deep-Sky Wonders for Light-Polluted Skies by James Mullaney
Sky Tour Podcasts
The Martian Moons by Roger W. Sinnott and Adrian R. Ashford
Getting Started in Astronomy
How to Collimate your Newtonian Reflector by Nils Olof Carlin
The Setting Circles on your Telescope by Alan M. MacRobert
Photographing the Aurora by Robert H. Eather
A Treasure-Trove of Variable Stars by Roger W. Sinnott
Rosetta Attacks! by Kelly Beatty
Rethinking Jupiter by Lee Pullen
Rain of Super-Particles News blog by Govert Schilling
Traveling without a Scope by Tony Flanders

Space.com

Incredible Comet Bigger than the Sun by Robert Roy Britt
Space Station's European Lab Set for December Launch by Tariq Malik
Inflatable Moon Base Prototype Heads to South Pole by Jeremy Hsu
Ticket for New Space Tourism Experience for Sale by Tariq Malik
Rocky Planets Might Inhabit Popular Nearby Star Cluster by Ker Than
Mystery Probed in Record-Setting Cosmic Explosion by Dave Mosher
Comet Probe Photographs Earth During Flyby by Tariq Malik
Wow! Moon Probe Captures 'Earth-rise' in High Definition by SPACE.com Staff
New Measurements: The Universe Weighs Less by Ker Than

Template by Coyotef; Papers (c)Webfrau; Buttons (c)Mel's World; Fonts: Sylfaen

Hickory, Dickory, Dock, the Tribulation Ran Up the Clock

Fri 11/16 Blog Prompt: What furniture are you thankful for?

But a clock is not my favorite piece of furniture; nor the one I am most thankful for. Although.... Isn't a clock actually an appliance? To be honest with you, I can't believe I am really going to confess this. I am most thankful for my bed. I know, hard to believe that the person who really hates to sleep is most thankful for the item that would provide that necessity. But I so love snuggling on cold nights and mornings under the comforter and soft sheets.

I wish I could be thankful for a computer chair, but alas, I cannot, for I have not one. (Is that archaic or what, LOL). A nice comfy computer chair would be nice, but it definitely is not a necessity (not like a bed anyway). I am thankful for my computer desk. Lots of room on it, at least until I start stacking books, pens and cameras all over the place.

I am very grateful for all my shelves, though they could definitely use more company. One of these days I will oblige them. Really, I will.


Template by Paula Yagisawa; Mega Kit (c)Gotta Pixel Design Team; Font: Notepad Regular

Color My World with Tribulations

Thurs 11/15 Blog Prompt: What colors are you thankful for?

Frankly I'm thankful for all of them. Would be a rather bland world without color... greens, yellows, blues, red and so on. More to the point I'm rather thankful that I can see them all. (But I am rather partial to grey. I think it is a highly under-rated color and deserves more respect.)

Paper (c)Kathryn Estry; Fonts: 2Peas Raspberry

Are Those Tribulations in My Pockets?

Before I answer the prompt there something I have to say:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!! LOVE YOU

Wed 11/14 Blog Prompt: What clothing are you thankful for?

PJs. Definitely thankful for PJs. The kind you can wear all day. T-shirts are a close second. But anything comfortable will do. Can't really think of anything inspiring or thought-provoking to say about clothes. All I can really say with impunity is that I would not leave home without them :)

Template by Gundimom; Papers (c)Arcane Faery; Rafia (c)BethB; Pins (c)Gmama; Fonts: Walt Disney Script, Sylfaen