Scientists estimate that the galaxy is moving at more than 10 million kilometres per hour. A number of newly formed star clusters that developed in the stripped gas can be seen in the Hubble image. The stripped spiral galaxy is located some 60 million light-years away from Earth.

Hopefully it's not headed our direction at that speed...
//

Awesome!

I love this kinda stuff! Let's give up on the expensive fantasy of manned space missions for the foreseeable future and devote the full space budget to unmanned programs like this (and the Voyager program et al) that can teach us a great deal about our universe.

Whoa. That is just beautiful...

ot: hrmm youtube down for maintenance

That should be on every hippy's wall. Now that's just stunning.

Watch the video

Image: marvin800m.jpg

I wholly, heartily, and wholeheartedly approve of this use of my tax dollars.

Mapquest not helping. Tomtom says I am out of area.

It's kind of sad, though. As beautiful as these shots (and those like them) are, to know that we'll never really close the distance and see these things close-up. It's like looking across the ocean and catching a glimpse of a distant shore, and not having a ship to get there.

re: #11 Guanxi88

It's kind of sad, though. As beautiful as these shots (and those like them) are, to know that we'll never really close the distance and see these things close-up. It's like looking across the ocean and catching a glimpse of a distant shore, and not having a ship to get there.

Very true. However, I don't think that I would want to be anywhere near a dying galaxy.

re: #11 Guanxi88

It's kind of sad, though. As beautiful as these shots (and those like them) are, to know that we'll never really close the distance and see these things close-up. It's like looking across the ocean and catching a glimpse of a distant shore, and not having a ship to get there.

It is possible that time and space are irrelevant in another dimension. You may be able to cruise the galaxy, just not right now.

So now, the previous thread becomes the dead thread. And the stalkers can get in touch with their inner troll.

Shh. Be vewy vewy quiet.

re: #11 Guanxi88

It's kind of sad, though. As beautiful as these shots (and those like them) are, to know that we'll never really close the distance and see these things close-up. It's like looking across the ocean and catching a glimpse of a distant shore, and not having a ship to get there.

Maybe our children's children will get there.

re: #12 Dante41

Very true. However, I don't think that I would want to be anywhere near a dying galaxy.

Not to sound like Madge from the old Palmolive commercials:

but, "you're soaking in it."

re: #15 MandyManners

Maybe our children's children will get there.

If they're anything like me, they won't call when they get there.

re: #17 Guanxi88

If they're anything like me, they won't call when they get there.

Think of the changes our grandparents have witnessed.

Nice shot, looks like a frame from my Linux screen saver. Hubble has become an asset without peer.

-S-

re: #18 MandyManners

Think of the changes our grandparents have witnessed.

It's true, of course, but still, I can't shake the feeling that this would be a multi-generational project, at best. Still, one never knows, I suppose, and so I don't lose hope altogether. Of course, my little bout of ennui presupposes that one really wants to go there, and I hate to be in the car for more than about an hour, but still...

OT:

I'm taking an indefinite Facebook break. All the stuff I've carefully hidden - Mafia Wars, Farmville, quizzes, bores - is now showing up in my News Feed again. It's like carefully painting over the cracks in a wall and having them instantly reappear. Maybe a week not knowing what time so-and-so woke up and took the "What Kind of Bore Are You?" quiz will do me good...

Sample post from a formerly hidden "friend":

Today I woke up, drank coffe [sic], went back to bed. Woke up at 3:00. And I wasn't even hung over. Now I'm watching a horror movie - not football - and am commencing to play Farmville. Too bad there isn't a frat party tonight.

Echh. And when she's not lighting up my universe with stunning info like that, she's using FB to pimp her design company. Like, five times a day. There's a reason for the "hide" feature. (The system still shows her as hidden, by the way. But she's not.)

Now the only question is, with the time I save, shall I save the world, or just finish my novel?

re: #20 Guanxi88

It's true, of course, but still, I can't shake the feeling that this would be a multi-generational project, at best. Still, one never knows, I suppose, and so I don't lose hope altogether. Of course, my little bout of ennui presupposes that one really wants to go there, and I hate to be in the car for more than about an hour, but still...

arewethereyetarewethereyetarewethereyetarewethereyet

re: #21 Cato the Elder

Finish the novel; the world and its problems will still be here when you're done.

I thought you went before we left.

Wonder how much it would be to have this image enlarged to make a nice poster, framed and under glass, for my # 1 daughter?

Don't leave the crayons in the rear window again.

twinkle twinkle little star

I told you not to bring the hamster.

re: #24 MandyManners

I thought you went before we left.

re: #26 MandyManners

Don't leave the crayons in the rear window again.

I imagine that whole "suspended animation for the astronauts" thing was really just a sci-fi adaptation of dosing the apes up with dramine to keep 'em quiet.

Speaking of travel, gotta' put on my chauffeur cap and ferry The Kid to a party. bbiab

If my mind was already bent, will these images straighten it?

re: #31 wrenchwench

If my mind was already bent, will these images straighten it?

Whoa! Pass that over this way.

re: #31 wrenchwench

If my mind was already bent, will these images straighten it?

Depends on the speed of your mind in relation to gravitational parallax.

Here's a weird story...
Secret Zionist Smear Group ‘Cheerleaders’ Tries To Intimidate Bloggerheads

It seems that a secretive pro-Israel smear group called ‘Cheerleaders’, that operates by intimidation and threats against those they perceive as too vocal in defending the Muslim community, has started a campaign against Tim Ireland of the now famous ‘Blogger heads’ which exposed the SUN for planting extreme comments on a respected and popular Muslim forum ‘ummah.com’ and then splashing a headline that they were extremists!

It seems Tim Ireland has been under a campaign of intimidation and threat ever since. The group calling itself both ‘The Cheerleaders’ and ‘Hur-Al-Ayn’ have posted Tim Ireland's home details on public forums, and sent emails and letters threatening violence.

Normally I'd take this with a grain of salt but it looks like the story checks out: More on the Cheerleaders

More from Harry's Place

re: #34 Killgore Trout

That is interesting. Any commentary from others on this?

re: #1 Thanos

Hopefully it's not headed our direction at that speed...
//

Especially since it can't be more than 6000 light years away.
//

Not to disappoint anybody, but the Hubble space images are colorized. The images that are received from the telescope do not come in these vivid colors.

re: #21 Cato the Elder

OT:

I'm taking an indefinite Facebook break. All the stuff I've carefully hidden - Mafia Wars, Farmville, quizzes, bores - is now showing up in my News Feed again. It's like carefully painting over the cracks in a wall and having them instantly reappear. Maybe a week not knowing what time so-and-so woke up and took the "What Kind of Bore Are You?" quiz will do me good...

Sample post from a formerly hidden "friend":

Echh. And when she's not lighting up my universe with stunning info like that, she's using FB to pimp her design company. Like, five times a day. There's a reason for the "hide" feature. (The system still shows her as hidden, by the way. But she's not.)

Now the only question is, with the time I save, shall I save the world, or just finish my novel?

Cato - FB is on the fritz. I'm having the same problems

re: #34 Killgore Trout

Here's a weird story...
Secret Zionist Smear Group ‘Cheerleaders’ Tries To Intimidate Bloggerheads

Normally I'd take this with a grain of salt but it looks like the story checks out: More on the Cheerleaders

More from Harry's Place

Another interesting wrinkle there is that Glen Jenvey, a major source for a lot of the information posted by Jawa Report, has converted to Islam and joined Al-Muhajiroun!

Hmm. Kind of makes you wonder how much of the information he supplied to the "anti-jihadists" was bogus.

re: #34 Killgore Trout

Here's a weird story...
Secret Zionist Smear Group ‘Cheerleaders’ Tries To Intimidate Bloggerheads

Normally I'd take this with a grain of salt but it looks like the story checks out: More on the Cheerleaders

More from Harry's Place

Seems like a very meta slugfest. Can't see the point in anyone gilding the lily with ummah.com and planting whacky stuff just to sell to the Sun. Makes no damned sense at all, any of it. I suspect a lowlife wanted to make some dough for himself, so ginned up evidence he sold to the Sun to use against an enemy.

This is an extremist galaxy and it needs a center party !

I can't write ROFL ...

on my

own post, can I?

Happy weekend!

re: #35 Dante41

There are a few others covering the story. I'm still trying to sort out who's involved. I wonder if any former friends of LGF are participating.

re: #25 Guanxi88

Wonder how much it would be to have this image enlarged to make a nice poster, framed and under glass, for my # 1 daughter?

Hubble imagery is in the public domain - you already paid for it with your tax dollars, so it "belongs" to you. Go to the NASA site and hunt up the highest resolution image you can find, and send it to some place that prints digital images - I happen to like MPix, but there are plenty to choose from. They'll send you a print in pretty much any size you like the next day. They're cheap, even for a single print.

MPix only takes JPEGs, which may limit your choices; NASA releases a lot of stuff in TIFF format, especially their very high resolution images. If TIFF is all you can find, you'll need to shop around for a place that handles them, or use something like Photoshop to convert it to another format.

From Harry's Place:

"Anybody who knows the history of Ummah.com will appreciate that it is the home to some pretty extreme and nasty people. It was excellent that Jenvey was exposed. It is a pity that a way could not have been found that didn’t have the effect of assisting Ummah.com, but there you have it."

re: #40 Guanxi88

Seems like a very meta slugfest. Can't see the point in anyone gilding the lily with ummah.com and planting whacky stuff just to sell to the Sun. Makes no damned sense at all, any of it. I suspect a lowlife wanted to make some dough for himself, so ginned up evidence he sold to the Sun to use against an enemy.

Yeah, there's plenty of extremism on Ummah-dot-com, Even on MPACUK (they posting an interview with an Afghan "freedom fighter" today) but the planted stuff was specifically designed to generate publicity. one of the planted stories was a fake hit list of UK Jews.

re: #43 SixDegrees

The "Preview" function on a mac will let you switch from TIFF to JPEG.

What may also not be self evident is that there are no individual stars in this picture.

Bright spots are either large groups of stars close together (within the subject galaxy). All the others are galaxies themselves, but further away.

re: #39 Charles

Another interesting wrinkle there is that Glen Jenvey, a major source for a lot of the information posted by Jawa Report, has converted to Islam and joined Al-Muhajiroun!

Hmm. Kind of makes you wonder how much of the information he supplied to the "anti-jihadists" was bogus.

That is an interesting twist. I heard that before but I thought it was just a rumor. How odd.

re: #45 Killgore Trout

Yeah, there's plenty of extremism on Ummah-dot-com, Even on MPACUK (they posting an interview with an Afghan "freedom fighter" today) but the planted stuff was specifically designed to generate publicity. one of the planted stories was a fake hit list of UK Jews.

For all we know, this could be work of a few deranged folk, or somebody trying to make some point that we haven't yet figured out, by means that are cryptic. the Cheerleaders thing just sounds weird, and it's not even clear to me that they have an agenda of any type, other than making trouble; this assumes that they exist, and aren't puppets of one or another group.

re: #20 Guanxi88

It's true, of course, but still, I can't shake the feeling that this would be a multi-generational project, at best. Still, one never knows, I suppose, and so I don't lose hope altogether. Of course, my little bout of ennui presupposes that one really wants to go there, and I hate to be in the car for more than about an hour, but still...

Going from the Wright Bros to the moon landing was quite improbable.

re: #50 debutaunt

Going from the Wright Bros to the moon landing was quite improbable.

I think both were faked, but only at parties, and only after several strong drinks.

re: #21 Cato the Elder

Now the only question is, with the time I save, shall I save the world, or just finish my novel?

No contest. Finish the novel.

re: #34 Killgore Trout

Wasn't Tom Cain (the author) a commenter here at one time?

re: #1 Thanos

Hopefully it's not headed our direction at that speed...
//

I know you are kidding but the real immediate threat (IMO) is from asteroids or pole shifts.

re: #51 Guanxi88

I think both were faked, but only at parties, and only after several strong drinks.

That's right. I've seen the 'accidental' numbered rocks that convince me that the Wright Bros. were just kidding around.

re: #55 debutaunt

That's right. I've seen the 'accidental' numbered rocks that convince me that the Wright Bros. were just kidding around.

Do they really expect me to believe that some bike mechanics from Ohio succeeded at heavier than air powered flight? C'mon!

re: #56 Guanxi88

Do they really expect me to believe that some bike mechanics from Ohio succeeded at heavier than air powered flight? C'mon!

I have compiled lots of facts in my 47 yellow legal pads.

I am always amazed at the beuty God creates and the inginuity of man to appreciate it!

Thanks Charles!

re: #56 Guanxi88

Do they really expect me to believe that some bike mechanics from Ohio succeeded at heavier than air powered flight? C'mon!

If God wanted Man to fly he would have given him wings...
/or a 747...

re: #58 lone_wolf_in_illinois

spellcheck

beauty

re: #60 lone_wolf_in_illinois

Keep a-goin'.

re: #53 Thanos

Wasn't Tom Cain (the author) a commenter here at one time?

Maybe you are thinking of this guy?

re: #62 wrenchwench

Maybe you are thinking of this guy?

Yep, got them mixed up, thanks kindly for the correction.

re: #49 Guanxi88

the Cheerleaders thing just sounds weird, and it's not even clear to me that they have an agenda of any type, other than making trouble; this assumes that they exist, and aren't puppets of one or another group.

Agreed. The fact that MPACUK refers to them as "Zionists" is meaningless. I wasn't able to tell who or what they were by reading the links.

What an amazing universe we're part of.

re: #65 beekiller

Did you kill Eric the half a bee?

re: #64 John Neverbend

Agreed. The fact that MPACUK refers to them as "Zionists" is meaningless. I wasn't able to tell who or what they were by reading the links.

read something or other about them being Situationists, which is even more bizarre. Unless the whole thing is some sort of Situationist prank.

re: #66 debutaunt

Did you kill Eric the half a bee?

Moreover, do you love him semi-carnally?

re: #68 John Neverbend

Moreover, do you love him semi-carnally?

Cyril Connolly

re: #64 John Neverbend

Here we go...
Infidel Blogger Alliance: Cheerleaders Offer To "Kill Online Extremism In The UK Stone Dead"

I JUST got an email from The Cheerleaders. They are a group of hackers who have successfully shut down several jihadiwebsites. They just asked me to get the message out that with 30 UK people, they could "kill online extremism in the UK stone dead." Because of their track record, I believe they could.

If you live in the UK and you'd like to get involved, join one or both of these:

Cheerleaders on FaceBook

Cheerleaders on Twitter

The British government has done very little to stop jihadi activities online. Jihadis have been relatively free to post propaganda, communicate strategies and coordinate plans online. With a little help from thirty British citizens, The Cheerleaders plan to put a stop to this. Join today.

re: #68 John Neverbend

Moreover, do you love him semi-carnally?

Just ; ally

re: #61 debutaunt

Thanks for the help. That is what I get for typing with a vodka and grapefruit juice in the other hand!

\ not to make excuses!

re: #72 lone_wolf_in_illinois

Thanks for the help. That is what I get for typing with a vodka and grapefruit juice in the other hand!

not to make excuses!

Enjoy!

re: #70 Killgore Trout

That seems... ominous.

re: #74 Dante41

That seems... ominous.

It does. I wouldn't join them.

re: #72 lone_wolf_in_illinois

Thanks for the help. That is what I get for typing with a vodka and grapefruit juice in the other hand!

not to make excuses!

Vodka! jeez.. I can't drink the hard stuff...My Sister drinks it straight over the rocks...Makes her laugh a lot...*wink*

re: #74 Dante41

I had doubts about how much of a group or organization they really are. They seem pretty real. It's all still rather confusing though.

re: #70 Killgore Trout

Here we go...
Infidel Blogger Alliance: Cheerleaders Offer To "Kill Online Extremism In The UK Stone Dead"

Er - that's a hate-LGF blog, by the way.

OT: (as usual )
Have you folks seen the Samsung dual view Camera? I am so getting one..
Wicked idea for a digital camera

re: #78 Charles

Oops sorry.

re: #70 Killgore Trout

Here we go...
Infidel Blogger Alliance: Cheerleaders Offer To "Kill Online Extremism In The UK Stone Dead"

That Cheerleaders group isn't exactly something that would get along with those assholes at Infidel Bloggers Alliance, Jihad Watch, Atlas Pukes, etc. This is from their Facebook page:

Like hi, this is like TOTALLY the Facebook Group for bigging up the Cheerleaders! If you know who they are, you know, and if you don't, you don't! BTW this is a PRO-MUSLIM group, and is moderated by the ladies of the Hur al-Ayn. Keyboard Jihadis stay away or get lit up!

The email in question may be suspect. However, they seem like a mainstream group opposed to "Keyboard Jihadis." They also link to ProgressiveIslam dot info which is no friend of the likes of Infidel Bloggers Alliance.

From looking at their facebook page and the Progressive Islam site it links to I'm guessing they're are trying to portray themselves as mostly Muslims. Probably fake. Crazy Pam is part of a group that tries to portray itself as reform minded Muslims. It's completely fake.

re: #81 Gus 802

Yeah, something isn't adding up. Makes my brain hurt.

re: #82 Killgore Trout

From looking at their facebook page and the Progressive Islam site it links to I'm guessing they're are trying to portray themselves as mostly Muslims. Probably fake. Crazy Pam is part of a group that tries to portray itself as reform minded Muslims. It's completely fake.

Like the MAS and the letter writing campaign to Indonesian newspapers etc. (I recognize some of the styles and statements.)

re: #66 debutaunt

Ho ho ho, tee hee hee.

Vigil also makes me think of 910 and Christine. Remember the "Center for vigilant freedom" crap?

At some level, i suspect that a lot of these 'groups' are just the same 8 or 10 folk under different names.

re: #87 Guanxi88

At some level, i suspect that a lot of these 'groups' are just the same 8 or 10 folk under different names.

There's many more than 8 or 10 but you are correct with "Same people"

re: #83 Killgore Trout

Yeah, something isn't adding up. Makes my brain hurt.

It's more confusing than Julie Andrews pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman.

re: #72 lone_wolf_in_illinois

I also have a vodka and grapefruit in my hand.
House work is done and it's time to relax!

re: #90 Cathypop

I also have a vodka and grapefruit in my hand.
House work is done and it's time to relax!

That's it, keep gloating!

Laugh-a while you can, monkeyboy. (Dr. Lizzardi):

re: #88 Thanos

There's many more than 8 or 10 but you are correct with "Same people"

I recall at my Alma Mater that the Spartacist Youth League, the Friends of the Maoist International Movement, the Campus Womyn's League, and the LGBT Forum were all the same group of folk.

re: #90 Cathypop

I also have a vodka and grapefruit in my hand.
House work is done and it's time to relax!

Set down the grapefruit and get a better grip on the vodka. Priorities.

That galaxy's being stripped of its gas content?
Now THAT's a technology we need down HERE!
We could make the first test-run on Glenn Beck.

One of the coolest things about this image is the scene of all of the galaxies in the background. Puts in perspective just how big the universe is, not mention just our own super group of galactic clusters!

Just beautiful...

re: #85 beekiller

Ho ho ho, tee hee hee.

Oh dear. Is mine the 57th time you've been asked?

re: #95 descolada9

I agree. Absolutely beautiful picture! Seeing the other galaxies in the background is icing on the cake :)

re: #97 debutaunt

nope, you're the first!

Fiddle de dum, Fiddle de dee,
Eric the half a bee.
Ho ho ho, tee hee hee,
Eric the half a bee.

re: #1 Thanos

Hopefully it's not headed our direction at that speed...
//

I'm guessing that it's a sunblock #50 situation in those parts.

re: #96 Sharmuta

Just beautiful...

Yes, but remember: most of these gorgeous Hubble images are enhanced multi-image composites, to bring out details that wouldn't be apparent in ordinary visible light.

All of us with some knowledge of Physics flinch when we read, "the galaxy is moving at more than 10 million kilometres per hour."

10 km/hour relative to what?!? I'll guess they mean, "10km/hour away from us" but it just frosts me that the people who write-up these things have no clue when they make a nonsensical statement.

"million" Doh!

re: #102 Pythagoras

All of us with some knowledge of Physics flinch when we read, "the galaxy is moving at more than 10 million kilometres per hour."

10 km/hour relative to what?!? I'll guess they mean, "10km/hour away from us" but it just frosts me that the people who write-up these things have no clue when they make a nonsensical statement.

Perhaps the caption is referring to the speed of the galaxy relative to the intergalactic gas through which it is passing.

re: #102 Pythagoras

All of us with some knowledge of Physics flinch when we read, "the galaxy is moving at more than 10 million kilometres per hour."

10 mkm/hour relative to what?!? I'll guess they mean, "10km/hour away from us" but it just frosts me that the people who write-up these things have no clue when they make a nonsensical statement.

What is nonsensical about it? I see no sensible counter explanation from you.

What is wrong with 10mkm/hr toward us or 10mkm/hr sideways from us. (Since you like Pythagoras, you can figure out the latter, no doubt).

10mkm/hr is relative to the frame of reference, which in this case is the rest of the visible universe. Is that hard to understand? Einstein explained it to the rest of us idiots long ago.