seems alpha isnt the only thing that fluctuates
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-curious-case-fluctuating.html
Might be a bit pedestrian, but the Sun still looks pretty cool...
Photo Source: NASA
An enormous magnetic loop of hot gases creates a glowing handle on the sun. The June 9, 2002, prominence was caused by explosive instabilities in the sun's magnetic field.
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/sun-gallery/#/glowing-sun-prominence_6594_600x450.jpg
wana watch sunshine now.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap141002.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-type_star
O (hyper giants) sized star. 45 times the size of our sun.
http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/10/huge-feature-on-the-moon-may-be-an-enormous-volcanic-vent-system/
It's amazing that you cant even look at a small part of the sky and not see stars. which makes any area with a lack of stars, very interesting.
Boötes void
pic unrelated
i never knew that andromeda is visible with the unaided eye, as well as the large and small magellanic clouds. but noooooo, light pollution here in enc and i live a bit north to see the satellite galaxies. hubble and now james webb are here to save the day. i'm very stoked about new horizons up coming pass of pluto.
to put my age in it. one of the first images i remember were the moon landings. when voyager streaked across the solar system, i would check the new images out in the encyclopedias at school. we had such old ones at my house, circa 1963. i thought one day, i'd have a nice set. the internet was something i never expected.
i like stellarium and kstars, but i know there is a ton of cool software out there to use.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jHsq36_NTU
debunked but cool vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifrh9FZUSdE
This composite image shows the central region of the spiral galaxy NGC 4151, nicknamed the Eye of Sauron.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141126-starstruck-eye-sauron-black-hole-astronomy-science/
want
Orion 51464 20x80 Astronomy Binoculars
Interstellar...
In reference to a form of causality preserving super-luminal communication the only thing that comes to mind would be something like quantum entanglement. We have managed to pull it off over a span of 15.5 miles so far.
http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/quantum-teleportation-goes-farthest-distance-yet-141210.htm
However, theoretically, the effect should be possible regardless of the distance between the two entangled particles.The problem with that though is we would still have to physically transport or construct one of the pairs out in the galaxy far beyond our own solar system to have any chance of anyone metaphorically 'picking up the phone'. And even then we would need conventional broadcast with EM to signal anyone out there that there is an open communication terminal or access point in whatever system the receiving end would be. Which causes the problem of interference and signal degradation with the conventional broadcast. The next option I guess might be Neutrino emissions since they don't suffer from signal degradation. We've managed to send a message with Neutrinos before but the physics and math of it is pretty heavy. The Modern Physics publication, unfortunately, requires a password and collaborative authorization to view so here's the less technical article.
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-03/first-time-neutrinos-send-message-through-bedrock
size comparison of planets
Guessing the one to the far right is Pluto. IT'S STILL A PLANET TO THE MAJORITY, GOD DAMN IT!