Science Channel

An Eagle of Cosmic Proportions

An Eagle of Cosmic Proportions (7/16/09)

Located 7000 light-years away, towards the constellation of Serpens (the Snake), the Eagle Nebula is a dazzling stellar nursery, a region of gas and dust where young stars are currently being formed and where a cluster of massive, hot stars, NGC 6611, has just been born. The powerful light and strong winds from these massive new arrivals are shaping light-year long pillars, seen in the image partly silhouetted against the bright background of the nebula. The nebula itself has a shape vaguely reminiscent of an eagle, with the central pillars being the “talons”.

Eagle Neblula – click for 1280×1280 image

Quick Pics of the Netherlands

bicycle parking lot at the train station

the canals (Amsterdam)

Martini Tower (Groningen)

view from Martini Tower (Groningen)

canals of Groningen at night - learning some photography skills from Kevin

pretty park (Leek)

Sir Francis

Leek

pretty cloud formation - no camera tricks here (Groningen)

My time in Europe is drawing to a close. If you would like a post card please leave a comment and your address in this post. I return to the States on Tuesday, September 1.

Wordless Wednesday: Quick Pics of Me in Europe

checking out the tourist map of Rennes

resting at Thabor Park, Rennes

Vilaine River, Rennes

self-portrait over theVilaine River of Rennes

Stopping traffic in Rennes

Stepped off of the Super train so I can say I also visited Belgium.

in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

traveling about town the Groningen way.

posing next to wall art, men carrying balls of cheese, I bet it's gouda

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I just wanted to announce that this blog has debutted in the Top 100 blogs in the monthly Black Blog Rankings hosted by Electronic Village.

Thanks for your support and please vote for this blog in the best Science/Tech Blog for the 2009 Black Weblog Awards.

Dank u

Travelog Europe: Trees I visited

Botanicals I observed and photographed in Rennes, France while I was attending the 2009 International Ethological Conference.

A Catalpa or cigar fruit tree. These are also in the States. I've seen them in the Midwest.

Thabor Park, Rennes

As I explored Tabor Park, I realized there were many trees from many regions of the world - the US and Asia.

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A Magnolia tree, also in the US. It is the state tree of Mississippi and common throughout the south, but I have also seen them in the mid-west, though not as abundant.
Thabor Park, Rennes

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This trees's branches were so heavy that the understory felt like it was dark outside. The berries of the tree really stood out from the dark rich green evergreen needle-leaves.

I tasted the berry. It was very juicy and very sweet. I didn't swallow it because I wasn't sure it was safe, but I liked the taste, almost like candy.

War Veterans Memorial Park, Rennes

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This was one ugly tree, and I don't normally like to call trees ugly. The fruits and branches were just unlike anything I had seen before. But it was impressive. I sat underneath this tree for a while.

War Veterans Memorial Park, Rennes

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I was pleasantly surprised to see this tree species - the Mimosa, known by it's fluffy light pink flowers and pinnate shaped leaves.

Fallen, decaying flowers on the ground

War Veterans Memorial Park, Rennes

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Tall pine tree with up-right fruits - pine cones.

Close-up of this pine cone. Notice the clear sticky sap dripping from it.

Thabor Park, Rennes

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A Gingko tree

near Saint Anne, Rennes

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This was an odd-growing tree. It seemed to be all brambles and then you look up and notice a very tall and straight trunk in the middle of all of that.

Thabor Park, Rennes

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An oak tree full of growing acorn fruits. It must be mast time in this part of the world. I don't remember seeing any acorns last fall in the States. This oak tree is just dripping withe fruits.

Thabor Park, Rennes
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I came all the way to France to see the mythic proportions American tree - the Giant Sequioa

My sunset picture. I was playing with angles and light position. I really like how it turned out.

Thabor Park, Rennes

Travelog Europe: I stopped to smell the flowers

Botanicals I observed and photographed in Rennes, France while I was attending the 2009 International Ethological Conference.

Notice the lavender in my hair. It smelled lovely. I kept it to pack with my dirty clothes to keep them from fouling the rest of my luggage....and remember the calming effect lavendar has (function & behavior post)

Lavender. Can you see the bee on the flower?

A hibiscus, I think

A morning glory variety.

Cultivated daisy like flowers along the walks. I love daisies!

Another cultivated daisy variety along a sidewalk.

Oh, the dredded sticker bush with it's prickly waxy leaves. As a kid I hated having to confront this bush when a ball or toy got away.

A berry from a bush.

Common shrub plant I saw along many walks and in front of people's front doors. The leaves were mottled with a yellow color. If you know the name, or a related plant, let me know.

The little flowers hidden in the grass and clover where every where. They look very much like the tall wild flower in the U.S. called Daisy Flea Bane. I wonder if the species are related. I learned from a colleague at the conference that it is common all over Europe and called "Little Goose Flower" in Germany.

Little Goose Flower and the broad leaf grass that it comes from. This flower is found on lawns ans seems as common as our clover flowers - which they also have in France (no pictures) and is more fragant than I remeber our clover flowers to be.