Weekend Diversion: Enjoy your freedoms!

"Any red-blooded, flag-fearing American would love the M-320. Celebrate the independence of your nation by blowing up a small part of it." -The Simpsons

There are many things that your life has to offer as far as fun goes, and it's different for each person. For me, music is a huge part of it. Here's a double feature by Michael Chapman:

Dewsbury Road / That Time of Night.
So as my nation celebrates its independence and I chill out at a music festival, I hope you find something great to enjoy! And if you want a little astronomical eye candy in the meantime, here's looking into the heart of a star cluster, near a single bright star.

But somehow, zooming in always makes something like this better. Check out this video from PhysOrg and ESO. The sheer ability and opportunity to be looking directly into our galaxy always fills me with awe and joy, and I hope it does you, too. So enjoy!

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Beautiful, spectacular, awe-inspiring, dramatic, mysterious and for some odd reason.... scary.

Thanks so much for passing this along.

Thank you for the video, professor! It's so shiny. :P
If only I could get my mother to watch an astronomy-related video longer than this one. I've been trying to force-feed her the glory of "Cosmos," but she fell asleep half-way through the first episode as I made little warbling noises of delight over Carl Sagan's "cosmic calendar." :P
Anyway, Happy Independence Day, Professor Siegel!

By Abby Smith (not verified) on 06 Jul 2010 #permalink

that would be *really* cool in 3-D.

i found that Cosmos is available via Netflix streaming. i'm gonna revisit my childhood and watch it again, but as a physicist.

Abby,

It's always good to hear that you're doing well! Glad you liked this one, and I was a little sorry I couldn't see you again in my astronomy class this past summer.

Rob,

Cosmos is even better as a physicist, and is still *almost* 100% accurate, although we know a little more now.