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#902059 10/24/15 06:56 AM
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Halloween falls midway between an equinox and a solstice. In the ancient Celtic world it was the new year's eve and start of winter - time to prepare for survival in the darkening days. But also a time when the boundary between our world and the otherworld weakened. Who knew what might cross it?

This article - newly revised - is a look at the mixed traditions of Halloween.


Last edited by Mona - Astronomy; 10/29/15 05:42 AM.
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A grinning one-eyed skull? Fortunately, no. It's NGC 5189, a complex planetary nebula around a dying star.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S.Carey (Caltech)

You can find out more about Nebulae.

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The Galactic Ghoul is really just a star-forming region in the constellation Cygnus, catalogued as DR 6. But with cavities in the cloud looking like two eyes and a devouring mouth, you can see how it got its nickname. The ghoul's "nose" is about 3.5 light years across. Yow!

Credit: S. Carey (Caltech), JPL-Caltech, NASA

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Witch's Broom Nebula. It's part of the Veil Nebula (NGC 6960), the remains of a supernova that exploded more than 15,000 years ago. The bright star (52 Cygnus) near the center of the image isn't associated with the supernova. (Credit: T. A. Rector / University of Alaska Anchorage and WIYN /NOAO/AURA/NSF)

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Mona, I loved your article and photos!!!


Michelle Anne Cope
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Glad you liked the Halloween article, Michelle.

There's more. Readers, beware . . .

Astronomers use colorful language for cosmic objects. But unlike ghosts, ghouls and vampires in horror stories, the cosmic ones aren't scary late at night. Here are tales of the birth, evolution and death of stars, a blinking demon and a star that, at Halloween, seems like the Sun's ghost.

Cosmic Ghosts Ghouls and Vampires

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WOW! Mona! I had no idea about these cosmic objects. This was a very interesting read. I am seriously learning more and gaining an appreciation for Astronomy through you!


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If you haven't had enough of the scary delights of the night sky, do join me on a Cosmic Halloween Tour. We'll see a cosmic witch and cosmic ghosts, spiders and snakes, and a fiery skull. But have no fear. It's a virtual tour and all these objects are a very long way away.

I've just revised this article, looking for original - or new - links since Pinterest images are now only available to members.




Last edited by Mona - Astronomy; 10/29/15 07:02 AM.
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Great article. Loved the pictures. I just had this email through from tarot.com

'Get ready for unparalleled access to some amazing supernatural energy! The Sun in mysterious Scorpio is making a phenomenal connection with spiritual Neptune -- lifting the veil to the underworld and bringing forth a powerful opportunity for YOU!

This rare access to the spiritual world may heighten your intuition and sharpen your ability to tap into the unseen forces influencing your life right now -- but you need to be ready for it!'


Cat Hamilton
Meditation



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There's a new poem on the Astronomers Without Borders astropoetry blog. You may recognize the Witch Head Nebula in the drawing, and may recall seeing some of the objects mentioned in the poem from my earlier posts.

Happy Halloween!
--Andee Sherwood

Halloween night,
Astronomers’ delight!
Spooky treats in the sky for all.
The Ghoul Star shines,

Algol, in Perseus’ light,
A ghostly vision in the Fall.

Arcturus’ gleam
Could make you scream!

Alpha Bootis known as BOO!
A giant hydrogen star,
An orange glow from afar
Like the fire warming a witches’ brew!


Trick or Treat!
If you dare take a peek
At the sky on All Hallow’s Eve.
Look for the Skull Nebula,

The Witches Head,
And the Flying Ghost galaxy,..

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Eek! Screaming head with flaming hair. A planetary nebula, the remains of a sunlike star when the fuel runs out. The Flaming skull Nebula, catalogued as Sh2-68, is at least 45,000 years old. It's located in the constellation Serpens (the Snake).



Last edited by Mona - Astronomy; 10/31/15 02:42 PM.
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The asteroid 2015 TB145, discovered on October 10, made its closest approach to Earth on the morning of Halloween, October 31, 2015. Appropriately for Halloween, the radar image made it look a bit like a skull. It's about 600 meters across, so it would do some severe damage if it had hit us. However it was farther away from us than the Moon, and we aren't in any danger of that hitting us. We have to remember that “close” astronomically isn't close as we normally think of it. However it was slightly unnerving that this object was only discovered a few weeks ago. The astronomers think that it's probably the remains of inactive comet.

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