Hello, this is Mycroft.
I've just been reading about the Andromeda Project, and I thought some of you might be interested. It lets you help astronomers identify star clusters in the Andromeda galaxy, as well as distant galaxies viewed through it.
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| The project aims to identify star clusters in our neighboring galaxy, also known as M31. All it takes to find the clusters in Andromeda is an Internet-enabled computer and a desire to help, said Anil Seth, the team's lead investigator. "No special training is required," he said. |
It's also on a collision course with the Milky Way, destined to arrive in roughly five billion years. Not particularly relevant to us, since our sun will most likely have cooled and expanded by then to a point where it will have swallowed up Mercury, Venus, and possibly our planet, too, so if we're not off Earth by then, Andromeda will be the least of our worries. Still interesting though.
This is a picture of the Antennae Galaxies colliding. They intersected about 200 to 300 million years ago, and the process is still continuing today.
85 comments:
thanks Mycroft, that's really interesting :-)
That's great, Mycroft. I hope we can find time in the holidays to take your telescope out somewhere away from the bright lights.
I'm glad you thought so, Anonybob.
Lestrade: that would be very nice. Cold, but nice.
I thought you said it was best in the cold? No....heat shimmer. Although you can't see the other side of the street right now with the fog...so guess cold isn't that good all the time.
I would have no problem with the cold, of course. I was simply concerned for you and John...
I'd be fine.
John would keep doing that dance he does when I try to borrow a bit of his body heat though. Might do himself a mischief, at his age.
The squeaky noise is slightly worrying as well.
I nearly mentioned that, but I didn't want to embarrass him.
See if I give either of you extra jumpers when you're both freezing various body parts off on this theoretical trip.
hmm...well, even if you did, we'd both get cold midriffs still. ;)
Excuse, I just need to get something from the freezer. To put down your shirt. Would you prefer ice cubes or peas?
peas individually, or still in the bag?
Individually, so as to be more difficult to extract.
i could do with a thin coating of peas. Gently rubbed into my shoulders.
Have you seen the state of my back? Looks more like Charlie ran me over than massaged my tight muscles.
I like the interesting blog posts you provide when you're home Mycroft, they're just that bit different :-)
Are you escaping these two nutcases to watch the Sir Patrick Moore programme in a bit?
I have. I could rub it very gently if you like; I don't want to undo anything he did.
Anonybob: Thank you, and yes, I think so. Especially if John gets out the frozen peas.
Hey, he's a fully paid up nutcase himself, thank you!
I'll be okay, Danger. Just very tender!
Turn off the news before I get a rant on about bloody marriage equality...or inequality, I should say.
well don't turn the match on instead you'll feel even worse!
Not sure why I bother with the news sometimes. Bad zombie films would be more relaxing.
At least tell me it was a youth side, Anon?
I am so glad that some of these MPs who argue that people like John and I shouldn't be allowed to marry have made absolutely sure they know what they're talking about by being on their third marriage - need to do multiple tests to be certain you've got the 'sanctity of marriage' down pat, right??
Its nice to see my religious group in the list of those actively in favour but the rest of it sucks :-(
its against the law to lie to the police right?
Hah, it's generally not a good idea. But there's no law against trying to lie to us...most of the time.
Don't worry, the BBC broke the bad news.
Thanks for drawing our attention to the Andromeda Project, Mycroft--I may well give it a go the next slow season for book design. (You wouldn't think books were seasonal products, but they are nonetheless.) I love the idea of crowd-sourcing science.
Think I might take advantage of the fact you can't see the end of your own arm outside, go for a walk and attempt to calm down (or kick something - no one will see, in the fog.), having just read the Anglican stance on gay marriage.
I understand the feeling Greg but why hurt yourself by kicking something or by freezing again? They're wrong we all know they're wrong and one day they'll be clever enough to work it out.
It might help, L, to remember that the views of a church (or other religious) hierarchy do not necessarily mirror that of the faithful. ESPECIALLY on this issue.
AnonyBob - just so I don't rant in the flat, which is rather preaching to the converted. And just...don't like feeling angry, not around John and the boys.
RR - doesn't really help, no, not when the church influences the government policy, and therefore the law we all have to live by.
There are times when I wonder why I continue with the Anglican church.
And it's never wise to kick something in the fog in case it decides to kick back, after all, it might be a camel.
that makes sense and the warming up hugs might help when you get back as well :-)
That's a really interesting site, mycrft - thanks for the link.
Lestrade - in fairness to my Anglican friends, I must point out that almost every Anglican I know is wholeheartedly in favour of marriage equality, and is highly pissed off at the hierarchy of their church arbitrarily pronouncing on what the rest of them feel.
Having said that, I did have to walk away from Twitter earlier on, after reading too many comments about what some MPs have been saying today. It feels like two steps forward, one step back (at best) at the moment.
Apologies, Mycroft - I'm so knackered for some reason, I can barely see straight, let alone type.
L - are you going outside to kick things?
yes.
But i'm putting on quite a lot more clothing to do it. And a hat. Unless your yellow one is the only one in the flat...
There's one with earflaps...
I'll wear that. no one will be able to see me unless they're sat on my shoulder. Whereas your yellow one would shine like a beacon...
It is quite remarkably yellow.
SH - you never know with the Camel-rustling Doc living nearby. The park could be chocablock with camels in this weather.
(haven't bumped into one yet though. in fact, spookily empty out here.)
The better for kicking things, my dear?
can't find much to kick. think most of London has gone missing.
Foggy nights are wonderful like that. I hope John has something warm for you to drink when you get home, though!
Well, if you can't kick out the anger, maybe you can freeze it out?
feeling better. going home.
Do you want tea? Or decaf?
decaf. With something in it. Brandy?
Yeah, I can do that.
thanks. and sorry. Just needed to get out an calm down.
It's all right. I understand.
I'm glad the walk helped Greg :-) try and make sure you're properly warm before you go to bed, I've had some weird and wacky dreams caused by going to bed cold!
Thanks.
AnonyBob - don't worry, the doc will help me warm up. I'm not too cold, apart from my face.
I'm glad the walk helped.
Mycroft, thank you for a new way to while away the hours when I can't sleep. That's a very neat website, and I've already shown it to three kids here at the library.
rsf
Have a good night, guys.
Hope everyone was able to get a decent night's sleep.
Cold again out there today - but the world isn't wreathed in fog heavy fog again, here at least.
Foggy when I got out this morning. Hope everyone's okay and taking care on the icy roads and oavements.
Fog and ice are not a good driving combination--I hope you're right, L, and everyone out driving in that is being super careful!
(Actually, I can't think of anything it is a good combo for. I hope everyone out walking is also being careful!)
Hope everyone enjoyed 1212 in 12/12/12
I hope you won't have to get back in the paper suit then, L.
Mycroft, do you have plans while Sherlock is at school?
rsf
We've still got a ways to go to hit 12:12 here, L. :) (Although I'll undoubtedly miss it--I did last night.)
Ah, i count the morning one as 0012
But I missed the midday one too, bit busy.
Sometimes this comic is really brilliant:
http://xkcd.com/1146/
Heh, heh--that's great!
Hope you and Mycroft - and Sherlock, by now, are having a good day. And tell Sherlock I promise to help finish his halo tonight. Should be home on time. Thought we could have Homity pie for tea?
Sounds good to me. Sherlock wants to know if we can get fancy cheese for it (and also if you could make his halo spin around; I told him probably not). And yeah, having a pretty good day. Just trying to tire out the hounds now. How's work?
Yeah, fancy cheese sounds good.
Spinning halos... I'm pretty sure break dancing angels would struggle with spinning halos. I think they need static halos.
Work's got too many dead bodies for this time of year.
Are they outside dead bodies or inside dead bodies? And do you want to get coffee with us before we head home?
Is love coffee, but I'm nowhere near town. Body is inside this time. Can you cut some spuds up small and boil them? Mycroft can make a wholemeal pastry case if he wants and blind bake it.
Is love coffee
Since meeting you, I've come to suspect the answer to this is yes. ;)
Okay, we can do that. I'm glad it's inside this time.
Er, obviously meant 'I'd love coffee'. But coffee is love, even if love isn't coffee.
Meant to say, I'm on nights as of Monday. So counting on you to make sure I thoroughly enjoy our lie in on Monday morning to keep me going for the nights.
I'll do my very best...
i know you will :) me too.
I may get home and fall asleep on my face. i'm so tired.
Maybe Mycroft can help Sherlock with his halo so you can sleep.
I'm sure Mycroft would, but I'll be okay once i've eaten.
I think I can make most of dinner if you tell me what to do when you get here. I've done the pastry case.
I'll admit to wondering what Homity pie is, so if you happen to give directions, Mycroft won't be the only one reading.
rsf
welll... I've just been telling Mycroft, but I can write them out. This isn't classic Homity, because we've got eggs that need using.
So, make a pastry case, blind bake it. Boil some potatoes cut up or sliced fairly small. Fry off an onion and some chopped leeks. We're beating up two eggs, chuck in a bit of milk, throw the spuds, onion, some herbs to taste, bit of nutmeg, bit of seasoning, into your blind baked case, pour over the egg mix, chuck the cheese over it all, bake until brown. Eat.
Or follow a recipe online ;)
That sounds quite comfort-food-y, perfect for a cold evening. :)
John, can I have this as my bauble for the tree this year?
http://www.checkyourbauballs.com
Ha! If only they weren't sold out...
Anyone else watching Masterchef? Jeeez, this stuff is amazing.
That sounds really tasty. I might try it, next time I'm getting groceries.
And I won't follow your link until I'm not at work. Sounds a bit on the "please don't let a kid see this over my shoulder" side. But just the URL had me giggling.
rsf
I hope the dinner Mycroft provided was just as amazing as masterchef stuff :-)
How goes the halo?
I'm having a hard time with the halo and that ornament in the same brain...
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