Astronomy Picture of the Day: A Web Site Review

NASA runs a web site called Astronomy Picture of the Day (aka APOD), which every day has a different photograph or image that is in some way related to astronomy.

Most of these pictures are of objects in outer space or areas of outer space. These are frequently absolutely astounding, such as this recent image, which is titled "The Busy Center of the Lagoon Nebula." Wow, just wow.

As is acknowledged in the site's FAQ, they do occasionally rerun images (especially when new information about older pictures becomes available on the web). Perhaps the most impressive fact about the site is that it has been running continually since 1995 (as documented by the archive). That has to make it one of the oldest continually updated sites on the web, which is pretty astounding in and of itself.

For anyone with any amount of interest in astronomy or outer space, daily visits to APOD are a must.

Flat out amazing

Image via Wikipedia

You've likely read about/heard about NASA's Deep Impact mission to send a robot spacecraft to intercept a comet, with one part of the craft separating off and manuvering itself to intentionally collide with the nucleus of the comet. What's that? You haven't? Well, get thee to NASA's Deep Impact Mission site to learn all about it!

The fact the collision went off as planned early morning July 4 (EDT), and the science has started flowing from it is just amazing, considering the craft traveled for 172 days and about 268 million miles. So, I just want to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to NASA!