“Galaxies, averaging an estimated 100 million stars, range in size from dwarfs with less than a thousand stars, to the largest galaxies known — supergiants with one hundred trillion stars, each orbiting its galaxy’s center of mass.” — Wikipedia
“The James Webb Space Telescope is able to see right through and into massive clouds of dust that are opaque to visible-light observatories like Hubble, where stars and planetary systems are being born.” — NASA
It is Summer Solstice time in Earth’s northern hemisphere. The Sun, the star at the center of our solar system, is with us most of our waking hours. Dormant living beings are awakening and migrants have returned to grow in response to the longest days of the year. The amazing image of the Phantom Galaxy connects the awe we experience in response to Earth’s living environment to the astounding reality of the cosmos. We are reminded of our place in the Milky Way galaxy and charged with taking better care of our world!
On June 20, at 4:51 p.m. EDT, the Sun reaches its northernmost point on the celestial sphere, the earliest summer solstice date in 128 years, ushering in summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere. June’s Full Honey Moon—or Flower, Strawberry or Rose Moon—occurs Friday, June 21; peak illumination is at 9:08 p.m. EDT.
Marvel at fireflies flashing over fields, meadows, and gardens.
Be sure to delay mowing fields.
Please read Firefly.org for easy ways to protect firefly populations.
Please see “Light Pollution: The Overuse and Misuse of Artificial Light at Night.”
Seek out Scorpius the Scorpion at nightfall. You are sure to be smitten by its red heart star.
