Urban poetry

The on-ramp to winter.

This snow disappeared in a day, but since I got to experience ample winter in Canada over the holidays, I don't really need it to stick around.

Astronomy Tuesday

I feel as though this image should be accompanied by the theme to Star Wars.

This is a Herbig-Haro object, a more than usually mundane name for something quite splendid. They're disturbances in the Force, um, patches of nebulosity caused by newborn stars.

The star causing all this mayhem is hidden in the cloud, but those long, lightsaber-like beams are jets of gas and dust that have fallen into the star and are blasted out along its axis of rotation.

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage (STScI / AURA) / Hubble-Europe Collaboration Acknowledgment: D. Padgett (GSFC), T. Megeath (University of Toledo), B. Reipurth (University of Hawaii)

Sunday bird blogging

Here's a gray catbird digging for a treat in Central Park.

I thought I heard a catbird in the yard behind my bedroom a few days ago, then realized, No, it was just a cat.

Saturday reflections

The Galleria Trees in Calgary made wonderful reflections.

I'm sure they're doing their best to blunt the winter winds coming off the prairies, but all things considered, I'd just as soon be in New York this time of year.

Urban poetry

The yellow sign announces that this snow-covered stairway in Montreal is fermé pour l'hiver.

We've had precious little hiver so far in New York this year, but a snowstorm is on its way tomorrow. 

A tale of four cities

I do love cities in black and white. These are four random pictures from last year: a power station in Manchester, New Hampshire; the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver; a snowy morning in Montreal; a weekday morning near Hudson Yards in New York.

Astronomy Tuesday

Something a little different: the wonderful blue colors are reflection nebulae, reflecting the light from young stars on the cosmic dust. The curves in the nebulae to the left are caused by the jets blasting out from embedded newborn stars.

Image Credit and Copyright: CHART32 Team, Processing - Johannes Schedler

Sunday bird blogging

Because we need all the cuteness we can get in this crazy world, here's a titmouse to start off the New Year's birds.

Saturday reflections

There's an array of small reflections in these windows in Quebec, but I especially love the patterns of dappled light reflected from the windows across the street.

Random things I saw in Quebec

One of the welcome fires around the city; the Dufferin Terrace outside the Château Frontenac was almost as icy as the river below; the train station (where I actually stayed in a loft my first two nights in the city); the spires and bare trees of winter in Quebec.

Urban poetry

Just a few pictures left from Quebec, but here's something different: between the buildings on the rue de Petit-Champlain and the cliffs of the Upper Town lies this little street, with stairs and walkways climbing the cliffs on one side and the backs of the buildings on the other. 

Astronomy Tuesday

I'm returning to the regular blogging schedule with this lovely Juno image of the intricate cloud patterns on Jupiter.

Image Credit and License: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS; Processing: Kevin M. Gill