Out For A Stroll

Definition Of The Word - TWAT...

Largest Ever Picture Of The Milky Way

The Imaging team from the Spitzer Space Telescope last week unveiled the largest, highest resolution infra-red picture ever taken of the Milky Way. The photo spans 180 feet and takes up an entire wall at the AAS meeting in St. Louis (picture above).

The image is made up of 800,000 images taken by Spitzer amassing 39,000 x 6000 pixels and shows an area of sky 120 degrees longitude by 2 degrees latitude.

The online version can be found here

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Our Place In The Universe

A survey using the Spitzer Space Telescope has offered some evidence that we live in a large galaxy distinguished by two main spiral arms (the Scutum-Centaurus and Perseus arms) emerging from the ends of a large central bar.

If you could view our galaxy face on you would likely see the Milky Way as a two-armed barred spiral similar to the picture above. Previous investigations have identified a smaller central barred structure and four spiral arms.

Astronomers place our sun about a third of the way in from the Milky Ways outer edge in a minor arm called the Orion Spur.

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Random Trivia

Every day, the sun produces energy equivalent to 35,000,000 times the annual electricity consumption of North America.

Curved Bridge

This is Sky Bridge in Langkawi, Malaysia. It stands 687 metres aboce sea level and curves around the single support column from which it's suspended.

More pictures here

I Love Brian Blessed

Everything you ever wanted to know about Brian Blessed...

Just Popping Out For Some Milk

You know those days when you just can't be bothered to get dressed..........

A Matter Of Perspective

Classic Hammer Horror And Carry On From The Royal Mail

Due to be released on Tuesday 10th June 2008 this set of stamps from the Royal Mail celebrates the 50th anniversary of the release of the classic 'Hammer Horror' and 'Carry On' films.

The First Class stamp features Carry on Sergeant. For 48p you get Dracula. 50p will buy you Carry on Cleo. 56p is the Curse Of Frankenstein. Carry on Screaming comes in at 72p and last but not least is The Mummy at 81p.

There's a brilliant fun gadget at the Royal Mail website which allows you to magnify the stamps and see them in glorious Technicoloured detail.

I haven't collected any stamps since I was about 12 - but, as a massive Hammer films fan I think I'll make an exception for these.....