Planck CMB

Planck Cosmic Microwave Background Map

Another Space Theology bookmark -  NASA APOD archives 

Jonathan Amos on ESA Planck and CMBT

I must confess being a bit jealous to BBC Science correspondent Jonathan Amos. For not only is his English slightly better than mine but he is able to expand top news in Space Sciences by explaining their highly complex backgrounds in most interesting ways and with great clarity so that even laypersons like me can follow the logic.

Take, for example, the current news about the release of ESA Planck satellite images of old light.

After reading the article by Amos you feel that you actually understand something about the top-notch ESA space research project and about cosmic microwave background radiation and what it can tell us about the Universe. From there on it is much easier to continue and to go ahead in personal exploration and study of the ESA Planck mission that is about to give a press conference of the images of oldest light.

That is quite an achievement in such a compact article aimed at the general public, isn't it!

The Planck satellite - ESA

To see the stunning view itself and to read Amos report of its significance - click here

Spectacular image Orion Nebula - R. Wittich

Another Space Theology bookmark - Truly spectacular image of then internals of M42  NASA APOD by Astrophotographer Reinhold Wittich

"These nurseries contain much hydrogen gas, hot young stars, proplyds, and stellar jets spewing material at high speeds. Also known as M42, the Orion Nebula spans about 40 light years and is located in the same spiral arm of our Galaxy as the Sun."

Tardigrade!

Tardigrade!
Image Eye of Science APOD 

"Is this an alien? Probably not, but of all the animals on Earth, the tardigrade might be the best candidate. That's because tardigrades are known to be able to go for decades without food or water, to survive temperatures from near absolute zero to well above the boiling point of water, to survive pressures from near zero to well above that on ocean floors, and to survive direct exposure to dangerous radiations...."
March 6, 2013 APOD 

Bookmarked here because IMHO this is the most striking and educational image so far in the glorious gallery of APOD 2013.