Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away
The Spirit of Iceland | Svínafellsjökull glacier, Skaftafell, Southern Iceland, Europe
© www.lichtjahre.euPhotographer notes:
Dramatic cloud sceneries with stray sun light are typical for Iceland. Such unique moods of the light arise from low elevation sunlight not reaching the ground that falls through broken multi-layered cloud decks. This indirect light is causing different hues and light intensities at the surface. The black hills in the background belong to the 330 ft (100 m) high terminal moraine of Svínafellsjökull glacier in Skaftafell, southern Iceland. The moraine is composed out of volcanic breccia eroded by the glacier from the surrounding mountains. The steep ice fall of Svínafellsjökull follows gravity at a speed of 3.3 ft (1 m) per day. Hence, the ice of the bordering glacial lake, that is up to 1.3 ft (40 cm) thick, is steeply piled up at the terminal moraine. This glacial drift of 0.4 inch (1 cm) within 15 minutes causes the ice of the glacier and the ice on the lake to crack constantly under this immense pressure. A multitude of tension cracks form within the ice. This produces a stunning network of parallel aligning white lines. The cracking sounds produced by the drifting ice, the harsh winter conditions at 17°F (-8°C) and chilly winds together with the impressive light situation made this experience on the ice unforgettable.
Time
Such a limitless word. But yet so finite in the chronological story that is each of our lives. We are only granted so much of it. So we best not waste it and spend every second of it doing what we enjoy and love
The Haunting Beauty of NGC 3190 —A Deadly Supernova Factory
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This magnificent galaxy inspires us, again, to ask: does advanced life exist there? The fact that we have no proof of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe may simply mean that intelligent civilizations have all too finite lifetimes. NGC 3190 is a spiral galaxy of unbearable beauty in the constellation Leo. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1784. In 2002, astronomers uncovered one supernova in March in the southeastern part and then another team uncovered a second supernova on the other side two months later -sure destroyers of vicinity-based life.
The spectacular image below is the “Trio in Leo.” There is actually a fourth member of this group which not shown- but the group also goes by another catalogued name of “Hickson 44.” These galaxies are estimated to be 60 million light years away. The galaxy furthest to the left is an elliptical galaxy (NGC 3193) and is fairly devoid of detail. The top center of the image features NGC 3190.
(via dailygalaxy)







