Photo # 2 (June 2009)

THE ESKIMO NEBULA FROM HUBBLE

There is much unexplored potential in each human being. We are not just flesh and bone or an amalgamation of conditionings. If this were so, our future on this planet would not be very bright. But there is infinitely more to life, and each passionate being who dares to explore beyond the fragmentary and superficial into the mystery of totality helps all humanity perceive what it is to be fully human. Revolution, total revolution, implies experimenting with the impossible. And when an individual takes a step in the direction of the new, the impossible, the whole human race travels through that individual.
                               - Vimala Thakar

Credit: Andrew Fruchter (STScI) et al., WFPC2, HST, NASA

In 1787, astronomer William Herschel discovered the Eskimo Nebula. From the ground, NGC 2392 resembles a person's head surrounded by a parka hood. In 2000, the Hubble Space Telescope imaged the Eskimo Nebula. From space, the nebula displays gas clouds so complex they are not fully understood. The Eskimo Nebula is clearly a planetary nebula, and the gas seen above composed the outer layers of a Sun-like star only 10,000 years ago. The inner filaments visible above are being ejected by strong wind of particles from the central star. The outer disk contains unusual light-year long orange filaments. The Eskimo Nebula spans about 1/3 of a light year and lies in our Milky Way Galaxy, about 3,000 light years distant, toward the constellation of the Twins (Gemini).

Each and every one of us contributes to the sum total of consciousness through our own awarenesses. The choices we make and the lessons we learn;  the clearnings of emotional and mental dross that we achieve; the acts of loving kindness we manifest into the world; these and every other thought and feeling and act we put into the collective awareness help to shape the universe.
                                     - Dan Benor, MD