Photograph by François Malan.
Photography contest, finalist in the “Minerals” category.
The center of the Milky Way galaxy, showing Kaus Australis, Kaus Media, Shaula, Lesath, Nunki, Phi Sagittarii. Ptolemy’s Cluster (M7), and the Lagoon Nebula (M8). Photographed from the ground in Sutherland, South Africa.
Is this really supposed to be in the “Minerals” category?
With only three categories to pick from, there’s not much other choice. (i.e., it isn’t animal or vegetable.)
Now maybe if the Pisces constellation was in the picture they could call it animal? Or maybe not… :p
Mr. J. is correct. This is what we said here
Sorry if it seems a little odd, but we thought that astronomy or cosmology should be legitimate categories and had nowhere else to put them. “Mineral” seemed nicer than “non-biology”; who wants to be defined by what he is not?
Hopefully, we all understand that we can’t see the center of the galaxy from here. The plane of the galaxy is filled with dust, and we’re in the plane. If we were to take this picture from perhaps 10,000 light years above the plane, we’d get a better view.
As it is, it’s a nice picture of dust clouds taken with the camera pointed in the direction of the center of the galaxy.
Oooo, oooo, I know! *raises hand*
Considering that most of the universe is vacuum, and most of the rest is occupied by gas or plasma, calling pictures of those “mineral” does indeed seem odd!
Henry
Center of the Galaxy eh?
Funny. I don’t see no black hole.
This has my vote in the “Minerals” category.
If space is a vacuum, how come it hasn’t vacuumed up all that dust already?
What, you can’t see black against a black background? Huh. :D
Because, as a vacuum clearner, it really sucks. (Isn’t English great?)
Nice drive-by from The Sphinx, there. He’s terribly mysterious. :-)
Are you suggesting space is a vegetable?
Do the “conscious universe” people think it’s an animal? Or is that just the “final front ear” LOT?
How many of the British contingent here looked at the photograph and thought of a piece of music by Sibelius? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZF4qyOPrcU
And if it comes to that, who else thinks that “Dr Evolution” looks as if he’s about to be interrogated by Magnus Magnusson?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZZc4zA7Lsg
Update