Sunday Night Stars

It’s a quiet Sunday for me even though I have a variety of friends and family out doing the football thing this weekend.  Doctor Daughter and her official now fiance–I’m going to be in for a Bollywood wedding in May so be prepared for a fish out of water story from me–and my sister and her husband went to the Nebraska-Washington football game yesterday,  U Dub brother in law was clearly outnumbered by our Nebraska degree bearing family.  Youngest Daughter was obsessed with LSU on Thursday.  The entire city is celebrating da Saints defeating da Bears. My dad’s just a football fan period and is known to root for skilled coaches and a good game period.  I’m the loner in the family who basically ready books through super bowls and every other game I’ve ever attended. It’s just one big yawn to me.  Wayyyyyy to slow for my tastes and watching people get severe injuries just ain’t my thing at all.

So, I’m going to do this open thread in rememberance of a country that used to be good at science, knowledge and technology before going down the bread and circuses road.

That’s a very old photo on the left that was taken today in 1977.  It’s got a fascinating story.

Here’s what our corner of the universe looks like to any incoming aliens — the Earth and. in the background, its only moon.

It’s a unique photograph because no one has ever been in a position to take it. Actually, it’s an old photograph newly released by NASA.

This photo was snapped by an outbound Voyager I back on Sept. 18, 1977.

NASA scientists ordered the craft to turn around and take it 34 years ago tomorrow, a last look at where the pioneering craft began its literally endless journey to the outer reaches of our solar system, which continues today. Both Voyager 1 and II are still in radio communication with NASA/JPL several times a week.

When today’s pic of the week was taken, Voyager I was 7,250,000 miles from Earth.

Today, it is right around 11,000,000,000 miles from Earth, a distance that’s grown by 1,000 miles while you read this. Track the Voyagers yourself right here.

So, it’s the Emmy awards too and I’m still gazing at that photo and those stars!  It’s an open thread!  Have fun!