Helix nebula comes into better focus
The Helix nebula, as viewed from the VISTA telescope.
January 19th, 2012
06:00 AM ET

Helix nebula comes into better focus

Astronomers now have their most detailed view yet of the Helix nebula, one of the closest planetary nebulae to Earth.

The image comes from the VISTA telescope, the world's largest survey telescope, at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. Using infrared light filters, scientists have colored the image to reflect the spectrum of radiation from the nebula. It's the best image yet of the Helix nebula, said Jeremy Walsh, a scientist at the European Southern Observatory in Germany.

Contrary to its name, a planetary nebula does not include a planet. Rather, it forms like this: As a star ages and gets larger, the gas that surrounds it starts to get blown off into a large, fuzzy ball of gas. The star heats up and lights up the nebula, which refers to the molecular gas, ionized metal and dust around it.

The Helix nebula resides in the constellation Aquarius about 700 light-years away. It's quite large - its main ring is 2 light-years across, although its material spreads out to 4 light-years. The star at its center is evolving to become a white dwarf.

This image shows the nebula in the infrared light spectrum, which is invisible to the eye and more toward heat radiation. Telescopes that capture only visible light have not been able to get such a detailed view of the nebula.

"It’s a great target for the VISTA telescope because it has a big field, it can cover a large part of the area of the sky," Walsh said.

The gas in the nebula is mainly hydrogen, with about 10% helium and 1% other elements, Walsh said.

Unlike in visible-light images of the Helix nebula, this one reveals its cometary knots, which are strands of hydrogen that can be as big as our solar system. These clumps of gas and dust endure despite the high-energy radiation coming from the dying star. Their shape is a little bit like a comet, but they're not comets. One of the mysteries is how these cometary knots originated.

"Were they thrown out by the star as it expanded, or have they formed in the cloud of gas somehow through some instability, like forming clouds in the sky? Perhaps it's an equivalent sort of process," Walsh said. "It still is an active area of research."

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Filed under: In Space
soundoff (563 Responses)
  1. ras666

    Eye of Sauron

    January 19, 2012 at 3:58 pm |
    • forfrodo

      My thoughts exactly.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:37 pm |
    • JohnRJ08

      More like the cover of "Purusha's Urn".

      January 19, 2012 at 5:34 pm |
      • MOOSE

        You said that already....

        January 20, 2012 at 1:44 am |
  2. Gyrion

    Hey God, Here's looking at you! (0)(0) Thanks for being there watching over me. Today we need you more than ever here on Earth as we are in soo much trouble.... We have the love for money in which it seems to root in all kinds of sins, We have hostility towards one another, we don't care about anyone but ourselves, we find fault in those that try to help, we find fault in all the good things that we see, say, and do.... I pray a special prayer to you today that you guide and direct us to understand and that we learn to be better citizens of this Earth.... I pray for direction in my own life that you guide me to do whatever you need done and that you protect me from those who wish to do harm....
    I will have this Helix as an exaple of your awesome wonders to remind me of who I am and who you are... May you blessings come onto us as we go about uor lives and learn to be leaders and exaples to others...

    January 19, 2012 at 3:52 pm |
    • HeHasRize

      nicely said took the words out of my mouth. People need to wake up and see that God is real and he is on his way to take us off this greed filled planet. god bless you. I will pray for everyone like i always do as well. Everyone needs Jesus now more than ever

      January 19, 2012 at 4:00 pm |
      • anon

        haha

        January 19, 2012 at 4:05 pm |
      • Gyrion

        AMEM! thanks for the comment.... It is much appreciated as well as the prayers... I can always use prayers.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:08 pm |
      • kyle

        exactly, this is just another way God point to his son Jesus and what he did on the cross. 🙂 so awesome we have people all around the world who are in a relationship with Jesus.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:18 pm |
      • comm0nsense

        You realize that we would have been long dead when someone 7 light-years away from Earth is inspired by the planetary nebula created around the Sun long after it's burned off its hydrogen supply. I guess your God is one that enjoys fireworks and planticide.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:46 pm |
      • Chris

        God is just your imaginary friend. Don't bring fantasy into science – please!

        January 19, 2012 at 5:03 pm |
      • Bob836

        Thanks for stopping by, but the Religion Blog is another area on CNN.com.

        January 19, 2012 at 5:14 pm |
      • Brandon

        You people are really stupid. THIS ISN'T VISUAL LIGHT. If it wasn't for complex science that was once "the work of the devil", it would be impossible to see. Years of scientific knowledge and skepticism went into this photo, not years of sitting on your asses praying to your imaginary friends

        January 19, 2012 at 10:59 pm |
    • fred fred

      You are obviously intellectually delayed... (O) (-)

      January 19, 2012 at 4:12 pm |
      • Gyrion

        WOW! Fred Fred Just Amazing these words...... You are so encouraging that I will continue to ask God to put Light unto the Helix and will one day be right beside Him. You have given me the encouragement I needed to do what God wants me to do... With that it will take a lot of courage and dedication to share my story of my proof that GOD EXISTS! Are you ready?

        January 19, 2012 at 4:17 pm |
      • cmarrou

        I am glad to take religion out of science as long as you don't go on and on about all the alien races out there for which absolutely no evidence exists. Carl Sagan was absolutely sure God did not exist but was just as sure tens of millions of alien civilizations did.

        January 19, 2012 at 6:06 pm |
      • BKS

        I see you know how to use the Language of paradise symbols really well.

        January 19, 2012 at 9:07 pm |
      • BKS

        Is that where gold comes from?

        January 19, 2012 at 9:09 pm |
      • BKS

        The Iris is shape like a heart.

        January 19, 2012 at 9:12 pm |
      • Anatomy Guru

        BKS- the PUPIL is shaped like a heart. NOT the iris.

        January 20, 2012 at 11:55 am |
    • kyle

      Amen! I don't know how millions of people look at this and think that a big bang could create this (but then I know that people understand deep inside that God is responsible for such beauty). This photo just brings me to my knees because of the way it shows God and his love for us.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:14 pm |
      • Phil

        I can explain exactly how the big bang works did all of this. I can't explain why people feel the need to invent imaginary beings to explain things they don't understand.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:23 pm |
      • Gyrion

        God created the heavens and the earth, he created the light and called it day, created the darkness and called it night. He created us humans to be over all the animals of the earth... He is there for us

        January 19, 2012 at 4:37 pm |
      • Bobob

        I don't know why people still believe in ancient man-made fairy tales.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:30 pm |
      • kyle

        hey Phil, bud you know one day you and I will stand before the reality that God is true, alive, and powerful, and Jesus will reign with his own. Man I just hope and pray you stop fighting God and accept that reality before it's too late.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:35 pm |
      • timmy

        "hey Phil, bud you know one day you and I will stand before the reality that God is true, alive, and powerful, and Jesus will reign with his own. Man I just hope and pray you stop fighting God and accept that reality before it's too late"

        Oh yeah? You KNOW this How exactly? Fact is, everything you have said is nothing but fear mongering and rabid speculation, with zero proof. You dont KNOW anything. You speculate and hope for your god. Why do you speculate? Because you are afraid, afraid of death. So you need to make up something to comfort yourself. I, for one, am completely comfortable with the answer of "I dont know". Fact is, no one knows and to admit to the world that you do know everything not only makes you look CRAZY but ignorant as well.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:41 pm |
      • Chris

        We know exactly how this is created and it does not involve an invisible sky daddy .

        January 19, 2012 at 5:04 pm |
      • Mortalc01l

        Ummm... If you think the Big Bang is too complicated to have created the Universe, then exactly how complicated would a "God" have to be to create it? Infinitely more complicated than any other explanation for a Universe coming into existence and exponentially more improbable.

        Let's see... An invisible Man in the sky who has been around for ever, who cares passionately about a third rate American Football quarterback, but condemns millions of children to death because they were born into the wrong religion?

        A supreme being that left us a "Book" that has no instructions for how to accomplish anything of use, like maybe the explanation of logarithms, or calculus, but instead it tells us that Adam and Eve had two sons, one of whom killed the other; which leaves Adam, Eve and one of their sons... Incest anyone?

        Said "Book" also claims that at least two of every species of Animal on the Earth were put onto a boat for 40 days and 40 nights; how many MILLION species are there on this planet? Of course, there was enough food to feed all of them and enough water for them to drink and enough room for the feces that they all produced...

        Oh and I forgot... The Earth is also supposed to be only 6000 years old, despite every single piece of evidence that conclusively proves that to be false.

        Fantasy and Fairytales.... I do not believe in Zeus and neither do you, I don not believe in Quetzalcoatl and neither do you, I do not believe in Thor and neither do you..... For EXACTLY the same reasons that you do not believe in the Gods I just mentioned, I do not believe in yours.

        January 19, 2012 at 5:10 pm |
      • kyle

        Timmy that's the crazy thing about all this. You won't know it and you won't have answers until you believe in the One who does know it all, and who created it all. Of course people will think I'm crazy, that's awesome, all that means is I'm not like this world, but I have been changed by Jesus Christ. And i just wanted to say that I am afraid, I'm afraid for people who don't know Jesus, like you who are blinded by the desire to live for yourself, and be your own god (look at everything you do, think, or believe, it's all makes you feel good and happy about yourself). I literally have nothing else to fear, because I know the One who created me, died for me, and holds me everyday, and more importantly he knows me, and loves me. It's my greatest desire to tell you about this love you can have through Jesus.

        January 19, 2012 at 5:26 pm |
      • JP

        @ Mortalc01l – totally agree.

        @ kyle – Why can't I have respect for fellow humans through logic and intuition of my own – why must it come delivered to me by a spiritual deity who threatens me with an eternal punishment if I don't also believe in him? Why can't I lack greed and belief in a deity?

        I'm not being confrontational (though it's often difficult to tell with text alone), I'm asking difficult questions I've asked myself for decades. I do not ask for your prayers, I am not "lost", and I do not expect anything from anyone.

        January 19, 2012 at 6:22 pm |
      • BScott

        @Mortalc01l – I had to copy and paste your awesome rant on my facebook wall. I didn't steal credit, I just liked it and had to share it. Props!

        January 19, 2012 at 6:27 pm |
      • kyle

        @JP I absolutely agree with the thing you said that we must love everyone and have respect. As you said it is hard to do that through text alone, but when I shared (above) what happened in my life, I just want to tell everyone how crazy it is that God would actually love someone like me, and give his son for me. I am in no way better then you, the only difference is I am saved by grace and I accepted Jesus Christ as savior and you most likely don't even believe there was a Jesus. A lot of people as asking themselves these hard questions your talking about, and basically all I want to do is (in love and respect) point people's attention towards Jesus, because he gave me the answers to the most important things in life, and I am now fully satisfied, content, and enjoy serving him, and all I want is tell everyone about this love available to anyone who believes, with no intention and most certainly not shoving it down anyone throat.

        January 19, 2012 at 7:49 pm |
      • Laura

        Yes Kyle- just think ! It is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING that 100 billion plus planets out in space developed FROM NOTHING !!! Isn't that AMAZING !! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING !!
        Over billions of years they started appearing. It is mind boggling ! THEY CAME FROM NOTHING !!

        January 19, 2012 at 7:52 pm |
    • Ziggy Tomcich

      People can have morality without religion. There are many people who use religion to justify their greed, hatred, and their destruction of our planet.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:15 pm |
      • Schula8

        Amen

        January 19, 2012 at 4:26 pm |
      • kyle

        religion, morality, doing good or stuffing religion down someones throat is useless. Morality can't save you, nor can religion, only a relationship with Jesus can. People so often look at christians in America as these religious people who hate more then they love, and therefore avoid anyone and anything that has to do with religion. But true christianity is accepting your sinfulness, accepting Jesus Christ righteousness as the only means to salvation and eternity with him and living a life of love, sacrifice, and hatred towards sin. I pray people could honestly come before the cross and stop fighting God, and just accept the love he has given you.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:28 pm |
      • Gyrion

        I can tell you this: I do not have greed (love for money or love for objects), I do not hate, and I do my best to not be destructive of our planet. As a responsible adult I have a responsibility to my children and their children to leave this earth a better place.... I had the love for money and it just about destroyed me... Going back to having just enough to be able to provide for my family is good enough for me.... I don't need all the freels and thrills that are out there, those things don't make me happy.... I am happy just being who I am and being a man of God.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:29 pm |
      • Daniel

        @Kyle what, pray tell (pun intended) am I being saved from?

        January 20, 2012 at 10:29 pm |
      • kyle

        @Daniel bud your being saved from hell, from the complete absence of God's grace (which is what hell is). Everyday everyone continues to receive God's grace because he continues to give rain to everyone and sun to everyone, and the fact that we sin and continue to live is his grace, but hell is the complete absence of any grace or presence of God with no end. Our only option is to stop fighting God, accept his free gift of salvation and love, in Jesus and have the best, happiest, sufficient, joyful, never-ending life with Jesus. Words can't explain how amazing it is, trust me, Ive been in your position too, until I accepted the fact that I am messed up and sinful, and Jesus gave me his righteousness absolutely free for me, but it actually cost him his life, and all I desire is for you to have the same. man, I hope you see that I gain nothing from this, except another brother in Christ.

        January 21, 2012 at 3:02 am |
    • Phil

      You should know your "god" is busy helping Tebow win football games and is not interested in helping the rest of the world with their trivial problems.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:21 pm |
      • Gyrion

        I'm glad that this Tebow fellow stepped out and is praying to God. Perhaps God is helping him. Above all I feel God is using this fellow for more than just some football games.... God wants us to be comfortable in talking (praying) to him about anything... I mean who are you afraid of? God already knows, its almost like when we were kids hiding what we did from Dad.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:34 pm |
    • James

      Absolutly the best reply ever written on the internet....My prayers are with you and and isn't God awesome!

      January 19, 2012 at 4:28 pm |
    • Dave

      Kind of reminds us that we are nothing more than germs on a nats butt when compared to the universe. It is to bad we all are trying to kill each other instead of trying to understand what this is all about.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:30 pm |
    • Brandon

      LOL to all of you.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:32 pm |
    • Richard K.

      Amen indeed! Nice message and prayer! We live in a world where spirituality and the beleif in bigger and unknown "things" is looked down upon, yet all we need to do is look up to realize we are the ones that are being looked down on!

      January 19, 2012 at 4:44 pm |
    • Priyanka

      So beautifully said!! There is no doubt he is there watching us.. helping us.. guiding us... all we need is to have faith in him!!!!

      January 19, 2012 at 5:05 pm |
    • Alex

      There is no god

      January 19, 2012 at 5:10 pm |
      • Gyrion

        Is too....

        January 20, 2012 at 8:56 am |
    • marsmotel

      Gyrion – Are you crazy? What you wrote has know merit to anything but rants of organized schizophrenia. Please stop that non-sense. It is truly a beautiful picture of what we know little about. This is a picture of an horrific expolsion that happened 7 billion years ago. Can your mind even fathom that without messing it up with god and prayer remarks. Just enjoy it and shut up.

      January 19, 2012 at 5:10 pm |
      • Gyrion

        No, I will NOT stop.... I stand on my belief, and God is standing with me. One day you will understand and will either accept Christ or spend eternity in Hell. My life has a soul and that soul belongs to God.

        January 20, 2012 at 9:14 am |
    • Nick

      im no afficianado on it, but I thought prayers worked better when you say them to God and not a message board...

      January 19, 2012 at 5:17 pm |
    • Robby

      I read one or 2 thinking it was a joke, but I am stunned at how many people look at this picture and come to the conclusion: "it's Gods eye". You do realize that the colors and outlines of the eye were created by computers to enhance the infrared light from the other forms of light. If they showed this photo in a different spectrum or how it would appear to the naked eye, it would not resemble an eye. Are human beings that naive, that when something resembles a face or an eye their first guess is."look theres Gods eye!" or "look theres Jesus in my soup!" i just dont understand how grown adults can be so misguided.

      January 19, 2012 at 5:27 pm |
    • sam

      I just pooped and I call my poop God. Now all religious people can come and see the real face of a God.
      That is the only evidence we have so far.
      PS. Neanderthal from stone age, please stay away from non God things, you are embarrassing intelligence.

      January 19, 2012 at 5:50 pm |
    • Fluffy the Gerbil of Doom

      If god "has a plan", then you praying doesn't make one ounce of difference. If it is "omniscient", it already knows what it is going to do. Your prayer, therefore, can have no effect, (or it is NOT omniscient).

      January 19, 2012 at 6:19 pm |
    • SuzAnne

      So, so true! Appreciated your post. Well said. :o)

      January 19, 2012 at 8:57 pm |
  3. SG

    was thinking it would be cool if it looked like a wrinkled penny or even a balloon knot. Very nice.

    January 19, 2012 at 3:50 pm |
    • StarShipTrooper

      Or Rectum

      January 19, 2012 at 3:53 pm |
  4. HeHasRize

    God's eye that is. And America wake up the gov't does not care about us. go online and look up hologram airplanes and see what u find. u will notice that you all our brainwashed by the gov't. Look to the sky as the lord is returning soon and the Gov't is trying to pull a one world order. also look at project blue beem. The warning has been sent open your hearts and your brains for once.

    January 19, 2012 at 3:47 pm |
    • moose

      your god failed you.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:02 pm |
      • Gyrion

        GOD has not failed anyone; we failed HIM.... I'm glad that He is a compassionate God who forgives and gives me another chance to fulfill His purpose for me.

        Thank you GOD for loving me!

        January 19, 2012 at 4:09 pm |
    • timmy

      you are gonig to talk about government brainwashing, yet you subscribe to the oldest brainwashing scheme in history.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:34 pm |
      • Rain

        Touche!

        January 19, 2012 at 4:54 pm |
      • fsu0442

        You can certainly have your opinion on whether a belief in a higher being is the result of being "brainwashed," but I always wonder why people such as yourself are so threatened by those of us who believe in God? We aren't hurting you with our beliefs, so why harass people about it. And if you aren't threatened, then why do you make these kinds of comments?

        January 19, 2012 at 5:03 pm |
      • Daniel

        The tactic of insinuating that people who do not believe in God feel "threatened" by christians is amazing. Perhaps understand that many of us were raised with religion but simply weren't going to buy into that horse puckey. It's not your belief that makes me feel threatened. It's the ability to wield your self-justified ignorance with such efficiency that scares me.

        January 20, 2012 at 10:40 pm |
  5. Hot Carl

    How about a brown eye?

    January 19, 2012 at 3:45 pm |
  6. Hot Carl

    Wouldn't it be cool if it looked like a "brown eye"? Or maybe a wrinkled star? Or a chile ring? Or a.........

    January 19, 2012 at 3:44 pm |
    • belial

      Wouldn't it be cool if you weren't a moron?

      January 19, 2012 at 3:47 pm |
    • tomtom

      Chocolate starfish?

      January 19, 2012 at 4:44 pm |
  7. billy bob

    wow some people are stupid

    January 19, 2012 at 3:44 pm |
  8. SUN56

    It show the power of God.

    January 19, 2012 at 3:42 pm |
    • Robby

      how ??? it is one of countless space anomalies. and its not even facing earth or "looking" at us, this was taken from Space. if your theory is correct then God is looking in a completely different direction, not down on Earth/

      January 19, 2012 at 5:31 pm |
      • Stargazer

        I've got news for you. This image can be taken from earth. Our family is into astronomy and we have imaged the Helix nebula.

        January 19, 2012 at 8:56 pm |
  9. Russell Hammond, Hollywood

    "Eye In the Sky" – Worthy Alan Parsons Project album by the same name. (Or any Pink Floyd will do.)

    January 19, 2012 at 3:41 pm |
  10. LA Chic

    "I am the eye in the sky, looking at you ....."

    January 19, 2012 at 3:39 pm |
    • meemee

      ..." I believed your lies."

      January 19, 2012 at 4:00 pm |
    • Seattle's Best

      I can read your mind...

      January 20, 2012 at 3:21 am |
  11. larry simpson

    we have no idea what all is out there do we?

    January 19, 2012 at 3:33 pm |
  12. Casey Gingerich

    A

    January 19, 2012 at 3:30 pm |
  13. Risky

    Hey space...you purdy..

    January 19, 2012 at 3:24 pm |
    • Space

      You purdy too.

      January 19, 2012 at 3:44 pm |
  14. buffyrat

    Will this be the fate of our solar system some billions of years hence?

    January 19, 2012 at 3:20 pm |
    • larry simpson

      yes in December of 2012

      January 19, 2012 at 3:34 pm |
    • Seattle's Best

      Pretty much so. Specifically, a white dwarf in the middle of a planetary nebula. It's a bit sad to think about, but there's nothing anyone can do to prevent this fate. This will be an end...and a beginning. Scientists say that the Sun will expand into a red giant and then turn into a white dwarf. What I find awesome is the fact that the white dwarf will be actually one massive diamond. I think that's a beautiful idea. Everything in the solar system and anything that ever existed on Earth will be part of it. 🙂 PEACE ON EARTH!

      January 20, 2012 at 4:34 am |
    • Daniel

      @Seattle's Best. that is perhaps the best comment I've seen on this thread that appreciates the beauty of finality without preaching either science OR religion. Good form, sir. Good form!

      January 20, 2012 at 10:43 pm |
  15. Webrydr

    I LOVE these images! I have a new desktop. Yesterday was just a plain old shot of deep space. Today, I have the "eye of God" watching me.

    January 19, 2012 at 3:16 pm |
  16. Hmmm

    TD REX plz use proper grammer.

    January 19, 2012 at 3:16 pm |
    • Rob

      Hmm, *please* use proper *grammar*! Thank you.

      January 19, 2012 at 3:18 pm |
      • TDREX63

        YODO, UNDERSTAND, YOU NOT.

        January 19, 2012 at 3:33 pm |
  17. TDREX63

    THE FORCE, YES, EXPLAINS DOES, IT ALL, YOUNG JEDI

    January 19, 2012 at 3:12 pm |
    • Yoda

      I You Thank for your quote young TDREX63

      January 19, 2012 at 3:34 pm |
  18. Hmmm

    Krissy face...do you have a problem you need to talk about?

    This picture is truly life...not human beings....life

    January 19, 2012 at 3:11 pm |
  19. jason

    Do you have the Ring?

    January 19, 2012 at 3:09 pm |
  20. kissyface

    you people believe every thing you read, i got a bridge for sale.

    January 19, 2012 at 3:05 pm |
    • Isaac

      Yeah it's clearly all just a big lie.... moron.

      January 19, 2012 at 3:20 pm |
    • Gyrion

      Everything is already provided for when we all get to heaven, all this earthy possessions stuff is worth nothing....

      January 19, 2012 at 3:40 pm |
      • meemee

        So the gold plated Cadillac is waiting for you there?

        January 19, 2012 at 4:03 pm |
      • Gyrion

        no thank you friend, I would much rather be able to walk and view the wonders of the universe side by side with my GOD.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:06 pm |
      • Grumpster

        Everything? Really? I want a horney 18yr old woman there ready to meet me. Yeah...right. Hope you're not saving things for the afterlife that you could have gotten now while we are on our only ride around the universe. Worm food....that's what we'll be.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:28 pm |
      • Daniel

        that's good news for all the child-molesting priests out there. Pedophilia is okay in heaven, and so long as they repent their sins before they die, then they still get to go to heaven. It's a WIN WIN!!!

        January 20, 2012 at 10:45 pm |
    • Phil

      @ Gyrion

      I would rather marvel at the wonders of the universe NOW instead of waiting for a disappointment at the end, wishing I would have taken the time to do it while I was alive. But you won't know you're about to be disappointed...you'll simply die and that's it. There is no "other side".

      January 19, 2012 at 4:26 pm |
      • Gyrion

        Taking that out of context!.... Let me clarify... When I am in heaven with GOD, I will be able to see everything He has created and have the answers to all of my questions. Like if there is other wonders out there that are too far away for our earthly devices to see or even understand through Science.... I enjoy every day on earth taking in the beauty that I see with my two little eyes..... Looking forward to eternity with God, this is only the beginning.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:46 pm |
  21. EDumphuque

    Since there's only one eye, it must be Odin, not Jehovah.

    "Most of us are atheists, some of us just take it one god farther"

    January 19, 2012 at 2:55 pm |
    • BR

      I (and a million other geeks) was thinking Sauron.

      "That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."

      January 19, 2012 at 3:02 pm |
      • meemee

        Whoever it might represent is blue eyed. The part that represents the iris comes out looking somewhat blue.... But I agree as a lifetime (60 years) fan of JRR Tolkien and a trained scientist. Sauron's evil does seem to be ruling the world.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:05 pm |
      • EDumphuque

        But it's not wreathed in flame, and looks like it has a brow, thus, not lidless.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:30 pm |
    • Yoda

      I believe it's Santa....

      January 19, 2012 at 3:35 pm |
    • mag

      cyclops.

      January 19, 2012 at 3:37 pm |
  22. ELLE2012

    IT'S THE ALL-SEEING EYE OF GOD; EYE OF PROVIDENCE – ALSO ON OUR US DOLLAR.....

    January 19, 2012 at 2:54 pm |
  23. jim

    the best comment i can think of is FANTASTIC !

    January 19, 2012 at 2:48 pm |
  24. closetiguana

    God is watching me...in the shower

    January 19, 2012 at 2:45 pm |
  25. Phil

    The eye of Tebow's father

    January 19, 2012 at 2:45 pm |
    • Mike

      No way that is the eye of Brady's father and he proved it TWICE!!!

      January 19, 2012 at 2:51 pm |
  26. Brandon

    Wow, What a surprise. I believe I see WALMART OUT THERE.!!

    January 19, 2012 at 2:43 pm |
  27. cpc65

    I hope "God's Eye" had a good view of Timmy Tebow getting flattened by the Patriot's last weekend. The grounds crew had to spend extra timing fixing all of his face divots he left in the field.

    January 19, 2012 at 2:42 pm |
  28. crystal

    really looks like the eye in "The Lord of Rings"

    January 19, 2012 at 2:38 pm |
  29. Futon Torpedo

    Heaven's Gate and Marshall Applewhite was RIGHT!!! Lol!

    January 19, 2012 at 2:38 pm |
  30. markfromdover

    uhh....what if it's just a reflection of the guy's eye that's looking in the telescope?

    January 19, 2012 at 2:37 pm |
    • whatsAbieber

      ROTFLOL
      "
      "
      "

      January 19, 2012 at 3:03 pm |
    • SoSueMe

      LOL

      January 19, 2012 at 5:20 pm |
  31. hecep

    This is where attacking Moties will come from.

    January 19, 2012 at 2:34 pm |
    • TheMovieFan

      I was thinking of that book when I saw this.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:38 pm |
    • Aezelll

      Only if you go give them the secrets of FTL.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:43 pm |
    • Michael

      Boy thats an old reference. Nicely played!

      January 19, 2012 at 2:48 pm |
  32. James K.

    "I am the eye in sky..." —Alan Parsons Project

    January 19, 2012 at 2:29 pm |
  33. yeti37

    George Orwell was right!

    January 19, 2012 at 2:22 pm |
  34. It has a heart in the middle

    Awesome!

    January 19, 2012 at 2:21 pm |
    • closetiguana

      and the eye also has numerous cataracts

      January 19, 2012 at 2:44 pm |
  35. Chris Dowd

    To badly paraphrase the great science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clark's elegant short story "The 9 Billion Names of God" (1953)...."And overhead, one by one, the stars were blinking out."

    January 19, 2012 at 2:19 pm |
  36. ashlee

    thats kool

    January 19, 2012 at 2:17 pm |
  37. waner

    That is a beautiful image. Nature, for some reason, always fascinates me. Maybe because I am of nature and I am clinging to that which is a part of me...I don't know, I'm just blabbing. ha.

    January 19, 2012 at 2:14 pm |
    • asche

      yes, you are babbling. snap out of it.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:25 pm |
    • mag

      babbling over Nature's beauty is fine.

      January 19, 2012 at 3:38 pm |
  38. Ed Sr of Dallas Tx

    The "eye of creation"....known better as God........we are being watched!

    January 19, 2012 at 2:13 pm |
    • Study People

      I'll bet that type of thinking leads to paranoia.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:28 pm |
    • Dave

      I have a deal with god. I dont believe in him, and he doesnt believe in me.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:30 pm |
      • jennifer

        God always believes in you.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:53 pm |
      • Daniel

        That's that old "Just by saying you don't believe in him means you believe in him" trick.

        January 20, 2012 at 10:54 pm |
    • Grumpster

      Another religion nut who obviously never studied one day of astronomy or science....and if they did, they were playing paper football on the desk that day.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:14 pm |
  39. MattC

    If we launch Elijah Wood and Sean Astin at it, can we kill it?

    (Sorry, I'm a God fearing American, and anything the Bible doesn't specifically okay I feel the need to destroy.)

    January 19, 2012 at 2:03 pm |
    • Adam

      Nah, first you need the ring of power...

      January 19, 2012 at 2:16 pm |
    • Stan

      Bible? You sound more like a muslim.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:16 pm |
      • horseshaver

        nahhh, bible.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:25 pm |
      • Daniel

        Oh my... Apparently you never read about the crusades.

        January 20, 2012 at 10:55 pm |
    • asche

      The bible doesn't specifically okay morons. I guess you know what to do with yourself now.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:27 pm |
      • MattC

        Add my name to the GOP ballot and Bible thump until the God fearing masses believe it's His will that I be elected? It worke for Bush...

        January 19, 2012 at 3:15 pm |
    • mag

      the bible doesnt mention nebulae because the humans that wrote it for their own profit didnt have telescopes back then. If having a telescope and identifying nebulae brought wealth, then the humans would have added a line about it to ensure that a select few would benefit.

      January 19, 2012 at 3:40 pm |
      • SoSueMe

        Touche!

        January 19, 2012 at 5:26 pm |
  40. Susan

    We're not alone! This week they're testing Einstein's Theory of Relativity with radio telescopes from all over the world, by looking into the black hole in the Milky Way, so we'll know in a few years if that's a crock, too. Hopefully, some nice, peaceful space aliens will come to visit us sooner, and we can send all of our prisoners and other bad people back to space with them.

    January 19, 2012 at 2:03 pm |
    • chandler, az

      lol...advance civilization, coming to visit us in peace...look at the history and you will know the answer. just pray that nobody advance spots us.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:17 pm |
    • ron

      Send our prisoners and bad people back with them? What, are you proposing, a "TO SERVE MAN" sort of punishment? Can't wait to see the cookbook.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:18 pm |
    • asche

      how did you manage to drag alien lifeforms into this? this has nothing to do with aliens.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:28 pm |
    • BR

      We already have observable evidence of black holes Susan.

      January 19, 2012 at 3:06 pm |
    • Webrydr

      Susan, we HAVE been visited by "friendly aliens." They found us so backwards, violent, prejudiced, uneducated and ignorant that they posted a "QUARANTINE" sign at the edge of the Milky Way.

      Someday, hopefully within a thousand years, we'll grow up enough that we could handle contact with ET. Till then, they're still watching and shaking their heads...if they have heads...in amusement at our childish antics.

      Be talkin' to you.....................Webrydr

      January 19, 2012 at 3:09 pm |
    • mag

      not to nit-pick, but if humans sent a probe into the black hole, we would never see the information because nothing escapes a black hole. Rather, the probe would enter a black hole and appear in another universe in the multiverse world

      January 19, 2012 at 3:42 pm |
      • Daniel

        I wanna go through the black hole so I can go visit Pern and ride on a dragon!

        January 20, 2012 at 10:57 pm |
  41. WYSWYG

    Let's make this earth better than exploring a new one!

    January 19, 2012 at 2:02 pm |
  42. svann

    The eye of Jupiter!
    The path to earth!

    January 19, 2012 at 2:01 pm |
    • Beth

      Totally the first thing I thought when I saw it!

      January 19, 2012 at 2:35 pm |
    • Gaius Baltar

      So say we all!

      January 19, 2012 at 2:40 pm |
    • ks

      So Say We All!

      January 19, 2012 at 3:16 pm |
  43. James

    Mordor?

    January 19, 2012 at 1:59 pm |
  44. Maceon

    I don't know why this has sparked a religious debate, but it has...Look, despite what you believe in, this is beautiful. Keep your beliefs to yourself, unless it is asked for. No one, regardless of what they say, knows for sure what is out there. Just believe what you will, and be content with keeping it to yourself, at least on the internet where no one gives two f**ks.

    January 19, 2012 at 1:58 pm |
    • Maceon's Conscience

      Maceon, it is beautiful. And so is free expression. Just as you have the right and privelege to express your thoughts here so do those with religious feelings and beliefs. That is what the internet is all about: free expression, free discussion. Everyone, please feel free to express yourselves on the internet. Telling anyone to keep their thoughts off the internet is counter to what the internet is built for. Free expression!!

      January 19, 2012 at 2:16 pm |
    • asche

      Criminal irony that you are trashing others for dragging their unrelated beliefs into this discussion, by dragging in your own. Weird.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:30 pm |
  45. Memerizer

    I need a high resolution version to use for my Alan Parson's Eye In The Sky digital song artwork.

    January 19, 2012 at 1:55 pm |
  46. Propervillain

    Sauron watches....

    January 19, 2012 at 1:55 pm |
  47. cory c

    Old picture is old, nickname is God's Eye, google search it

    January 19, 2012 at 1:52 pm |
    • Fred

      this is not an old pic. This is a new picture of the nebula. did you even read the article? Probably not.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:36 pm |
      • cory c

        you sir are retarded and naive, I saw this same picture about 3 months ago. just because CNN just posted it you think its new? you have a lot to learn about news and the internet.

        January 19, 2012 at 3:37 pm |
      • mag

        Cory C, you are the moron. The article clearly states that this is the best picture they ever taken of this nebulae. All the previous pictures had flaws. The article is celebrating the clarity of the image, not its discovery. You are the moron.

        January 19, 2012 at 3:43 pm |
      • Daniel

        implying three months is old. "OMG dood, that pic is like SO three months ago...nedulae pics are OVER!!!"

        January 20, 2012 at 11:00 pm |
  48. a dude

    Nature, you scary

    January 19, 2012 at 1:52 pm |
  49. lolsigh

    It is called a planetary nebulae because it used to be a system such as this, in fact it is believed that planets do circle around some of the white dwarf reminents after the stars expansion.

    January 19, 2012 at 1:46 pm |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      No, it's called a planetary nebula because early astronomers thought these nebulae resembled planets. The PNN (planetary nebula nucleus) is a main sequence star that is evolving past the red giant phase into a white dwarf. Current astronomical theory states that this is what the Sun will look like over 5 billion years from now.

      January 19, 2012 at 1:54 pm |
    • asche

      You're both wrong. It's a planetary nebulae because planets can FORM from the stardust leftover when a star dies. At least have some clue what you're saying if you're going to say something. Damn.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:32 pm |
      • Gaius Baltar

        No, you are the one blowing ionized hydrogen out your ass. Quid is absolutely correct. Planetary nebulae got their name because through early telescopes they were mistaken for planets. Get your story straight, dimwit.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:52 pm |
      • mag

        asche – you got owned big time. the best part of your statement was the arrogance. you got so owned.

        January 19, 2012 at 3:46 pm |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      asche: You've obviously never taken a course in Introductory Astronomy, let alone browsed Wikipedia. Please get the facts straight before accusing the knowledgeable of being wrong.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:58 pm |
  50. Bill

    EPIC STARING CONTEST

    January 19, 2012 at 1:44 pm |
  51. darthallen417

    Sauron sees all!!! All hail Sauron!!!

    January 19, 2012 at 1:42 pm |
    • AllYourBase

      hahaha

      January 19, 2012 at 1:46 pm |
  52. blah9999

    Battlestar Galactica, Eye of Jupiter!

    January 19, 2012 at 1:39 pm |
    • Minniyar

      I thought the same thing!!

      January 19, 2012 at 2:37 pm |
  53. Tim

    Alethia, I am not saying the atheists are right, but it is inconsiderate for someone to clearly state someone else's beliefs are wrong. Think about this quote, "Those who refuse to see through both eyes are blind to the truth"

    January 19, 2012 at 1:33 pm |
    • Dude man

      what if you already wear and eye patch?

      January 19, 2012 at 1:59 pm |
      • Smart Pigmy

        In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.

        January 19, 2012 at 6:22 pm |
  54. Who's out there

    Come on already – BLINK!

    January 19, 2012 at 1:33 pm |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      DON"T BLINK!. Blink and you're dead. They are fast. Faster than you can believe. Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink. Good Luck.

      January 19, 2012 at 1:58 pm |
      • Greg

        Not the Weeping Angels! I was just starting to be able to go around statues and you had to go and bring up the Weeping Angels!

        January 19, 2012 at 2:24 pm |
    • Adam

      I've never crapped my pants before, but I'm pretty sure that would do the trick!

      January 19, 2012 at 2:18 pm |
    • Kristen

      Funny enough, I just watched that Episode not to loong ago.

      January 19, 2012 at 2:27 pm |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        I've got all the boxed sets. :-] !!!

        January 19, 2012 at 3:55 pm |
  55. Here's looking at you kid...

    You know all those people with tin foil hats thinking that they are being watched? Makes one stop to wonder..... 🙂

    January 19, 2012 at 1:29 pm |
  56. Rahul

    Here is the gist of the argument:

    Athiest: Sure, if you can prove something to me, I'll believe it.

    Religious Person: If you don't believe what I say on blind faith, you're ignorant and stupid. And no, I don't have any proof.

    January 19, 2012 at 1:22 pm |
    • Alethia

      Rahul, where is your proof that there is no God? Should I rely on the atheists limited perceptive abilities and their relatively limited intellect to give me the measure what is true and not true in the universe? Again, I say all atheists who claim to be wise are but fools.

      January 19, 2012 at 1:28 pm |
      • clearfog

        Only a fool believes that a negative can be proven.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:30 pm |
      • Dave

        Most real atheist admit they don't know. Most religious folks can't admit that.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:32 pm |
      • Alethia

        Only a fool believes that mankind has all the answers.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:33 pm |
      • JNail

        Where is your proof that there is no Zeus, no Ra, no Ahura Mazda, No Oden, ...ad infinitum? From my understanding of Atheism, they just believe in at least 1 less God than you do.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:37 pm |
      • Polta

        Alethia, where is your proof that god isn't a big gay purple teletubby? Oh, no proof? I knew it!...God is a big gay purple teletubby.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:41 pm |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Alethia, what is your rationale for blindly believing that "God" as you imagine it to be actually existing. Anything that you can assert without proof can be rejected without proof.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:42 pm |
      • darthallen417

        Can't we all just get along and remember to worship Sauron, the master of the rings. Sauron knows all and see all. Amen>:]

        January 19, 2012 at 1:53 pm |
      • karnas

        another rag head from plano geez

        January 19, 2012 at 1:55 pm |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Karnas, get off your parents' computer and get back to cleaning the bathroom like you're supposed to be doing.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:59 pm |
      • Kaew

        Base on your logic...
        Odin, Zeus, Shiva, Flying Spaghetti Monster, and all other gods out there must exists too...since you can't disprove them either, AMIRITE?

        January 19, 2012 at 2:03 pm |
      • Observer

        Alethia
        "Should I rely on the atheists limited perceptive abilities and their relatively limited intellect to give me the measure what is true and not true in the universe? Again, I say all atheists who claim to be wise are but fools."

        Speaking of fools, limited perceptive abilities and limited intelligence, a recent poll/test showed that the average atheist and average agnostic know more about the Bible than the average Christian and have more education.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:06 pm |
      • Dres

        but who created god though? atheist don't know where we come from, but believers dont know where god comes from. Isn't the same thing, that we atheist and believers of gods don't know!

        January 19, 2012 at 2:11 pm |
      • willy

        It is an assumption that all religious people accept everything with blind faith and without proof. Things that are proof to one person will be ignored by another. Many things in this and other universes cannot be explained by human logic. It is assumed that all things that we do not know or understand will be understood and explained eventually by science. I love science but it is limited by our limits. We cannot know everything but often we assume we can.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:17 pm |
      • Dres

        @willy, I agree with what you say. But at least the scientific ways can be proven. How am I supposed to believe in a God that tells us about a talking snake, a talking donkey, and Jonah the man that survived for 3 days in the belly of a fish! That got a virgin pregnant without having intercourse with her, not today but 2000 years ago! Nah we still have better answers and solutions than any god that mankind makes! and that includes the xtian god too, man made

        January 19, 2012 at 2:22 pm |
      • Adam

        it's not about proof or lack of proof.. anybody that's taken a Philosophy of Religion class will tell you that it's about this: "is there a good reason to believe in God?" if you feel there is, then good for you! If not, then good for you! There is no proof either way.. but Athiesm is as much belief (or lack thereof) as any Religion. However, they base their perspective on testability, falsifiability, principle of sufficient reason.. etc Basically, theists believe that there is sufficient evidence to justify belief in God and Atheists do not. A more complicated approach is by trying to determine whether or not your reason for believing in God is valid.. that concept has been argued for centuries. I think Alvin Plantinga is the authority on this (if you're a theist, Im not sure who his critics are)... hope this helps.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:29 pm |
      • Adam

        @Alethia – I will say this. I respect your point of view.. but usually when you assert that something exists, the burden of proof is on you.. you cannot simply claim that something exists without evidence and then turn it around and say "you have no proof that it doesn't exist".. because you're assuming what you're trying to prove.

        Example: I believe that Unicorns exist.
        There is no evidence that Unicorns don't exist..
        Therefore,
        Unicorns exist

        Can't do that..

        January 19, 2012 at 2:35 pm |
      • Wicked Fairy

        clearfog: Apparently you failed physics 101. The atom is based upon a atomic theory: (electrons, protons, & neutrons). Electrons have a 'NEGATIVE' charge. Protons have a 'POSITIVE' charge. Neutrons have a 'NEUTRAL' charge. Physicists had to prove that matter had a 'negative charge to oppose the 'positive' charge. You clearly are your namesake, CLEAR (Effed-UP) FOG.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:44 pm |
      • willy

        @Dres: Your knowledge of some of the amazing stories is impressive to me and thank you for not being full or sarcasm. So many people are plain insulting; an action I find pointless when someone is so sure of the facts. You bring up a good point. Without faith the whole thing does seem unlikely. But when you have faith this becomes proof to you. There are times you just know something is right even though you cannot distill the substance into a flask or track it with a detector. Faith in this aspect is not scientific and can only be given from God. But who ask for something from someone that they do not believe exist. To those that have faith, faith is added.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:54 pm |
      • mag

        Do you believe in Rol? How about Odin? How about Zeus? No, those are all wrong. But your god is the right one. Sad sad sad.

        January 19, 2012 at 3:48 pm |
      • mag

        @Adam. You are using logical tools. Do you really think a religious person will understand your riddle?

        January 19, 2012 at 3:49 pm |
      • clearfog

        Wicked Fairy. You obviously have a deficiency in reading comprehension or logic, or both. And as to science, your ignorance is showing. An electron has a negative charge (not the same negative as a negative in terms of logic, dummy), a proton has a positive charge, but is not a fundamental particle, being a positron and a neutrino. A neutron has no charge, not a neutral charge, which does not exist. A neutron is an electron, proton, and electron antineutrino.

        January 19, 2012 at 6:39 pm |
    • Grant

      Athiest: There is no God.

      Antagonist: Sure, if you can prove something to me, I'll believe it.

      Religious Person: If you don't believe what I say on blind faith, you're ignorant and stupid. And no, I don't have any proof.

      Which group is objective?

      January 19, 2012 at 1:55 pm |
      • ugh

        antagonist? ugh!! you mean agnostic!

        January 19, 2012 at 2:06 pm |
      • Dres

        the antogonist for sure. The other two are the same, have no answer, but I'd rather put up with the atheist, at least they don't get violent like the believers

        January 19, 2012 at 2:14 pm |
      • perez

        Every one has a right to believe in what they want, proof or no proof, no one should push there believes on anyone else. Only when we die we will know the trued. in few words live happy with what you believe andlet every one else be happy with what they believe.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:28 pm |
      • BR

        Try asking atheists themselves what their position is. Extraordinarily few atheists assert that god does not exist. For the most part, we simply reject theists' claims of god for lack of evidence. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

        Your description of "antagonists" [facepalm] is more like like the average atheists position.

        January 19, 2012 at 3:13 pm |
    • Leprakawn

      "Trying to argue against faith with logic is like trying to nail jelly (Jell-O to the 'merkins) to the ceiling; it's using the wrong tools for an ultimately pointless task."
      -trollface

      "I contend we are both athiests; I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
      -Sir Stephen Henry Roberts

      January 19, 2012 at 3:12 pm |
  57. Scott

    we ARE being watched

    January 19, 2012 at 1:06 pm |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      ...as long as it isn't someone casing my house.

      January 19, 2012 at 1:32 pm |
  58. gera

    And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." Glory to God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

    January 19, 2012 at 12:59 pm |
    • Al

      Amen! And right on!

      January 19, 2012 at 1:02 pm |
    • timmy

      sorry god never said those things....but men did.

      January 19, 2012 at 1:26 pm |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Thanks for pointing out the obvious, but I've a feeling that the fundies won't listen. Your POV is appreciated by the rational folks though.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:35 pm |
      • Gut

        A-men

        January 19, 2012 at 1:47 pm |
      • TDREX63

        I can wire a light switch, does that make a God lol

        January 19, 2012 at 2:59 pm |
      • mag

        men said it to keep people from stealing their flocks and harvests. religion was a way to control the masses – do not steal my sheep because even though i cannot be present all the time to protect them, the eye in the sky is watching. there

        January 19, 2012 at 3:52 pm |
    • Joe

      Sounds like the nonsensical chant of some religious cult.

      January 19, 2012 at 1:28 pm |
    • Gut

      Genisis 1:26 Then God said ," let US make man in OUR image,according to OUR likeness" Hmmmm......

      January 19, 2012 at 1:50 pm |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Don't you mean "Genesis"?

        January 19, 2012 at 2:01 pm |
      • mag

        well there are a lot of ugly people breeding. i guess god was one ugly motherf%%%ker

        January 19, 2012 at 3:53 pm |
    • Garp

      And then man developed telescopes and mathematics and physics and learned that it is a planetary nebula and not some lights god put in the sky ..

      January 19, 2012 at 2:08 pm |
  59. Raven

    SPACEGINA!

    January 19, 2012 at 12:41 pm |
    • BR

      LMFAO – ROFL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      January 19, 2012 at 3:15 pm |
    • mag

      i was thinking the same thing except i was imagining anal. does that make me weird?

      January 19, 2012 at 3:54 pm |
  60. mikel

    Funny how pessimistic and self absorbed the atheists are. Instead of appreciating the beauty, they spend their effort whining and snivelling about others that do. Sad, pathetic, and standard procedure....

    January 19, 2012 at 12:35 pm |
    • I'm The Best!

      I appreciate the beauty. What I don't appreciate is you giving credit to god, when its just nature that made this. Normal beautiful physics. You're undermining all of science when you make the god claim.

      January 19, 2012 at 12:50 pm |
      • Jenny

        Why does a belief in God and Creationism undermine science and nature? While I'm aware that many Christians don't think scientific study can hold a candle to anything biblical, I don't think that way at all. Many people are under the impression that Christianity can't support modern science and vice versa. That's just not true. I'm a scientist and a Christian. I have taken the time to study theory, and I think there is real value in being able to learn about the intricacies of life from an empirical perspective. I also feel that Creationism, in no way, undermines nature. I have a great respect for nature, but as wonderful as a nature is, God is still bigger and oversees it all. It doesn't take away from nature by claiming that God is more than nature. Even Christians admit that God must be beyond our comprehension if even his creation cannot be fully understood, but that doesn't make Him nonexistent.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:18 pm |
      • Me

        God created the nature – remember?

        January 19, 2012 at 1:27 pm |
      • I'm The Best!

        Think of it this way. Two students are asked to describe this to a class. One goes into great detail about how it formed and why it looks the way it does. The other just says "god did it, isn't he great!" I would say the religious one didn't do the thing justice. He in effect undermined the whole thing as well as science by simplifying it to something that can't even be proven. Science is based off of things that can be proven. Saying god did something is like slapping all the scientists in the face that helped discover it

        January 19, 2012 at 1:42 pm |
      • I'm The Best!

        I'm not sure if either if you will get what I just said though, considering one of you is a creationist (obviously wrong, any real scientist would see that) and someone who says "the nature".

        January 19, 2012 at 1:48 pm |
      • K

        Yeah..Nature made it. You don't believe in an eternal God-but you have no problem accepting the entire universe appeared out of nowhere and went "bang" for reasons unknown. That definately makes way more sense. ;0)

        January 19, 2012 at 2:17 pm |
      • Ruby

        So for you, nature is God?

        January 19, 2012 at 2:26 pm |
      • I'm The Best!

        @ k
        Makes more sense than a bang then there was a supreme being who had the power to create a universe out of nothing. There are plenty of theories out there about the big bang that have nothing to do with god. I recommend reading some

        January 19, 2012 at 2:42 pm |
      • I'm The Best!

        And before you say god is eternal, maybe the universe is and never was created in the first place. It may just pulsate bigger and smaller and we just happen to be in a time that its getting bigger? Makes just as much sense (if not more) than an eternal god

        January 19, 2012 at 2:47 pm |
      • I'm The Best!

        @ ruby
        Nature isn't god, there is no god. But everything is governed by nature, which in turn is governed by physics. Physics says these atoms will move in such a way to make you turn left. Or you can say nature made you turn left because you reacted to a sound you heard. Either way, its still physics.

        January 19, 2012 at 3:10 pm |
    • Rahul

      Carl Sagan was a well known self-proclaimed athiest and held a deep appreciation and fascination for natural phenomenon. Just watch his series "Cosmos" which is still a relevant piece of film if you were questioning the appreciation atheists have for our natural environment. Don't make blanket statements with no basis in reality.

      January 19, 2012 at 12:51 pm |
      • Alethia

        What fascinates me about atheists is the dogmatic statement that there is no God. The implication is that they know all the mysteries of the universe and came to this inevitable conclusion. Quite impressive atheists, that you have such an all emcompassing knowledge of the universe using a mind that can only empirically perceive our 4 dimensions of it.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:57 pm |
      • I'm The Best!

        @ alethia
        I know enough about physics to know that no god is needed to keep the universe 'running'. I also know one isn't needed to give the universe a beginning or to start life. I'm not afraid to just say I don't know about some things, but I do know enough to say no god is needed, and very likely, no god is there.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:04 pm |
      • Rahul

        I'm sure athiests would gladly admit to there being a god if one could empirically prove that there is one. If god does indeed exist in all things and is all pervasive, there must be some method to empirically verify that it exists within the limited 4 dimensions that we humans can perceive. Or if god's prescence cannot be ascertained in such a limited scope of perception, then god is unknowable and no person on this earth can attest to knowing or understanding its will or intention.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:05 pm |
      • Al

        Carl Sagan died in absolute despair and hopelessness. He studied all his life and learned absolutely nothing except that the universe exists. He didn't know how. He didn't know why. - Mostly he didn't know Who the Creator is. He was a pitiful example of the ultimate end of all atheists and naturalistic evolutionists.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:07 pm |
      • Alethia

        Good luck with that @IM the best, at least you haven't deluded yourself to think you have all the answers. Not to say that I do either but at least I know that mankind does have limits in it's perceptive abilities of the universe.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:08 pm |
      • Alethia

        @Rahul, you absolutely hit the nail on the head. You are correct, empiricism is not a sufficient means to perceive God.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:11 pm |
      • Rahul

        As if there wasn't a religious person who died in despair? Please.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:13 pm |
      • Jack

        Didn't Jesus die in agony and despair while everyone watched him get nailed to the cross

        January 19, 2012 at 1:23 pm |
      • timmy

        "He didn't know how. He didn't know why. – Mostly he didn't know Who the Creator is."

        seems like you and carl sagan have something in common.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:28 pm |
      • mandarax

        @Al – what a pathetically self-important and self-serving thing to say that Sagan learned nothing in his life. He was one of the most celebrated and successful scientists of his generation, and you have the nerve to say he is a failure because he didn't subscribe to your personal BS? By the way, he may have been miserable because he was dying of a blood disease that required repeated bone marrow transplants, but not because he was desperately aching for the lord. What hubris.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:00 pm |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Al: "Carl Sagan died in absolute despair and hopelessness." So you knew the man personally, huh? From, where did you pull that statement? Just remember that people can say the same about you after you're dead, only they'll add that you lived your life in fear and willful ignorance. Works both ways...

        January 19, 2012 at 2:04 pm |
      • Sharlee

        I knew Carl Sagan's children and ex-wife at the time of his death. Be assured that he died peacefully, having come to terms with his mortality, and taking comfort in the love that his friends and family - not some abstract and incomprehensible God, but fellow human beings - felt for him.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:57 pm |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Sharlee: I've read that old Dr. Sagan smoked a lot of pot too. I'm sure that helped things quite a bit! I know for sure I would. Fer sure!

        January 19, 2012 at 3:58 pm |
    • stonybalony

      If there was life there would they be condemned to hell or some sort of limbo as they most likely were not baptized?

      January 19, 2012 at 12:52 pm |
      • Alethia

        Why would evolution decide that eyes were necessary for survival?

        January 19, 2012 at 1:05 pm |
      • Entertained Tyler

        such fail crammed into one question.... sigh....

        Evolution doesnt decide anything.... changes happen, the "good" changes that aid in the survival of a creature are passed on from generation to generation.

        why is the eye a good evolutionary tool? I thnk you are just TRYING to be smugg, i really hope you could answer taht yourself, but in any event ill answer it for you.

        are there advantages to knowing if it is day or night out? yes.
        Why? maybe it has to do with just soaking up the energy the sun puts off, or maybe its to evade a specific predator.
        are there advantages to being able to distingish a rock from another animal? yes, knowing if something will chase and eat you vs it just being a rock does matter.

        examples: human with eyes vs human with no eyes.... which one is going to survive 10,000 generation?

        January 19, 2012 at 1:33 pm |
      • BS

        Stlil dont understand the eye argument....

        January 19, 2012 at 1:34 pm |
      • Alethia

        So you have faith in evolution with regards to it's purpose and plan for mankind. Would you say that is a religious belief?

        January 19, 2012 at 1:38 pm |
      • AllYourBase

        @Alethia: You're being sarcastic right? I sure hope so. It's pretty obvious how evolution would lead to creatures with eyes. Those without eyes can't see, get killed and eaten, therefore don't reproduce, so more of the creatures with eyes survive and procreate.... please tell me you were just kidding. As a disclaimer, I'm not an atheist- I believe in God. But I also happen to be smart and don't disregard what science shows as fact.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:40 pm |
      • Entertained Tyler

        @BS

        Evil Richard Dawkins did a nice bit on the steps taken to reach the current eye. If you geniunly want it explained, id check youtube, im sure it's on there.

        If your question was to why the eye evolved, I think i covered it nicly in my first comment.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:00 pm |
      • Uhmmmm

        I love how Alethia makes silly comments about religion – and then never replies when people make valid and strong arguements.

        Evolution is not something to believe in like religion. It is a proven scientific fact. The earth is round. Proven. Proof God exists. ????? Still waiting.......

        January 19, 2012 at 3:31 pm |
    • Joe

      What a bunch of hogwash! I belong to 3 astronomy clubs and a majority of the members are atheists who have a profound appreciation of the beauty of all of nature, including the night sky. The just don't believe all of your God nonsense.

      January 19, 2012 at 1:27 pm |
    • timmy

      "Why does a belief in God and Creationism undermine science and nature?"

      I dunno....maybe because that belief is based on nothing factual?

      January 19, 2012 at 1:27 pm |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      And your response is a non-sensical, self-serving non sequitur of a TROLL. Typical fundy Idiocrat.

      January 19, 2012 at 1:31 pm |
    • Grumpster

      What's amazing to me is that the religious nut fluffs over details and can't understand just how these things are really formed, insisting "God did it." The atheist, on the other hand, usually has taken science classes and paid attention to the details of how these are formed and can draw other observations in and make further conclusions about nature and science. The religious nut simply returns to "God did it" and doesn't give it a second thought. Now who really is appreicating the beauty of these phenomenon? Atheists...that's who.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:23 pm |
  61. Gyrion

    WOW what a wonderful sight to see... God does create some wonderful things for us to see... I wonder if there is life out there.....

    January 19, 2012 at 12:07 pm |
    • palintwit

      Actually, astronomers at the Sarah Palin Galactic Observatory / Bait Shop have determined that life did once exist in the form of a race of giant teabaggers. These giant teabaggers, or 'space-baggers' as they have come to be called, left behind giant trailer parks and giant nascar tracks. However, no one knows what became of the baggers themselves.

      January 19, 2012 at 12:16 pm |
      • John-117

        TROLL!

        January 19, 2012 at 12:20 pm |
      • mikel

        They had you for a child....

        January 19, 2012 at 12:33 pm |
      • Gyrion

        Say what? Simply enjoy the creation and let it be... No polictical mumble jumbo about this or that is needed.... Besides it seems all that has no merit to the Helix.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:44 pm |
    • NOT MY CHAIR

      god hu? i am sure he placed this there for our enjoyment

      January 19, 2012 at 12:36 pm |
      • Gyrion

        I have it on good authority that the creator placed all these mystical things and us where we are... Weather you believe it or not that is up to you. I still say it is a pretty sight to see and I'll give credit where i beleive it is due... If I am wrong then so be it;

        I am still curious if there are other beings out there... After all it is possible that Earth is not the only place where life is at.... wouldn't that be something to meet others

        January 19, 2012 at 12:47 pm |
      • timmy

        "I have it on good authority that the creator placed all these mystical things and us where we are... "

        Yet you have NO PROOF!!!!! Your statement is nothing more than belief is something without proof....in the 21st century, we call you crazy.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:36 pm |
      • Gyrion

        OK then call me crazy as you the expert say that I am. Also since you know all: Can you give me the winning number for the next PowerBall??

        God is Good.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:44 pm |
      • Brenda

        @Gyrion – I think that for people to not think that there is life elsewhere is conceited at best. However, if they are anything like we are, I definitely wouldn't want to meet them as they'd probably kill me on sight.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:43 pm |
      • Mike in NYC

        Wow Timmy. You just won't let ANYONE who isn't an athiest have an opinion will you? You really come across as one angry fellow.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:56 pm |
      • Grumpster

        Gyrion...you are really in need of help. You obvioiusly are self-important thinking yours is the only and right religion and that everybody else is not right. God is good? How about all those people who died in 911? Part of the great plan, eh? Hmm...how about WWI and WWII and those who died from the H-Bombs there? What that because they were not your religion and had to be punished? You're a loon.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:31 pm |
      • Gyrion

        Hey Grumpster: thank you for the comment, however I fail to see where I had said anything my religion was the only and right religion.... I have my belief in GOD the almighty... Us humans have done a lot of the hate here on earth such as what Hitler and Osama did... Those are indeed tragities that brought a lot of tears to many people.

        What religion do you think I am? is a question that comes to mind.
        Is it because I don't have the love for money... Why should I? I've seen what it does to people... Look at us today in economy... its all about money, and a lot of greed for the love of money.

        Is it because I do not hate others.... I received a lot of verbal discrimination as a kid, but that did not give me the right to dish it out to others... I choose to be a better man and treat my neighbors as I want to be treated.

        What is your explaination to these tragities that you mention???

        I pray for my country, my neighbors, and that I be a Godly example towards others. Godly does not mean that I am God, because I'm not Him.

        January 19, 2012 at 4:59 pm |
    • Grumpster

      Wow...what a glorious thing a ball of burning hydrogen can become when it runs out of fuel and finally overcomes the force of gravity to be able to expel gasses in such an awesome manner. God had nothing to do with it. It's physics, plain and simple.

      January 19, 2012 at 4:25 pm |
      • Gyrion

        OK, Prove it!

        January 19, 2012 at 4:41 pm |
  62. Payleeolithic

    It's clearly Sauron watching us from Mordor.

    January 19, 2012 at 12:03 pm |
  63. Mike

    It's the eye of God!

    January 19, 2012 at 12:00 pm |
    • Clayton

      Naw... looks more like Santa Claus to me

      January 19, 2012 at 12:07 pm |
    • NOT MY CHAIR

      shouldn't there be two eyes since we have two eyes and he created us in his image.

      January 19, 2012 at 12:37 pm |
    • Vasya

      No ... it looks like a butt hole

      January 19, 2012 at 1:07 pm |
  64. Stevo304

    Crazy how a beautiful post by a lover of life and GOD got some people Posting hateful messages on here.. Really !! Really !! Lol comical and have a good day everyone.. smiley face 🙂 say cheese

    January 19, 2012 at 11:52 am |
    • Patriarchae

      Maybe because you give your god all the credit that nature deserves? Nature is a truly beautiful thing, whose fruits are unbound and shall always captivate us. And then you bring god into the equation and devalue it all. It's horrible.

      January 19, 2012 at 12:13 pm |
      • Alethia

        To all you lovely god-hating atheists out there, what caused or generated the big bang?

        January 19, 2012 at 12:28 pm |
      • Entertained Tyler

        It was thor, I KNOW it was Thor for his book tells me it was Thor. There is nothing you can say to disprove me.

        just because there is no evidence supporting a claim as to "pre-big bang" does not mean the fill all answer "god did it"

        unknown answer =/= supernatural cause.... the dark ages are over, get with the times.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:36 pm |
      • Gyrion

        Who created this then?? If you say God did not, then who?

        January 19, 2012 at 12:40 pm |
      • NOT MY CHAIR

        you dont understand science do you Alethia? what proof do you have that there is a god? bible is not a good answer being that it was created by men saying they talked to god... that's not proof. the difference between science and religion is science does not deal with absolute answers.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:40 pm |
      • Gyrion

        My proof is that I talk to him and he talks back to me... I see the miracles that he places in my life and around me. I see and notice when he uses me for a miracle is someone elses life.

        I don't just rely on the bible, I count on it!

        January 19, 2012 at 12:50 pm |
      • I'm The Best!

        @alethia
        Could have been many things. One theory is another dimension touched ours creating a massive amount of energy in a tiny area starting the big bang. Another one is since there was likely no time before the big bang (no cause or effect) it just happened, a lot of energy just appeared in a small space starting the big bang.

        There are many more that don't have to do with god and I can keep going if you want. But why try to put a god somewhere where he doesn't need to be? There hasn't needed to be a god after the big bang, so why add him when you don't even need him?

        January 19, 2012 at 12:44 pm |
      • Alethia

        Where did I mention science at all in my sentence? I mentioned ATHEISTS. Are all those who say that there is no God ignorant, self-centered, illogical dolts? LOL!

        January 19, 2012 at 12:49 pm |
      • Rahul

        Please explain the logic in worshiping a zombie carpenter that rose from the dead and told us to eat his flesh and blood so that we may someday also rise from the dead and ascend with him and his space father into another dimension.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:54 pm |
      • Alethia

        Please explain to me how you know so much about the universe that you can conclude there is no God.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:59 pm |
      • markishere

        Your posts devalue my entertainment.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:00 pm |
      • Rahul

        If your argument is "human knowledge is not all encompassing, therefore there is a God," then you must also concede that there also exists vampires, werewolves, leprechauns, oompa loompas, tooth fairies, santa claus, and little bunnies that lay eggs. In fact, using your argument, you would have to admit to the existence of anything and everything anyone's imagination could ever think up.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:09 pm |
      • Tim

        This debate has no purpose, whether you believe in god or not is up to you, also you can't say someone's beliefs are wrong because the idea of belief is to have one's own thoughts on a given subject. I also find it offensive Alethia that you clearly stated that all atheists are "ignorant, self-centered, illogical dolts" because how can you make clear statements about thousands of people who you have never met, now I am truly sorry if ONE atheist had offended you but please do not perceive all atheists as that person. Now can we just get off this irrelevant debate and admire the beauty of nature.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:12 pm |
      • Alethia

        @Rahul, that's where you need to filter what is truth and what is the lie. Of course, this is up to the individual to decide with regards to this matter however truth is always truth and never changes. The Law of Gravity is an absolute truth which we all agree. Other truths come into our paths that we can either reject or accept however they remain true and our opinions of them do not change them.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:15 pm |
      • Rahul

        The funny thing is I dont even consider myself to be an athiest. I just hate it when faith is blind and blanket generalizations get thrown around by religious nutters.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:18 pm |
      • Alethia

        Tim, I'm not going to validate an atheists assertion that they have all the facts and they can state that there is no God. I find it an ignorant, illogical and foolish statement from an ignorant, illogical and foolish group of people. If you find that offensive, well we can't please everybody can we?

        January 19, 2012 at 1:18 pm |
      • Rahul

        That's fuzzy logic, at best.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:19 pm |
      • Alethia

        @Rahul – you wrote: " I just hate it when faith is blind and blanket generalizations get thrown around by religious nutters."

        LOL! Do you see the irony in that statement?

        January 19, 2012 at 1:20 pm |
      • Rahul

        when did i make a blanket generalization? I just responded to all of your own blanket generalizations.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:23 pm |
      • Rahul

        anyhow, coffee break is over-back to work. have fun with these pointless arguments.

        ps. space is cool.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:30 pm |
      • Alethia

        @Rahul – you wrote: "when did i make a blanket generalization? I just responded to all of your own blanket generalizations"

        Before that: @Rahul – you wrote: " I just hate it when faith is blind and blanket generalizations get thrown around by religious nutters."

        LOL!

        January 19, 2012 at 1:32 pm |
      • Entertained Tyler

        @Alethia

        Id love for a responce from anything I've said to you... and just FYI, you still havent shown a blaket comment Rhaul has made.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:53 pm |
      • timmy

        "Tim, I'm not going to validate an atheists assertion that they have all the facts and they can state that there is no God. I find it an ignorant, illogical and foolish statement from an ignorant, illogical and foolish group of people. If you find that offensive, well we can't please everybody can we?"

        I find it offensive that stu...pid christians not unlike yourself feel that they can label people as atheist because they dont believe in a christian god. Ya know, cuz there is more than just your book written by a bunch of men out there. Its more ignorant, illogical and foolish to believe something in which you have no proof of, especially when you think the bible is "proof" when it is only a collection of stories written by 30+ different people over 1500+ years. Yeah yeah, I know the age old argument you will contest with, "but they were inspired by god". Another illogical argument considering mankind is the most corrupt, cynical, conniving species we know, and to believe such a cynical species is telling the truth about god inspiring them is laughable at best, ignant at the worst. Oh and I hope you actually read the bible and not twist words around. You know your god promotes hate, rape, beating of women, beating of children, slavery, war, pillaging of civilizations, discrimination of gays. The list goes on, its all over Judges, Job, Deuteronomy, Kings and others. And I hope you know the history of your religion, seeing as the writers of the stories of Jesus never knew the guy, never saw him, never talked to him, wasnt there for his crucifixion or resurrection. Writers only wrote about him 40+ years after he died. So a few words of advice...

        1) know the history of the religion you are professing as "truth"
        2)Dont automatically assume people are atheist because they go against your OPINION that there is a christian god.
        3) Stop being ignorant and realize you do not have all of the answers and never will on this planet. WE do not know what happens when we pass, or if there is a god or many gods or no god, which god is the correct god. Just accept the fact that you dont know. I know its hard not to have an answer, but its stupid to assume you know the truth, just because a bunch of men tell you so, without any evidence whatsoever.

        January 19, 2012 at 1:54 pm |
      • Tim

        If anyone truly understands the meaning of this quote, "Those who refuse to see through both eyes are blind to the truth" then you will know the point I am trying to make

        January 19, 2012 at 2:09 pm |
      • Shrub

        NOT MY CHAIR... question: what proof do you have that there isn't a God? I believe what i believe, that God exists. It is true, we cant prove that He exists, but there is much evidence to point to a creator. You. You are evidence of a creator. you are so complex, and you are just a tiny part of the universe. Did this all happen by chance? maybe... but to me it seems more logical that God created us. He created the universe. An intelligent being created the universe.. i believe this is God, the only God. i cant make you believe anything... and you cant change what i believe. look at the evidence...

        January 19, 2012 at 3:00 pm |
      • Entertained Tyler

        "I believe what i believe, that God exists. It is true, we cant prove that He exists"

        im going to rebutt your claims with your own words....

        January 19, 2012 at 4:14 pm |
    • stonybalony

      I do not see any hateful comments, there was a harshly worded satire but I do not see the hatred.

      January 19, 2012 at 12:56 pm |
    • BS

      Alethia, who created God?

      January 19, 2012 at 1:37 pm |
    • clearfog

      What a friend we have in cheeses.

      January 19, 2012 at 1:50 pm |
    • EyeCarly

      what about the eye of thundara or the eye of obin or the all seeing eye of mordor. just a thought.(or an eye)

      January 19, 2012 at 2:21 pm |
  65. Matthew

    I like how this was found in outer space, seen from Chile and commented on by a scientist in Germany but falls in CNN's section: U.S.

    January 19, 2012 at 11:38 am |
    • Peter

      Interesting point – a sign of the times!

      January 19, 2012 at 11:43 am |
  66. crazygurl

    Awwwhh how beautiful! Thank you CNN and NASA for sharing such an amazing thing. What a privilege this generation to blessed to able to "see" these awesome stars and design of these stars. I believe in God Yahweh, and God only creates beautiful things. I wish every night through out all the cities, and towns that we can on clear nights turn off the all lights for 3o mins that block the beauty of all the stars and so everyone can look up and be able to see the stars like our ancestors saw without a telescope! It's amazing to see the sky like that with a naked eye.. I have only a few times in my life be able to see how awesome the sky really is. Just looking up! }|{

    January 19, 2012 at 11:37 am |
    • Matthew

      It's certainly beautiful but this was not NASA work – VISTA belongs to ESO, the European Southern Observatory.

      January 19, 2012 at 11:41 am |
      • palintwit

        Sorry to burst both of your bubbles, but this is actually the work of the world reknowned Sarah Palin Galactic Observatory / Bait Shop. FYI, it is located in Floyd County , Arkansas. Next door to the Piggly Wiggly.

        January 19, 2012 at 11:50 am |
    • NOT MY CHAIR

      god only creates beautiful things? explain that to the three fingered sloth or the elephant man,

      January 19, 2012 at 12:42 pm |
  67. GOOD MORNING

    YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE TO MOTHER EARTH NOW WE WONT GO THDM GOD ROUTE BUT I WILL GO THE SOUL ROUTE! YOUR ARROGANCE DEFINES YOUR CHARACTER I LIKE TO THINK THAT WHEN YOUR OUT IN THE WORD COMING & GOING THATS NOT WHAT WE WOULD SEE ON THE FACE OF A PERSON THAT SPENDS SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME ON HERE TRYING TO GET THEIR POINT ACROSS SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU NEED TIME OFF WHEN YOUR BTCHNG AND THE REST OF THE WORLD IS LOOKING AT SOMETHING SUREAL IN THE CONSTELLATION! TELL ME WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR! NOW THATS SOMETHING TO FEAR. HAVE A NICE DAY IF YOUR EVEN CAPABLE!

    January 19, 2012 at 11:18 am |
    • BB Slapnut

      Huh?

      January 19, 2012 at 11:23 am |
      • gera

        Really huh?

        January 19, 2012 at 12:51 pm |
    • Anna

      I'm sorry but I do not understand this at all. There is no punctuation and everything is in caps. Are you yelling a run-on sentence?

      January 19, 2012 at 11:26 am |
      • Rod C. Venger

        He had lots of practice at OWS rallies.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:34 pm |
    • trigtwit palin... America's favorite tard baby

      *poot*

      January 19, 2012 at 11:27 am |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      Call the orderlies; someone didn't get their meds this morning.

      January 19, 2012 at 11:35 am |
    • karnas

      WHAT? I CAN YELL TOO......

      January 19, 2012 at 11:35 am |
    • Archibald

      I LOVE LAMP!

      January 19, 2012 at 11:42 am |
      • Anna

        Do you really love lamp or are you just saying that?

        January 19, 2012 at 11:43 am |
    • Peter

      more pancakes

      January 19, 2012 at 11:44 am |
    • steve

      Pizza.

      January 19, 2012 at 12:00 pm |
    • ladydi

      smoke a little wacky weed lately?

      January 19, 2012 at 12:15 pm |
    • stonybalony

      hard to read things in all caps, turn off the caps lock.
      next to the a on your keyboard

      January 19, 2012 at 1:00 pm |
  68. ghost

    Ravenclaw!I agree! Every time I come to the comments that is all I read...hate hate hate. For whatever reason talking science or advertisements brings out ALL HATERS. Like you I just want to enjoy the topic at hand. That is why this God loving, pot smoking, lesbian makes her 1 comment then I 'ghost' out. Stay enjoying all that you do and let the haters miss out. And haters find some joy or at least let others have their joy.

    January 19, 2012 at 11:10 am |
    • Pat

      advertisements deserve to be hated, demonized, criticized, and banned. They mess with your brain and steal your soul and the companies that produce them get tax deductions. Anyone who buys a product because it's endorsed by a celebrity should seek medical help. Oh, and you "has beens".........leave the old folks alone with your tired insurance pitches.

      January 19, 2012 at 11:49 am |
  69. Anna

    Actually this photograph is what the Nebula looked like 700 years ago. Because of the great distance light has to travel what images we do have of the Nebula are historical photos. In 700 years we will see what it looks like at this very second.

    January 19, 2012 at 11:09 am |
    • mendrys

      Very true but keep in mind that 700 years is a mere blink of the "eye" in cosmological terms so it's appearance is likely to change very much in that timespan. They will be noticeable certainly but it's general appearance won't be much different.

      January 19, 2012 at 11:12 am |
      • Anna

        On the Cosmic calendar it would be so minute. It is minute, humans have been around longer then the 700 years it took the light to travel and that was less then a blink of an eye on the Cosmic calendar.

        January 19, 2012 at 11:16 am |
    • Achernar

      Actually, while the image is two dimensional, planetary nebula are three dimensional objects, often in the form of short cylinders, pinched in the middle. The inner ring is probably about a light year further away than the closest part of the outer ring to us. While its light has taken a lot of time to reach us, the way I would say it is that “this is what it currently looks like from our perspective at a distance of about 700 light years”. Even if it could be viewed from its center, the light would have taken from about one to two year to form an image in your eye depending upon which part you were looking at.

      January 19, 2012 at 8:20 pm |
  70. m.s.mohamed ansari

    RUSH SAVE GLOBAL ECONOMIC TSUNAMI

    M.S.Mohamed Ansari 13 April 2009

    All press and Media Arabs leader and G20 leader at. Headquarters of All association
    CONGRESS. CONTROLL
    By. A TO Z + 8. QUEEN + 8
    Royal wedding. And royal security force 10 generation total cost $ 57 trillion
    Each every politician rolling 8 years only just like chess board Game. Please avoid electronic vote
    But queen family rolling 10 generation y

    GLOBAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE REASON WAR. Improve Economy only 6 points. Peace, prayer
    Liberty, Unity, friendly And simplicity.

    I am also Happy to kill osma bin laden
    Turing point of global Economy. Islam not allowed to be Terrorist and Terrorist people are not a Muslim
    1. Please avoid war. Day by Day war cost increase $ 3.5 trillion
    2. Global economy and food price every Day increase
    3. International job less unemployment Y. All businessmen effected business.
    4. Global financial crisis every CNC manufacture. New technology energy product Effected FDI investors.
    5. Every Day OPEC Oil Price Increase
    6. World poverty problem. Bankrupt 170 Bank overalls 87000 Branch
    7. Each every single man Effected
    8. Ignore future Death million of already Death
    9. Million of People Wounded
    10. Global environment climate will be change this will lead Global Agriculture problem

    Copy.
    A. International criminal court. B. white house. global human right association .C.IMF
    D. euro union. E. united nation F.ALL international famous press and media

    JUSTICE IS IN PERIL. SAVIOUR OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE ALONE CAN PROTECT HUMANITY

    From. Mr.M.S.Mohamed Ansari,
    154, Angappa Naicken Street,
    Chennai – 600 001.
    Tamil Nadu,
    INDIA..
    To , The Hon’ble Chief Justice,
    The Supreme Court,
    United States of America,
    Washington, D.C.
    Fax no: 213.547.8080
    Dear Sir,
    Sub: Prosecution of previous President Mr. George W.Bush, for violation of International Code of Conduct.
    Mr. George W.Bush, the previous President of United States of America, initiated a war against IRAQ, without obtaining the previous sanction of United Nations Organization (UNO) on the pretext of having nuclear weapons, even though the then IRAQ government openly exhibited to the whole world that it has no nuclear weapons.
    According to the CNN WORLD report, in the war 6, 75,000 civilians killed, 7500 troops of USA and its allied forces killed 3 25 000 people wounded and $ 3.5 Trillion Dollar spent for the war. This spending of $ 3.5 Trillion Dollar is the main cause of action for the present economic crises prevailing all over the world.
    After winning the war against IRAQ, the United States of America’s President Mr. George W.Bush, also admitted the same fact, and he openly stated that the Intelligence agency misguided him.
    Later on, even the United Nations Organization (UNO) also certified that the IRAQ has no nuclear weapons.
    Then it is the bounded duty of the United States of America and its allied forces to withdraw from IRAQ.
    But instead of withdrawing from IRAQ, the United States of America and its allied forces formed a government in IRAQ, under their control and administered the entire IRAQ, and its peoples.
    This indicates a clear violation of duty by the President of United States of America Mr. George W.Bush and also a clear case of violation of the International Code of Conduct for UNO members.
    Thus Mr. George W.Bush attracts prosecution for the above said offence.
    Thus I hereby pray this Hon’ble Court initiate criminal proceedings against Mr. George W. Bush, and give him maximum punishment for
    a) initiating the war against the IRAQ
    b) killing its innocent IRAQI peoples civilian 6, 75 000
    c) Killing troops of USA and allied forces and 7 500
    d) The present economic crises.
    e) 3 25 000 civilian and coalition 39 000 wounded
    Dated on this day of 13th day of April, 2009.
    Yours truly, (M.S.MOHAMED ANSARI)
    COPY TO
    The Chief Justice, the International Court of Justice, The Hague, Netherlands.
    The Secretary General United Nations Organization
    The Chief Justice, the Supreme Court, IRAQ.
    His Excellency Mr.Barack Obama, the President of United States of America, White House, Washington D.C.

    January 19, 2012 at 11:07 am |
    • Test

      Why?

      Revel in the past, Relive it for all i care.

      Move on

      January 19, 2012 at 11:17 am |
    • melvinslizard

      cracked-out Jihadi

      January 19, 2012 at 11:19 am |
    • karnas

      typical rag head moron if you dont like it you can go back to your sand box and take that fool o-bam-e with you

      January 19, 2012 at 11:33 am |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      tl;dr

      January 19, 2012 at 11:36 am |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      karnas: "...typical rag head moron..." And what are you wearing for a fool's cap these days? You come off sounding worse than the people you attempt to insult. Drop and rot.

      January 19, 2012 at 11:42 am |
    • sam

      If I describe you as an ignorant idiot everyone will support me.Why are you posting that BS here.I know you're a Tamilian and Muslim..That explains everything!!

      January 19, 2012 at 11:44 am |
    • ladydi

      MS MOHAMED – go play with your camels and leave the important things to normal people

      January 19, 2012 at 12:18 pm |
    • Rod C. Venger

      Not too bright, are we? SCOTUS never initiated an action in it's entire history. Besides the fact that your call to action has no foundation, expecting SCOTUS to initiate any sort of a legal case is like expecting snow on a Summer Day in Death Valley. It 'could' happen, but probably not.

      January 19, 2012 at 12:44 pm |
    • gera

      You are messed up! Stop worshiping Satan (Islam)

      January 19, 2012 at 12:55 pm |
    • Al Gore

      I think this was the person who emailed me about inheriting 14.3 Milliion US$ from a prince in Nigeria. Still waiting for that...

      January 19, 2012 at 2:45 pm |
  71. ReligionIs4Dolts

    The Dark Lord, Sauron is REAL!

    January 19, 2012 at 11:01 am |
    • tolken

      One does not simply observe the Helix nebula

      January 19, 2012 at 11:29 am |
  72. john

    It's the all seeing eye of Horus.

    January 19, 2012 at 11:01 am |
  73. Concerned American

    Vinnie Stigma 2012!

    January 19, 2012 at 10:59 am |
  74. Spawn

    Haha, just a few comments down and Im seeing 'This is god's eye!' BS.
    Either way, its beautiful.

    January 19, 2012 at 10:57 am |
  75. Alex Povolotski

    What kind of crap they use taxpayer's money for when the economy is in rubbles, the natural resources are done in 20 years and the population blossomed to 7 f. billion!!!

    Get off this rock, people!

    January 19, 2012 at 10:52 am |
    • joseph

      dummy if you'd read the article you'd see that it came from a telescope in CHILE

      but that doesnt change the fact that the miniscule amount of money spent on exploration of the galaxy is far more valuable than much of the $$$ spent elsewhere.

      January 19, 2012 at 10:59 am |
  76. Phan22

    this is old news. ive looked at this picture for the last decade.

    January 19, 2012 at 10:52 am |
    • joseph

      this is a brand new photo of the helix nebula

      January 19, 2012 at 10:57 am |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      You need to update your textbooks then. ;-D

      January 19, 2012 at 11:06 am |
  77. Jamie

    Wow!

    January 19, 2012 at 10:40 am |
    • Norman Autrey

      Actually "Jeebus" is a Homer Simpson word. This is a beautiful picture of one of the wonders of our universe. I'm sad to report though that in a short period of time it will be sent around the net as "proof" that god has eyes! There will be a resolution presented to stop looking at god thru a telescope, the Catholic church will say that we shouldn't be prying into heaven with our earthly eyes and so on and so forth.

      January 19, 2012 at 10:52 am |
      • Ron

        Norman seems to have unresolved issues here......

        January 19, 2012 at 11:05 am |
      • mendrys

        Actually, today the catholic church has a very progressive view of cosmology in sharp contrast to their views in centuries past. I viewed an interview with the Vatican astronomer and he said quite clearly that there is no way that the Bible would be able to speak to modern science and cosmology and should not be applied the these fields. His reason? A good one, that since the gospels and the other books in the Bible were written well before the advent of modern science there is no way that it can be used to speak about issues involving science.

        January 19, 2012 at 11:09 am |
      • palintwit

        @ Ron... I'm afraid Norman is right. Rick Santorum is probably drafting a resolution at this very moment.

        January 19, 2012 at 11:12 am |
      • timmy

        "A good one, that since the gospels and the other books in the Bible were written well before the advent of modern science there is no way that it can be used to speak about issues involving science."

        ok, but if they truly believe that the christian god is all knowing and all powerful, and inspired the writers of the bible through his word, then certainly he would be able to speak about issues involving science. That excuse is nothing but a circular argument, and one that goes against the belief in a christian god.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:44 pm |
  78. palintwit

    Astronomers at the prestigous Sarah Palin Galactic Observatory / Bait Shop are well aware of the overwhelming fear this cosmic eyeball instills in baggers, birthers and evangelicals. That is why they are urging every bagger in every trailer park to offer an animal sacrifice to the Great Eyeball of the Baby Jeebus

    January 19, 2012 at 10:35 am |
    • Alethia

      What is a Jeebus?

      January 19, 2012 at 10:40 am |
      • palintwit

        Your typical teabagger is missing at least a few teeth and when they try to say ' jesus' it comes out 'jeebus'.

        January 19, 2012 at 10:42 am |
    • mendrys

      You're only making yourself look bad. I'm no fan of Palin but she has no relevence here.

      January 19, 2012 at 10:55 am |
      • palintwit

        The relevance is obvious to everyone except maybe you.

        January 19, 2012 at 11:01 am |
  79. Loopman

    Wow, it's great to select an article on plantary exploration and then have to tolerate the snippy, childish and unimportant remarks of the political idiots that troll the internet looking for an opportunity to spew their unwanted and unintelligent views on people that could really give a flying rats a$$ what these people think. Get a life, dipwads!!!

    January 19, 2012 at 10:20 am |
    • Jimmy Joe Jim Bob

      Oh, the irony!

      January 19, 2012 at 10:42 am |
  80. Anakaraya Ravenclaw

    wow, I come to the comments to see things about the actual article and maybe some other things about space... and see comments about democrats vs. republicans, insults, liberal vs. conservative, etc.

    Can't we all just get along for one second to enjoy such a beautiful picture? And such a fascinating one at that!

    January 19, 2012 at 10:14 am |
  81. palintwit

    It's a good thing you can't see this with the naked eye. Teabaggers in every trailer park in the country would be in a frenzied panic. They would blame this phenomenon on witchcraft and sorcerers.

    January 19, 2012 at 10:08 am |
    • Chase

      No, they would just think it's God watching them.

      January 19, 2012 at 10:14 am |
  82. Paranal Rocks!

    The technology behind the telescopes at Paranal is astounding. Not only do they (ESO) have four of the largest telescopes in the world linked together through interferometry, they are also constructing an advanced radio telescope involving mobile dishes (similar to the VLA). So many objects in the sky, so little time...

    January 19, 2012 at 10:00 am |
  83. Chase

    Coming winter 2012 – The Lord of the Rings: IN SPACE

    January 19, 2012 at 10:00 am |
    • THX

      Neat picture. Looks like when the Death Star destroyed Alderaan. I'm glad I can see pics like this without actually having to go all the way out there. Thanks for sharing, Chile!

      January 19, 2012 at 11:02 am |
      • NOT MY CHAIR

        this is alderaan, it just took 700 years for the light to get to us... a long time ago in a galaxy 700 light years away

        January 19, 2012 at 12:50 pm |
  84. eytbol

    stupid question: if the nebulae is in a constellation 700 light-years away... that means we are looking at a 700 year old image of the nebulae, right? it could very well be that that nebulae is no longer there?

    January 19, 2012 at 9:58 am |
    • Mike

      It's probably still there- think in geologic terms- but it's probably vastly different. The same holds true of objects billions of light years away. It's a window into the past.

      January 19, 2012 at 10:02 am |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      Not "very well be" since something would have to happen to make it either disappear (such as block it from view) or destroy it completely. In a speculative sense though your question is sound. Fodder for an old episode of "The Outer Limits" perhaps.

      January 19, 2012 at 10:24 am |
      • eytbol

        i always thought forces are constantly at work in space. gravity, radiation and whatnot. maybe 700 years is enough time to change the 'face' of this nebulae? what i would love to know and probably unanswerable is how much this nebulae have changed from its discovery, 1824?, to what we see now... then those brainiacs could probably draw a picture of what this nebula looks like today (to be confirmed 700 years from now.) hahahahha!

        January 19, 2012 at 11:51 am |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Probably doesn't look much different. The velocity at which the expanding gas shell is moving and the scale of distance over which that gas is traversing would not cause the structure of the nebula to change over the relatively small time scale of 700 years. Tens of thousands of years, yes.

        Not quite sure why you use the term "brainiacs" to describe the astronomers who observed all of this. Giving away your anti-intellectualism perhaps?

        January 19, 2012 at 12:00 pm |
      • eytbol

        hmmm... you were able to label me from my usage of the word brainiac? seriously? there's my cue to stop talking to you...
        as my buddies in merriam-webster defines it.... brainiac: : a very intelligent person
        Here's a link for you to look up if CNN would let me:
        http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brainiac

        i don't see anything wrong with using that word but i see alot of wrong with how you perceive it to be.
        Good Luck dude. Life is good. enjoy it.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:53 pm |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Sorry Einstein, didn't mean to hurt your genius feelings there.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:07 pm |
      • eytbol

        there you go with the assumptions again... and just like your understanding of brainiac, wrong yet again. want to try "Poor Assumptions" for $1000, dick? You're just sad... still trying to come up on top on this... i'm out. i'm taking my apparently hurt genius feelings with me. WAHAHAHAHA!

        January 19, 2012 at 2:23 pm |
    • Grady

      Referring to a constellation as being any given distance away is not apropos. Constellations are made up (in the human mind) of many different stars at widely varying distances from Earth.

      January 19, 2012 at 10:31 am |
      • eytbol

        very informative reply, however off-topic from my question, but thanks. i bet a lot of people appreciate your informative replies. =)

        January 19, 2012 at 11:35 am |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        A very salient reply, IMNSHO. Don't let the snide remarks of envious anti-intellectuals and Idiocrats like "eytbol" and "karnas" trouble you.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:01 pm |
  85. tbone

    Holy crap! We are germs on a microscope slide.
    That guys looking at us!

    January 19, 2012 at 9:57 am |
  86. Chad

    Is that Alan Parson's eye in the sky?

    January 19, 2012 at 9:56 am |
    • Chad

      Parsons' – sorry

      January 19, 2012 at 10:11 am |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      I was waiting for Alan Parsons comments to come along. Didn't want to indulge anyone.

      January 19, 2012 at 10:25 am |
      • Chad

        Well don't wait too long, Quid, because...... they don't caaaaare whatchya do....they wouldn't want to be like yooooou nooOOOoooo

        January 19, 2012 at 10:45 am |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Wouldn't want to be intelligent and well-educated like me? Well for the Tea Baggers posting here like "Karnas" that's a foregone conclusion! ;-]

        January 19, 2012 at 10:52 am |
      • Chad

        "EYE" Robot?

        January 19, 2012 at 11:05 am |
  87. zukman1

    once again it nice to see human ingenuity showing how beautiful the universe is.....with or without God, its still beautiful

    January 19, 2012 at 9:54 am |
    • Robert

      I wish I could live forever; just to be able to read and see all there is out there.

      January 19, 2012 at 10:01 am |
      • DarkVader

        Me too. There's a lot we'll never know, but would like to.

        January 19, 2012 at 10:21 am |
  88. James

    A great example of pareidolia here.

    January 19, 2012 at 9:53 am |
  89. palintwit

    You can always spot a teabagger when there's a meteor shower. He's the one with the umbrella.

    January 19, 2012 at 9:53 am |
    • tbone

      You can always find a progressive Liberal, they are the ones who cant comment on anytrhing without trying to make a feeble stab at the GOP.
      Keep i nmind, its your guy who is taking away funding from projects like this.
      Makes you proud doesnt it?

      January 19, 2012 at 9:59 am |
      • palintwit

        There would be no reason to cut funding if Bush hadn't p!ssed everything away in the middle east.

        January 19, 2012 at 10:02 am |
      • Robert

        The Tea Party House of Representatives has taken the money out.

        January 19, 2012 at 10:02 am |
      • tbone

        Bad ole Bush blew through 3 Trillion dollars in 8 years.
        How much has Obama went through in 3 years?
        Almost 10 Trillion.
        Try again......

        January 19, 2012 at 10:07 am |
      • LeRoy_Was_Here

        Tbone needs to do some fact-checking. NASA's budget has RISEN during the Obama administration. It fell several years during the Bush administration. The national debt doubled during the eight years of George W. Bush, from ~5.6 trillion to ~11 trillion. It has since risen to just a bit over $15 trillion. A large increase under Obama, to be sure, but on the order of a 36% increase, not a 96% increase (as under Bush).

        January 19, 2012 at 2:17 pm |
  90. 11:11

    Cthulhu lies dreaming... but now is awake and the stars are right.

    January 19, 2012 at 9:49 am |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      But his geometry is still wrong, which is why he flunked math. X-D

      January 19, 2012 at 10:27 am |
  91. Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

    Paging Alan Parsons fans...

    January 19, 2012 at 9:48 am |
    • Chad

      Beat me to it Quid! Now that'll be stuck in my head all day long too!

      January 19, 2012 at 9:57 am |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        "Don't think sorry's easily said, don't try turning tables instead..."

        January 19, 2012 at 10:35 am |
  92. karnas

    republican hypocrites thats good coming from a rag head suporting democrat

    January 19, 2012 at 9:43 am |
    • capnmike

      Where you morons get the idea that Democrats in any way support the ragheads is total nonsense...And Obama's administration has managed to get rid of not only Bin Laden but about 25 of his other major henchmen, something the Bush people and other self-righteous Republican pigs couldn't do.

      January 19, 2012 at 9:58 am |
      • tbone

        Actually, The US Military got rids of those guys.
        Obama was on vacation.

        January 19, 2012 at 10:01 am |
      • Dan

        Stop using insulting words. Ignorant people do that.

        January 19, 2012 at 10:25 am |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Even worse, Bush, Cheney, and the Republi-cants didn't even have apprehending Bin Laden on their list of priorities. More money to be made sinking "defense" $$$ into the destruction of Iraq, all to line their pockets.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:14 pm |
      • Gyrion

        OK, what has a bunch of polictical figures have to do with the Helix nebula?? I don't get it.

        January 19, 2012 at 12:41 pm |
  93. midwest

    We are so fortunate to be able to see something like this.

    January 19, 2012 at 9:42 am |
  94. palintwit

    As always, astronomers at the prestigous Sarah Palin Galactic Observatory / Bait Shop are ahead of the other observatories studying this phenomenon. They have determined that this actually a large eyeball, probably belonging to the baby jesus himself, as he watches over his loyal armies of baggers, birthers and evangelicals.

    January 19, 2012 at 9:42 am |
    • karnas

      another closed minded back woods clown veggie eating tree hugger..

      January 19, 2012 at 9:47 am |
    • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

      If you're using "veggie eating tree hugger" as if that's supposed to be some sort of insult, it's quite obvious to everyone who the closed-minded back woods clown is.

      January 19, 2012 at 9:50 am |
      • karnas

        The clown in Plano probably wears a rag on the head...its funny how facts are insults....

        January 19, 2012 at 9:58 am |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        karnas: Please explain how "wears a rag on the head" has anything to do with anything. Please take your stupidity elsewhere. BTW, if you think that I really live in Plano you need to google your homework.

        January 19, 2012 at 10:50 am |
    • tbone

      Still poking at Palin.
      Thats the epitome of pathetic, she hasnt been relevent for 3 years.
      Got any good Nixon Pokes?
      How about a stab at Lincoln? remember him? The bad GOP man that took the slaves away from the Southern Democrats.

      January 19, 2012 at 10:03 am |
    • Ruby

      Too funny regardless of political choices!

      January 19, 2012 at 2:32 pm |
  95. alumette

    seems to be looking at us all for sure......what have you done with the planet, you insane people ?

    January 19, 2012 at 9:40 am |
  96. Keel Hauler

    Please don't start that frigging "Eye of God" e-mail BS again....

    January 19, 2012 at 9:40 am |
  97. snowyowl

    It's the Eye of God and it's looking at YOU, Republican hypocrites,

    January 19, 2012 at 9:31 am |
    • Brad

      Get over yourself. Sheesh

      January 19, 2012 at 9:42 am |
    • karnas

      got to be another o-bam-e supporter with the rag tied to tight....

      January 19, 2012 at 9:45 am |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        That should be "too tight." Once again we see how our faulty public education system has given rise to the Idiocracy of the Tea Baggers.

        January 19, 2012 at 10:48 am |
      • karnas

        moron alert in plsno the rag is to tight and if you have an opinion your a tea bagger.....

        January 19, 2012 at 1:57 pm |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Larnas: What is "plsno"? Try learning to use that keyboard before posting. Learning to read and spell might also work wonders for you.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:09 pm |
      • Quid Malmborg in Plano TX

        Sorry, I meant Lardass, karnass.

        January 19, 2012 at 2:10 pm |
  98. NPerk

    Is that in the Mordor quadrant?

    January 19, 2012 at 9:25 am |
    • Dash

      You, my friend, win for the day. Huzzah!

      January 19, 2012 at 9:47 am |
  99. louis

    Damn that's pretty!

    January 19, 2012 at 8:34 am |
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