Sonnet XXXI

Oddly Off-Kilter NGC 2442

Even a galaxy may be off kilter ―
not shaped like a pristine bilateral
spiral. Light streaks outward through a filter,
it seems, when snatched by a collateral
body. Free-floating hydrogen was drawn
into tangible streamer vanes of gas;
dust yanked like taffy, with endless brawn,
from the main arm. Clusters of stars surpass
a single bright light in beauty, but can’t
match up to a more exquisite rival,
like Andromeda or Whirlpool; the scant
are ripped by those larger and more frightful.
Cosmic layouts shaped like feathers and tails:
mind-numbing forces, energies and scales.

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This comes from “The delicate aftermath of cosmic violence” , on @badastronomer’s Discover Magazine blog.

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Open Link Night, Week 25

Sonnet XXI

The Age of The Exoplanet

Brilliant chromatic belts rotate about
A collection of gas which just beguiles
As it forms in Taurus. There is no doubt
between us are one million billion miles.
The first planetary discovery,
Aside from some proto-typical finds,
Has now been christened TMR-1C
By non-romantic, scientific minds.
This gravitational threat to fly by
Masses, may have rings orbit its big hips.
The giant babe of two bright stars might try
To catch comets on their cyclical trips.
If rocky moons are in its youthful skies,
Then some type of life may some day arise.

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I wrote this in 1998, which means I was studying engineering at the time and still living in Seattle.

This is a great Hubble picture of a planet being formed. You can read more about it on:

http://news.discovery.com/space/phantom-planet-comes-back-from-oblivion.html

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The Poetry Pantry Is Now Open! – #69