Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2017 April 10

Galaxy Cluster Gas Creates Hole in Microwave Background
Image Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), Kitayama et al., NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope

 

Explanation: Why would this cluster of galaxy punch a hole in the cosmic microwave background (CMB)? First, the famous CMB was created by cooling gas in the early universe and flies right through most gas and dust in the universe. It is all around us. Large clusters of galaxies have enough gravity to contain very hot gas — gas hot enough to up-scatter microwave photons into light of significantly higher energy, thereby creating a hole in CMB maps. This Sunyaev–Zel’dovich(SZ) effect has been used for decades to reveal new information about hot gas in clusters and even to help discover galaxy clusters in a simple yet uniform way. Pictured is the most detailed image yet obtained of the SZ effect, now using bothALMA to measure the CMB and the Hubble Space Telescope to measure the galaxies in the massive galaxy cluster RX J1347.5-1145. False-color blue depicts light from the CMB, while almost every yellow object is a galaxy. The shape of theSZ hole indicates not only that hot gas is present in this galaxy cluster, but also that it is distributed in a surprisingly uneven manner.

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The Wisdom of Buddha

The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

Altruism

Altruism denotes the noble act of giving to those in need without the expectation of a return. The act of giving has been seen as one of humankind’s greatest attributes throughout history. It is honored in nearly every culture. To give is a gift to both those who receive and those who give. Giving is usually associated with addressing the material needs of others, but the gift given can take many forms such as wisdom or protection or simply a shoulder to cry on.

As a daily card, Altruism suggests there are those around you in need of things you can give them. It is a time for you to address the needs of another, or others without regard of profit or acknowledgement of your contribution.

Use Your Intuition: The Benefits of Tarot

Learn what a Tarot reading can do for you!

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Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2017

Get A Jump on Tomorrow……

Your Daily Horoscopes for Tuesday, April 11th

 

Aries

You may feel a little divided or pressured in the first half of the day, dear Aries, as your need for independence clashes with both your dedication to domestic matters and your desire for companionship. This is a recurring theme, although outside ambitions and career are often in the mix! You’re no stranger to the feeling of being pulled in many directions, but today you may be quick to ditch practical activities in favor of following a whim. As the day moves forward, motivation to get something done, improve, and build takes over, and you may very well enlist some help and enjoy yourself thoroughly. You’re ready to make your own luck and others may be quick to join you.

Taurus

In the first half of the day, you can find yourself easily distracted as much as you want to get things done, dear Taurus. This may be a signal that you’re in need of a change of pace in order to get back into the groove of things. As the day advances, you’re in a fabulous position to get some serious work done, adding your unique flair to whatever you do. Others may admire your ability to take the initiative and solve problems creatively. It’s a great time to do something active, health-positive, and related to self-improvement and wellness. You’re ready to push yourself just a little more than usual, and this makes a big difference – you’re getting results.

Gemini

You may be feeling a little ungrounded in the first half of the day, dear Gemini, making it difficult to stick to a routine or tedious tasks. There can be upset schedules, but part of the reason may be related to concerns about your social life. Your mind may not be in the present very often right now! However, as the day progresses, you tune into a more positive, forward-looking vibration and you’re more interested in taking the initiative than only talking or thinking about things. Your confidence improves, and you’re just a little braver and ready to push yourself to make your life better. Relationships grow as you take the lead or approach others with more confidence. Your sense of timing seems better than usual. Creatively speaking, you’re in good form.

Cancer

In the first half of the day, you’re inclined to feel a little impatient, dear Cancer, and this can pull you away from your priorities. You may very well need to enjoy some spontaneity, a break, or a chance to take the lead or create something new. Try not to throw things out on a whim, but do consider making changes. Look for opportunities to approach the way you regularly do things a little differently as you can be in great need of a change of pace. Revitalizing something may be better than leaving it behind, although if you truly need to put something behind you, then this may be an easier time to do so. Later today, you find it simpler to take the initiative with fewer tendencies to overthink things and more focus on getting things done. Bringing a friend home or combining home life with your social life in a creative way may be just the thing you need right now.

Leo

The tendency to rebel against the rules and priorities in the first half of the day runs high, dear Leo. The general atmosphere is somewhat chaotic, as part of you may feel deeply concerned about the very things you’re avoiding. While you do need to listen to your need to make changes, you’ll be better off figuring out exactly what these changes will be or what they will entail before throwing something out. You’re better able to focus your energies on something worthwhile as the day advances, however. You seem to be drawn instinctively to the things that will lead you in the right direction, or that will improve your life, but most important now is your confidence that you can turn any situation into a positive one. While both Mercury and Venus are retrograde and there may be some missteps or misunderstandings as a result, you can find new ways of expressing yourself that perfectly communicate your intentions tonight.

Virgo

You are absorbing a lot from your environment again today, dear Virgo, but it can be challenging listening to your intuition with plenty of distractions, not the least of which is your own inner rebel. In the first half of the day, you may be more defiant or moody than usual until you get in touch with what may be bothering you. In all likelihood, it’s about dreams or memories prompting you to deal with matters you thought were behind you. You might need to be a little noncommittal with others until you understand what you want and need more fully. As the day advances, take advantage of the tendency to want to actively make improvements rather than only think about your next step. You are particularly resourceful and might stumble upon an incredible deal or opportunity.

Libra

Energies continue to be a little temperamental until about midday, dear Libra. Again today, you are particularly sensitive to your own feelings as well as the atmosphere around you. Even if this feels a little unstable, pay close attention to what you’re picking up from the airwaves – this is a particularly psychic period for you! There can be huge distractions from your responsibilities now, however, largely related to a partner or friend or a relationship matter. If key people in your life aren’t particularly predictable or reliable now, you may feel a little ungrounded. Later today, however, you are in an excellent position to make the best of your situation. In fact, you feel increasingly more confident about taking decisive action to improve yourself and your lot in life. Even with Mercury and Venus both retrograde, you’re finding creative ways to communicate your intentions.

Scorpio

In the first half of the day, it can be very hard to concentrate on priorities, dear Scorpio, as your spontaneous or rebellious side is pushing for attention. Changes in your routine, job, or schedule can interfere with your larger plans and distract you. However, as the day advances, optimism increases. Both Mercury and Venus are retrograde, and there can be more than the usual delays and sidetracking, but an influence on you later today encourages you to make the best of a situation. Your energies blend with a partner or friend in an enhancing and fortifying way. Your actions speak for themselves now, making up for recent misunderstandings. The Moon moves into your sign this evening, and you may have a feeling of emotional reawakening.

Sagittarius

As dedicated as you are to your passion projects or deep line of thought, dear Sagittarius, in the first half of the day, the pull to play or free your mind is powerful! You may need to let your hair down a little or take a creative break before pushing forward. Routine wears you down. However, as the day advances, you’re in a pretty fabulous position to make the best of any situation you’re in, social or professional. You are ready to take action to improve your life, and you’re thinking up clever and creative ways to do so. Your own initiative can be attractive to others who are quick to follow your lead or move out of the way to let you do your thing! You might even combine social elements with your work or duties and get a lot accomplished in the process. Energy levels are high now.

Capricorn

The Moon at the top of your chart keeps your mind on your responsibilities, dear Capricorn, but you can experience a rebellious or stubborn streak in the first half of the day that pulls you away from duties more often than not. This can leave you feeling on edge until you figure out a way to bring more excitement and inventiveness to your tasks. Routine may be wearing you down now. Fortunately, as the day advances, you feel increasingly more in charge of your life. You’re less inclined to rebel and more ready to take action on matters that improve your situation. You may be taking the lead or boldly expressing your creative side. Your confidence stimulates you to push yourself a little harder – just enough to get over a hump.

Aquarius

You can be a little fickle in the first half of the day, dear Aquarius. While your drive to get your chores out of your way is strong, you may be rebelling against your own rules now. This can be a signal that it’s time to change things up or add a little creativity to what you’re doing. There can be unexpected disruptions to deal with now, and while irritating, they may very well get you thinking in new and useful ways. As the day advances, you’re more likely to come into your own, particularly if you can focus on exciting goals. Inspiration comes more easily now as your temper evens out. The impatience of the morning dissipates, inviting interesting ideas and plans into your world. A problem might unravel now, and obstacles lift.

Pisces

In the first half of the day, it can be hard to stick to a task and make much headway, dear Pisces, as you can find yourself easily distracted. This is a better time for freeform or creative activities than monotonous and routine tasks. As the day advances, you can be particularly resourceful and confident. Mercury is retrograde, and communications may not always go over as intended, but you’re in a good position to find different and satisfying channels for expressing yourself today. You are pushing yourself a little further now. As well, you’re working smarter, not necessarily harder. You might stumble upon information that truly helps you get over a hump.

 

If You Were Born Today, April 10

You are strong-minded, playful, assertive, and charismatic. You readily take the lead and take on challenges. You are playfully competitive, and you remain youthful throughout life with a mischievous streak. It’s not easy for you to be told what to do, and thus it’s best that you are your own boss or that you set your own pace. Famous people born today: Joseph Pulitzer, Omar Sharif, Steven Seagal, Mandy Moore, Haley Joel Osment, Alex Pettyfer.

Your Birthday Year Forecast

A Full Moon in your Solar Return chart marks this as a year of great personal significance, when major new beginnings, endings, and activities occur. This period is the culmination of a stage of personal growth and development. Events occurring this year may bring various developments in your emotional, psychological, or spiritual life over the past several years to a head. Relationships are especially important. There can be increased activity in your professional and public life, causing a conflict with your domestic and personal goals. There is little moderation in your life this year. Connections are made or ended, or your job focus may change as one focus fades to make way for a new direction. The year ahead is certain to be a very busy, dynamic, and significant period in your life.

You have a stronger ability to direct your energies into meaningful activities this year, and you are determined to meet or exceed your goals. You can be more goal-oriented this year, as superficial goals no longer satisfy you. You want your objectives to reflect what you’re really about, and you are likely to let go of unsatisfying goals this year. You benefit from being more decisive than usual, and your ability to concentrate and focus helps you to achieve what you set out to do. A new project or goal begun this year has a good chance of being successful and long-lasting. Your physical activities tend to be more intense, passionate, and focused. It’s an excellent year in which to make a lifestyle change, as your ability to concentrate on what really matters to you is enhanced.

This is a time when you feel confident and supported enough to pursue your desires. It’s a good time to take steps towards making yourself feel more secure and safe, as well as for family or domestic activities.

This is an excellent year in which to advance projects revolving around communications – writing, speaking, selling, and so forth. Your reputation may be enhanced through word of mouth. Making new contacts through learning and mental pursuits figures strongly as well.

With Venus in a tense aspect to Saturn in your Solar Return, getting serious about love or money (or both) will be a theme this year. Money may be tight, or the need to buckle down with your finances may be necessary. This does not necessarily signify financial losses or hardship, but you are likely to have an increased awareness of your limits. The responsibilities of partnership are magnified this year. You are likely to be more earnest on a romantic level. An existing relationship may become more serious, or you may form a new partnership with a serious or older person. You are likely to work hard this year, and this could interfere with pleasure time.

The year ahead can be a relationship-oriented one. You may be in high demand. This is a strong period for focusing on priorities, although you might need to watch for overdoing your work. You may be pouring a lot of your energy into particular projects. You are practical in your decision making, and you’re able to bring both enthusiasm and practicality to your endeavors this year. When you are motivated, you can accomplish great things, bringing new life to old goals. You can be very committed to your goals, making it a strong time for making lifestyle changes. 

 

2017 is a Number Six year for you. Ruled by Venus. This is a year of relative contentment. It is a time when love is the easiest to attract, and partnerships formed under this vibration have a better chance for longevity. You are able to attract others, and material things as well, this year. This is a good year for establishing harmony in the family and in the home. Advice – develop existing relationships, be positive and receptive because these kinds of energies help you to attract what you desire.

2018 will be a Number Seven year for you. Ruled by Neptune. This is a year of preparation, chance, and refinement. It is not a time of dramatic changes. Instead, it’s a year when reflection on the past is helpful, and when refinements to your life path should be made. It’s a good year to study and analyze. Unexpected twists to your life story and “chance” meetings are probable. Advice – take stock of your life in order to prepare for more exciting years to come, examine the past and plan for the future, get in touch with your deepest needs and uncover your personal power, don’t strain yourself or actively try to expand.

Courtesy of Cafe Astrology

Your Daily Horoscopes for Monday, April 10th

 

Aries

We are building to a Full Moon in your opposite sign, dear Aries, and emotions tend to run high. This can be a time for recognizing your own relationship needs or awakening to the needs of a partner. This lunation can bring about a personal revelation or exposure – perhaps a big reveal – but you might also feel a little blocked from enjoying yourself or your newly discovered feelings. This is because the Full Moon is in Libra, and Libra’s ruler, Venus, is retrograde and in challenging aspect to Saturn. Satisfaction may be delayed. The coming two weeks can be busy with clients, social connections, negotiations, or increased involvement with others, in general. Today can be a very productive day, however, when you may spend quite some time nurturing a project or caring for your valuables.

Taurus

The Moon is approaching full in your work and wellness sector, dear Taurus, and you might reach a turning point with a work project or situation, or with a health matter. In the coming week, the need to make changes in your routines or job becomes very apparent. Frustrations with working conditions can push you to want to make a change. A work project might begin or end. Keep in mind that your feelings may be large right now but will even out in the coming days, so do listen to what your intuition is telling you but hold off on the big moves. Blockages that come to light can be revealing. While you may not get to put your plans into motion quite yet, do keep them in mind. Good energy is with you for some friendly competition that stimulates you to do your best or to reach higher. Don’t be afraid to be creative. Self-improvement is a big theme this month.

Gemini

The morning brings good energy for making excellent use of personal time, dear Gemini, or for work behind the scenes. Emotional declarations may be made today or tomorrow, with the Moon approaching full in your romance and creativity sector. The energy of this Full Moon can spur a turning point or illumination in a romantic affair, relationship with a child, or friendship. There may be some tests or ultimatums but something is now released, and this helps to clear the path for improvements going forward. If you’ve been paying too much attention to your larger goals, you are now reminded to take some personal time. New resolutions may not be able to be put into motion yet, and this can be frustrating, but recognizing the need for change is your first step.

Cancer

Activities with others can be particularly energizing and productive in the first half of the day, dear Cancer. With the Moon approaching full in your home and family sector, you receive a significant reminder of the need to pay more attention to your family, private world, or personal matters after a whole lot of attention to the needs of the outside or rational world. You are particularly sensitive to your moods now, and there can be some tendency to dramatize things, but this may be necessary to stimulate you to resolve to make necessary changes. Things that you’ve been avoiding or overlooking may reveal themselves. Striking a balance between energy spent on work and energy devoted to domestic matters is important now. You are hyper-perceptive at the moment, but emotions do tend to color what you are seeing, so keep this in mind.

Leo

We’re building to a Full Moon today, dear Leo, which can bring unresolved emotional matters to a head and remind you of your obligations. Tension over unmet or unspoken needs can surface, and it’s time to pay attention to them. You can feel a strong desire to be understood. You might be recognized for recent ideas, projects, or learning endeavors, or there can be a turning point or revelation regarding these matters now. A culmination of writing or learning projects can occur. Publicity and promotion are themes for you in the coming week. While emotions tend to run high today, it’s also a good time for you to nurture an ambition, project, or goal. You can be particularly productive with just a little focus. While there can be delays or temporary blocks to your plans now, you can nevertheless enjoy giving special attention to some of your bigger projects.

Virgo

We’re building towards a Full Moon today, and this can stir up feelings surrounding business and financial matters, or it might indicate a turning point with a money matter or project. A conflict over money, sharing, or balance of power (give and take) can be in focus now, or you might recognize your need to take more control of your resources. News may come in, or circumstances are such that changes your outlook on money. If you’ve been holding emotions back, they can erupt now. While there is a lot to learn from your feelings or discoveries now, you may feel blocked about doing anything about them. However, most important now is that you are seeing things you may have ignored or overlooked. Blockages are temporary. Also today, your desire to study or learn something new and pursue personal interests is strong.

Libra

The Moon is in your sign all day and is approaching full, dear Libra, and emotions are heightened. This can be a time of personal epiphanies. If you’ve been paying a lot of attention to others’ needs recently, and many of you have, then this is a time for putting your needs up front and center. Finding a better balance in your relationships is an ongoing issue that may not resolve itself now, but you can certainly see where changes should be made. Something can come to you quite suddenly – an epiphany or revelation – that might even be surprising to you. Close personal relationships are likely to figure strongly in your discoveries now and in the coming week. Avoid stretching yourself too thin, and don’t make final conclusions until you’ve reached a state of inner certainty as there is a real tendency for matters to be dramatically magnified before settling down.

Scorpio

The Moon is in your privacy and endings sector all day, dear Scorpio, and a Full Moon is about to occur in this same house of your solar chart. This can prompt a strong need for extra rest or time to yourself, and very likely some sudden intuitive flashes and feelings that are hard to dismiss. If you’ve been working on autopilot recently and ignoring or out of touch with your intuition, then this is a time when the need to listen to your hunches becomes pressing. A secret or private matter may be revealed now, or this is about your true feelings on a matter. Introspection and retrospect are in order. Dreams and hunches can be powerfully telling, and while you shouldn’t ignore them, it’s best to avoid closing your mind on a conclusion drawn now – take your time with decision-making.

Sagittarius

In recent weeks, there has been more than usual attention to your personal life, hobbies, and activities, dear Sagittarius, and outside obligations can now demand attention with a Full Moon occurring in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow. Friends may need you, or there can be a need to reach out and team up. There may be some social drama or revelations that stir the pot now in the coming week. This lunation might also awaken you to your feelings for someone, or a buried relationship problem can emerge and demand attention. New insight or discoveries empower you, even if it’s not quite the time to put your plans into motion. Keep in mind that blocks to progress with a friend are likely quite temporary.

Capricorn

You could find that you’re suddenly in the spotlight now, dear Capricorn, with the Moon approaching full at the top of your solar chart. You may need to take the lead or take charge. For some of you, career matters can demand attention or outside obligations emerge after weeks of increased attention to your personal life. Going forward, it will be particularly evident that you need to get to a healthy work-life balance. With Venus in challenging aspect to your ruler, Saturn, around the time of this Full Moon, there can be a sense that you’re underappreciated or overworked now, however. It’s important to keep in mind that what you do and say has a little more weight than usual, so make it something you’ll be proud of later!

Aquarius

With quite a bit of attention to your daily or mundane affairs these days, dear Aquarius, you’re now feeling an immense desire to think and live bigger! A Full Moon approaches and stimulates your need for adventure, escape, mind expansion, and new experiences and settings. For some, a project or studies reach a turning point or culmination in the weeks ahead, and you’re ready to take the next step. A break in the routine may be just what you needed, but you might also become aware of delays to deal with. It becomes apparent to you that you need to find the time to fit extracurricular activities into your day, and while changes may not happen immediately, you’re in the right headspace for moving forward.

Pisces

This morning is active for giving special attention to a personal interest, studies, or project, dear Pisces. You might thoroughly enjoy tending to the little things that help you succeed, and patience is in good supply. As the day advances, we build towards a Full Moon, and this energy brings emotions to the surface and hidden matters to light. It may illuminate an issue related to finances, debts, or partnership for you. It’s a time for pushing yourself to see what you’ve been ignoring or overlooking. New insight into a relationship, emotional, or financial problem can arrive, and this brings about a turning point or new direction. There can be a shift or shuffling of money sources in the coming week. While new plans may hit some delays or blockages, these are temporary, and most important right now is that you’re awakening to the need for change.