Gods Eye

The "Eye of God" below is a composite of images taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the Kitt Peak National Observatory. Pictured is the Helix Nebula, described by astronomers as "a trillion-mile-long tunnel of glowing gases." Original Image Credit: NASA, WIYN, NOAO, ESA, Hubble Helix Nebula Team, M. Meixner (STScI), & T. A. Rector (NRAO)

www.thehypertexts.com...

I'm sure that most of you have viewed this image before, but I'm new to all this and would appreciate some info etc.
Also, can anyone tell me if this is where the idea for the book "The Mote in Gods Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle came from? or am I right in saying that the book was written before the pictures were taken.

Thanks

I can't answer your question about the book, but that picture is truly breathtaking.

I think I just found my new wallpaper.

ok, think I can answer my own question here.....
"The Mote in Gods Eye" written 1974

The eye of god pic release, may 10th 2003

Still a great picture though

Originally posted by budski
ok, think I can answer my own question here.....
"The Mote in Gods Eye" written 1974

The eye of god pic release, may 10th 2003

Still a great picture though

Awesome picture budski. I wonder how big that eye is?
Bigger than our galaxy? Just so much out there in space. Maybe one day we'll get to travel through space and see it all.

It seems like we are being watched by more than one eye. Take a look at this image from the Chandra X-Ray space telescope of the Cats Eye Nebula

Originally posted by Terapin
It seems like we are being watched by more than one eye. Take a look at this image from the Chandra X-Ray space telescope of the Cats Eye Nebula

Another nice picture.
Thanks Terapin.

Has anyone read that book?
"The Mote in Gods Eye"

I do like my sci-fi, but am at a stage where I want to know more

The Mote in God's Eye, and its sequel, The Gripping Hand, are two brilliant books. Full of "hard science" and well worth reading.

Pretty much anything Pournelle or Niven write are worth reading.

Originally posted by Terapin
The Mote in God's Eye, and its sequel, The Gripping Hand, are two brilliant books. Full of "hard science" and well worth reading.

Pretty much anything Pournelle or Niven write are worth reading.

The sequel was "The Mote Around Murcheson's Eye"

and btw - can you turn around in space?

The UK title was different that the US one, as in the US it was called The Gripping Hand. This title difference is common in the publishing world.

Turn around in space? I guess I must be missing something?


Here are some cool Desktop images that come from the Chandra X-ray scope "years best" collection. Enjoy!Chandra Desktop Wallpaper

Sorry - one of the things commonly said by the authors...

Have you also read lucifer's hammer and footfall?

Lucifer's Hammer is one of my favorite books, and only those two could come up with the Elephant-like soldiers of Footfall. "A Step Further Out" by Pournelle is a non fiction book and perhaps the best argument for Space exploration ever made.

Having personally worked on a project related to the Chandra Space telescope, I tend to keep an eye on what they are discovering.

I'll have to have a look for "A step Further Out" sounds good.

Thanks for the chandra link - some amazing images - especially the crab nebula

nice one