Apod 3.8

Comets are something that many people often hope to glimpse.  This shows a comet over Castle Hohenzollern, during sunset. The comet shown is comet PANSTARRS, known for its wide trail of dust. The comet fades initially, but will go higher after sunset.
Together, the comet, castle, and sunset form a fantastic image, that shows the wonder of the universe and astronomy.

Sources for Biography Edward Emerson Barnard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Emerson_Barnard

www.answers.com/topic/edward-emerson-barnard

http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/B/Barnard.html

www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Edward_Emerson_Barnard.aspx

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News/register/Oct29_01/story5.html

APOD 3.7

The above is a computer enhanced image of Mercury. The color differences would not normally be viewable with the human eye, but thanks to computer intervention separating the colors out, we can see them.  This image was taken by a satellite orbiting Mercury.  These colors indicate a lot about Mercury. Some of it, such as the dark area at the bottom, shows a ancient volcanic basin, that had long since dried up.  Others show minerals, chemicals, and topology. Overall, the fact that we can see all this from a mere photo is very cool.