The Midnight Rambler and a Cloud called Smith.

There is a cloud called Smith, and it's heading this way at 700,000 miles an hour from the distant outer edge of our galaxy.
It's a gas cloud full of cosmic chemicals, the stuff of stars.
Don't worry though, it's not due to collide with us for another 30 million years, so panic over.
I think I'll be tidying the shed that day.
By all accounts, it will be quite a sight, though, as it could give birth to up to two million stars.
I love these giant space numbers - they remind me of how insignificant I really am, in the greater scheme of things.
Enough navel gazing - the cloud was discovered by Gail Smith , hence the name.

Jupiter image ©NASA / JPL

Apparently the ancient Babylonians used algebra to plot the passage of Jupiter across the night sky, taking its origins (calculus) back some 1500 years.
My personal caution is that we are approaching 'ancient astronauts' territory here, and will next hear of the alien race who bequeathed this knowledge - puts me in mind of the claims regarding the Dogon tribe of Mali.

Remaining on the subject of possible alien interlopers, we are advised that there will be further pictures of the mysterious lights / salts in the craters of Ceres.
The Dawn mission is currently taking images from a new lower orbit of 240 miles. Images thus far look great, but the relevant ones are conspicuous by their absence.

Moscow viewed from ISS  pic ESA / 

Only last night, I saw a photo taken over Moscow which looked not unlike the Occator region - pareidolia possibly, but even so.
I'm still quietly excited.

Occator lights, Ceres   pic NASA / JPL / Caltech

There now follows a close up image of comet 67P Churyumov - Gerasimenko on which the lander Philae has apparently died a cold and lonely death, but will be joined in September when mothership Rosetta finally sets down to become one with the now famous hunk of icy rock as it continues its journey through space.
the comet was originally from the Kuiper belt, until a brush with Jupiter in 1959 knocked it out of it's orbit **, and Jupiter is where we came in, so...

Close up of comet 67P Churyumov - Gerasimenko           23 Jan 2016  ©ESA

* 'they' = the government, obv.
** which makes the comet a 'centaur' technically, as it's a hybrid.

FYI, this post was edited on Feb 5th 2016 to remove my 'midnight ramble' which frankly adds nothing to the post. Thank you all.

By the way, if anyone is wondering about my name change - it's to avoid being labelled a bot on social media - so the initials still mean 'Alias Me', ok ? Thank you !