Apparent size of Andromeda galaxy compared to the Moon
I made that image![1]. And this is not the first time it's been on the front page of HN either[2]. So I'd like to share some context that I've not mentioned elsewhere before.My father died from alcoholism in 2004. He made his living writing software (hence why I do too, and why I enjoy HN). But he also, for a short time, taught Astronomy evening classes. I've always felt short-changed by the emotional absence and traumatic passing of my male parent. But the continued virality of this image has been some sort of magical glimmer from the depths of the universe that it was still his shoulders that I stood on in order to reach where I am today. Maybe it was the glint in his eyes every time he showed me the latest APOD image[3], and the deep love with which he would explain their contexts. I made this composite image of Andromeda and the moon precisely because of that extra commentary, or rather I should say, extra love, of the night sky that my father gave me. Seeing it here, sparkling in the "night sky" of the HN front page stirs the same kind of wonder I sometimes feel catching those million year old specks of light above my head. Reminding me that though the universe is mostly cold and dark that doesn't diminish its warmth and brightness.1. https://www.reddit.com/r/spaceporn/comments/1u0dxs/andromeda...2. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=229923843. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html