Atoms for Peace Galaxy

Atoms for Peace Galaxy. Image from ESO.

This galaxy, located in the constellation Aquarius, bears a striking resemblance to a cartoon atom. It is named for Preseident Dwight D Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” speech, in which he called for worldwide efforts to discover peaceful uses for atomic energy. It’s a speech well worth reading in its entirety, but here is a salient excerpt –

…for me to say that the defense capabilities of the United States are such that they could inflict terrible losses upon an aggressor–for me to say that the retaliation capabilities of the United States are so great that such an aggressor’s land would be laid waste–all this, while fact, is not the true expression of the purpose and the hope of the United States.

To pause there would be to confirm the hopeless finality of a belief that two atomic colossi are doomed malevolently to eye each other indefinitely across a trembling world. To stop there would be to accept helplessly the probability of civilization destroyed–the annihilation of the irreplaceable heritage of mankind handed down to us generation from generation–and the condemnation of mankind to begin all over again the age-old struggle upward from savagery toward decency, and right, and justice.

Surely no sane member of the human race could discover victory in such desolation. Could anyone wish his name to be coupled by history with such human degradation and destruction…

…My country wants to be constructive, not destructive. It wants agreement, not wars, among nations. It wants itself to live in freedom, and in the confidence that the people of every other nation enjoy equally the right of choosing their own way of life.

So my country’s purpose is to help us move out of the dark chamber of horrors into the light, to find a way by which the minds of men, the hopes of men, the souls of men every where, can move forward toward peace and happiness and well being.

This remarkable image comes from the European Southern Observatory and appeared this week on NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day, a website where every day, a different image from our universe is featured.  Peruse the archives for some amazing stuff.

You can also download a free program that will make each day’s Astronomy photo your desktop image. (Windows only, sorry…) I downloaded it today on my desktop at work,  and can’t wait to see what new image awaits me there tomorrow morning.