“Bethany: Is your house on fire, Clark?
Clark: No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights.” -National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
With Christmas upon us, what would you ask for from the Universe? It can't bring you tangible presents, perhaps, but it can bring you the greatest cosmic sights you've ever feasted upon.

So why not learn how to find the Christmas Tree Cluster, and enjoy the greatest astrophotography efforts of it, all in the form of a Christmas poem?
It's my present to you, dear readers, and I hope you all have a great holiday!
More like this
Thanks largely to the leather canary, I've amassed a surprising number of non-sucky Christmas songs this year.
Possibly related to the last post. The lyrics are original.
(For this, you need to imagine the younger Free-Ride offspring humming in the background as the elder sings.)
I'm beat, and I have a ton of stuff to do today, so here's some seasonally-appropriate filler.
Thanks, Ethan; that's a pretty fine gift to be treasured & shared.
Would make a great Christmas present!
Dear Universe, please don't send any high energy jets toward us in 2015, otherwise it's all great! :)
Happy Holidays all! :)
Makes me think of that brightly shining star I saw as a child and will never forget. Thanks for the great Christmas pics!