APOD 3.6: Love and War by Moonlight

Venus, named after the Roman goddess of love, and Mars, named after the god of war, came together by moonlight, recorded February 20, in Charleston, South Carolina. This three second exposure also includes the glow coming from Earth that is illuminating the dark side of the crescent moon. Since, Mars has been moving away from Venus but is still visible in the west.  

Astronomer Biography Quarter 3: Fyodor Bredikhin (Bredechin)

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/78678/Fyodor-A-Bredikhin

http://russia-ic.com/people/general/b/284

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

APOD 3.5: An Evening Sky Conjunction

Eight years ago, the sky held a crescent moon and Venus in close proximity. This image was captured in Bolu, Turkey on February 19, 2007. Since this picture was taken, Venus has orbited the sun 13 times. The February 20, 2015 version of this photo will include Mars. 

APOD 3.4: A Grand Design Spiral Galaxy

M100 is appropriately named a grand design spiral galaxy. It is a large galaxy with over 100 billion stars and it is much like our own Milky Way Galaxy. M100 is 56 million light years distant of the constellation Coma Bernices or "Bernice's Hair."

Stellar Nurseries and Star Formation Image Links

Articles about stellar nurseries and star formation:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150211-starstruck-multiple-star-birth-astronomy-science/

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/stellar-nursery-gives-birth-quadruplets

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-02/uoma-iaf021015.php

http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/baby-stars-are-ripping-their-stellar-nursery-to-shreds-140702.htm

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/yellowballs-new-view-star-formation-0202151/

http://www.faulkes-telescope.com/news/1211

Images of stellar nurseries and star formation:

http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/how-are-stars-formed-diagram.jpg

http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/images/star_propagation.jpg

http://www.faulkes-telescope.com/files/faulkes-telescope.com/image/N90.bmp

https://www.sciencenews.org/sites/default/files/main/blogposts/Eagle%20Nebula_free.jpg

APOD 3.3: M104 The Sombrero Galaxy

This spiral galaxy, M104 is famous for its spot on profile image and broad ring of dust lines. the picture, seen in a silhouette against a group of stars, the galaxy has clumps of cosmic dust that lend it its hat like shape, earning its nickname, the Sombrero galaxy.