Become One

by Jim Bell

About the Cover The image on the cover (NGC 6240) is a well-studied nearby ultra luminous infrared galaxy in the constellation Ophiuchus. This galaxy is the remnant of a merger between two smaller galaxies. The collision between the two galaxies has resulted in a single larger galaxy with two distinct nuclei. Colliding galaxies are pairs of galaxies caught by the tug of their own mutual gravitational attraction. Just like a Man and a Woman some colliding galaxies eventually merge to form a new whole or become one, while other colliding galaxies eventually part. In the process of becoming one these galaxies will continue to pull and tug at one another for several billion years, before they eventually merge together to form a new galaxy. In the same way a husband and wife pull and tug at each other to bring the change that makes them one. Like the galaxies if they achieve this union the glory of God will be seen in all its splendor!

114 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2010

About the author

James (Jim) F. Bell III (born July 23, 1965) is a Professor of Astronomy at Arizona State University, specializing in the study of planetary geology, geochemistry and mineralogy using data obtained from telescopes and from various spacecraft missions.
Dr. Bell's active research has involved the NASA Mars Pathfinder, Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR), Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR), 2001 Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the Mars Science Laboratory missions. His book Postcards from Mars includes many images taken by the Mars rovers. Dr. Bell is currently an editor of the space science journal Icarus and president of The Planetary Society.
He has served as the lead scientist in charge of the Panoramic camera (Pancam) color imaging system on Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity.