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- Written by: Donna Weaver
A spectacular head-on collision between two galaxies fueled the unusual triangular-shaped star-birthing frenzy, as captured in a new image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.
The interacting galaxy duo is collectively called Arp 143. The pair contains the glittery, distorted, star-forming spiral galaxy NGC 2445 at right, along with its less flashy companion, NGC 2444 at left.
Astronomers suggest that the galaxies passed through each other, igniting the uniquely shaped star-formation firestorm in NGC 2445, where thousands of stars are bursting to life on the right-hand side of the image.
This galaxy is awash in starbirth because it is rich in gas, the fuel that makes stars. However, it hasn’t yet escaped the gravitational clutches of its partner NGC 2444, shown on the left side of the image. The pair is waging a cosmic tug-of-war, which NGC 2444 appears to be winning. The galaxy has pulled gas from NGC 2445, forming the oddball triangle of newly minted stars.
“Simulations show that head-on collisions between two galaxies is one way of making rings of new stars,” said astronomer Julianne Dalcanton of the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics in New York and the University of Washington in Seattle.
“Therefore, rings of star formation are not uncommon. However, what’s weird about this system is that it’s a triangle of star formation. Part of the reason for that shape is that these galaxies are still so close to each other and NGC 2444 is still holding on to the other galaxy gravitationally. NGC 2444 may also have an invisible hot halo of gas that could help to pull NGC 2445’s gas away from its nucleus. So they’re not completely free of each other yet, and their unusual interaction is distorting the ring into this triangle,” said Dalcanton.
NGC 2444 is also responsible for yanking taffy-like strands of gas from its partner, stoking the streamers of young, blue stars that appear to form a bridge between the two galaxies.
These streamers are among the first in what appears to be a wave of star formation that started on NGC 2445’s outskirts and continued inward. Researchers estimate the streamer stars were born between about 50 million and 100 million years ago. But these infant stars are being left behind as NGC 2445 continues to pull slowly away from NGC 2444.
Stars no older than 1 million to 2 million years are forming closer to the center of NGC 2445. Hubble’s keen sharpness reveals some individual stars. They are the brightest and most massive in the galaxy. Most of the brilliant blue clumps are groupings of stars. The pink blobs are giant, young, star clusters still enshrouded in dust and gas.
Although most of the action is happening in NGC 2445, it doesn’t mean the other half of the interacting pair has escaped unscathed. The gravitational tussle has stretched NGC 2444 into an odd shape. The galaxy contains old stars and no new starbirth because it lost its gas long ago, well before this galactic encounter.
“This is a nearby example of the kinds of interactions that happened long ago. It’s a fantastic sandbox to understand star formation and interacting galaxies,” said Elena Sabbi of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy in Washington, D.C.
Donna Weaver works for the Space Telescope Science Institute.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Zarina Otchkova’s We Grow LLC’s project proposed a nine-acre grow, processing and distribution operation on a 309-acre property located at 16750 Herrington Road, 17610 Sandy Road and 19678 Stinson Road in Middletown.
The proposal included 34 greenhouses, four drying buildings, a shed, 20 water tanks and privacy fencing.
The previous version of the project was approved by the commission in April of last year but concerned neighbors appealed that decision within the prescribed seven-day appeal period.
In June 2021, the Board of Supervisors heard the appeal and upheld it, citing a faulty environmental document.
However, the board’s vote for the appeal was done without prejudice, allowing the project to be resubmitted, which it was later last year.
On Thursday, Community Development Department staff told the commission that they were recommending denying the project, which the applicant’s attorney and consultant indicated was an abrupt change that caught them off guard when they found out about it earlier this month.
Associate Planner Eric Porter said planning staff put the project through another evaluation under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.
Porter said CEQA is fairly specific in terms of when a project rises to the level of “significant”and requires an environmental impact report, or EIR. A “significant” finding is whenever there are impacts that cannot be adequately mitigated, he said.
In this case, one of the key issues was the proposed removal of 130 mature blue oak trees, which would have to be replaced at a three-to-one ratio, with the tree restoration to take place over a period of up to 40 years.
Porter questioned if those trees’ removal could be mitigated, concluding that it’s unknown but “highly unlikely,” and that the project’s tree removal and replacement plan was not sufficient.
Porter said the tree removal goes beyond the trees itself, and affects the earth, results in erosion and has water impacts which haven’t been evaluated for the difference in demand between mature trees and saplings. He added that the water issue is an unknown.
Commissioner John Hess said it would be years before replacement trees are mature and able to provide what the original trees do. Porter said that’s what concerned groups like the Redbud Audubon Society.
“You’re right. The impacts are pretty obvious and pretty significant,” Porter said to Hess.
He also referred to extensive public comment against the project, with the county receiving close to 150 such comments. Recurring themes in those comments included traffic, security, safety, conflicting land use, water, habitat and odor, among others.
Porter added that an appeal, no matter what decision the commission made, was likely.
Due to the unmitigated impacts, Porter said staff recommended denying the use permit application.
Deputy County Counsel Nicole Johnson read over the mitigated negative declaration and EIR requirements, noting that a mitigated negative declaration can’t go forward if impacts aren’t mitigated.
Otchkova’s attorney, Andrew Azarmi of the Dentons law firm in San Francisco, urged the commission to approve the permit, noting that Otchkova had jumped through each and every hoop asked for by Community Development.
He said the project hadn’t changed one bit in terms of scope and content and yet had taken nearly a year to get back on the agenda.
A few weeks ago, without any consultation or advanced warning, Community Development did “a stunning about face” by informing them that they were recommending the denial. Azarmi said a year ago the commission had unanimously approved the project.
“Respectfully, this is unfair treatment,” he said.
Azarmi said he was not aware of any similar project having to undergo an EIR. “That further indicates that the project is being treated arbitrarily, and that’s what the law prohibits.”
If the commission wanted further study, Azarmi asked for it to be added to the initial study rather than ordering an EIR, which would take a year or more and require hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional cost.
Sufyan Hamouda, We Grow’s consultant, said they were notified 17 days beforehand that an EIR would be required. He said they don’t know how the decision changed.
Hamouda said they had done a tree study but can do more study still if required. He added that he didn’t believe an EIR was necessary or fair after the review the project has undergone.
Addressing the fair argument standard for requiring an EIR, Johnson said it must be prepared when it can be fairly argued that a project may have a significant effect on the environment. “This is a low standard.”
She said impacts include direct, indirect and cumulative, and the evidence doesn’t need to be absolute or unequivocal. It’s not necessary to have information to contradict what the applicant has provided to find contrary to the applicant’s preferred outcome.
“Even if staff had presented you with the same recommendations that had come with any other project that included approval, you are not required to make those findings,” she said.
Johnson said the commission is required to consider all of the evidence and make a determination.
Community speaks against the project
During public comment, project neighbor Dan Levine asked the commission to deny it, noting there have been a lot of changes. He said in an earlier iteration, there had been no plan to cut down oak trees. Even with mitigations, it would have a huge impact on the community.
“I think we need to rethink this,” said Glenn Goodman, explaining that the citizens of the county didn’t sign on for how many cannabis projects the county has approved.
Goodman also said it was “optimistic” that the oak trees would grow back in his grandchildren’s lifetimes.
Bart Levenson said the project would impact roads used as evacuation routes and is likely to further degrade those roads with the traffic the project would generate. She said the project is completely inappropriate. “The community is not being considered.”
Newest Planning Commissioner Maile Field said the commission’s membership has changed since it approved Otchkova’s project last year.
Field went on to say she doesn’t think the oak removal is mitigatable.
Hess said he didn’t agree with Azarmi that nothing has changed in the project.
Commissioner Everardo Chavez said he also had concerns about the project, and said the concerns from community members are real.
Field moved to deny adopting the initial study, which the commission voted unanimously to approve.
Hess then moved to deny the resubmitted major use permit due to insufficient review of the project according to the California Environmental Quality Act as it relates to oak tree removal of 130 oak trees and as it relates to treatment of soil erosion and drainage.
The commission also voted unanimously to deny the use permit, with that final vote followed by applause.
There is a seven calendar day appeal for the decision.
In other business on Thursday, the commission approved cannabis projects proposed by North Coast Select Inc. at 1496 Bell Hill Road in Kelseyville; Cristhian Hernandez at 2000 Clover Valley Road in Upper Lake; and Linodhi Inc. at 6690 Wilkinson Road in Kelseyville.
Editor’s note: The wording of the motion Field made to deny the adoption of the initial study has been updated to make the action more clear.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
Adoption and rescue update: On Wednesday, West Columbia Gorge Humane Society made a trip to Clearlake to take a number of the animals at the shelter to find new homes in Washington state.
Those taking a trip up north to find their new families are Edgar, Sonny, Bella, Nala, Jaxx, Rama, Annie and Tippie, two other dogs that hadn’t been taken to the shelter but were surrendered to rescue, a mama cat and five kittens, four other cats, and 10 abandoned puppies.
The following dogs continue to wait for new homes at the shelter.
‘Terry’
“Terry” is a male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.
He is dog No. 48443693.
‘Snowball’
“Snowball” is a male American Staffordshire mix terrier with a white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49159168.
‘Sassy’
“Sassy” is a female American pit bull mix with a short black coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 48443128.
‘Priscilla’
“Priscilla” is a female Brittany spaniel mix with a white and copper coat.
She is dog No. 49089138.
‘Isabella’
“Isabella” is a female Chihuahua mix with a short tan coat.
She is dog No. 49292130.
‘Fritz’
“Fritz” is a male Australian shepherd mix with a black and white coat.
He is dog No. 49278179.
‘Ebenezer’
“Ebenezer” is a male American pit bull terrier mix with a short tan and white coat.
He is dog No. 49191651.
‘Claire’
“Claire” is a female border collie mix with a short black and white coat.
She has been spayed.
Claire is dog No. 49397880.
‘Chai’
“Chai” is a female Alaskan husky mix with a gray and white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 49279552.
‘Bear No. 2’
“Bear No. 2” is a male American pit bull mix with a short tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 48731556.
‘Bear’
“Bear” is a male Labrador retriever-American pit bull mix with a short charcoal and fawn coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 48443153.
‘Andy’
“Andy” is a male American pit bull mix with a short gray and white coat.
He is dog No. 48995415.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: CALTRANS
“Caltrans is fully committing to a fundamental shift in road safety and is laying the framework for significant reductions in roadway deaths and injuries,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “We play an important role in the building and maintaining of the state’s highways. With the numbers of serious injuries and deaths trending the wrong way, now is the time to focus even more on what we can do to save lives and work collaboratively with other stakeholders who play a role in roadway safety.”
California and the rest of the nation are seeing an increase in fatalities and serious injuries on the roadways.
In California, more than 3,600 people die each year in traffic crashes and more than 13,000 people are severely injured.
More than 3,200 people died on the state’s roadways in the first nine months of 2021 — a 17% increase from the previous year.
To address this trend, Caltrans is aligning departmental activities, as appropriate, with the Safe System approach, which identifies several interconnected elements to achieving a vision of zero fatalities and serious injuries — safe road users, safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles, and post-crash care.
As part of this policy, Caltrans commits to:
• Prioritizing “safety first” in highway planning, operation, construction and maintenance.
• Focusing on eliminating the most serious crashes, rather than all crashes.
• Eliminating race-, age-, ability- and transportation mode-based disparities in road safety outcomes by addressing historic and current barriers to transportation access and safety.
This policy takes steps to further institutionalize a shift that began in 2020, as state transportation leaders recognized a bolder and more focused approach was necessary to combat the troubling rise in fatalities and serious injuries on California roads.
The state’s 2020-24 Strategic Highway Safety Plan – managed by Caltrans and involving more than 400 stakeholders – was updated to include the Safe System approach.
This policy also aligns with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy released in January, which set the first national goal of zero roadway fatalities and recognizes the Safe System approach as encompassing a range of roadway safety programs and stakeholders.
“The U.S. Department of Transportation has adopted the Safe System Approach that guides our safety actions within the recently announced National Roadway Safety Strategy to address the national crisis in roadway fatalities and serious injuries,” said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack. “We commend Caltrans for adopting this approach and working to bend the curve on roadway fatalities to zero.”
The Safe System approach is based on the following principles:
• Eliminate death and serious injury: While no crashes are desirable, the Safe System approach prioritizes addressing crashes that result in death and serious injuries.
• Humans make mistakes: People on the road will inevitably make mistakes that can lead to crashes. The transportation system is designed and operated to accommodate human mistakes and injury tolerances, and avoid deaths and serious injuries.
• Humans are vulnerable: Crash forces contribute to deaths and serious injuries. Minimizing speeds and impact angles reduces the risk of death and serious injuries.
• Responsibility is shared: All stakeholders, including road users, vehicle manufacturers, policy makers, law enforcement, licensing and education entities, those in road design and maintenance, and others must commit to working together to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes to zero. No one entity can achieve this goal alone, and it will take the coordinated effort of stakeholders working across a variety of disciplines to improve safety outcomes.
• Redundancy is crucial: Reducing risk requires that all parts of the transportation system are strengthened, so that if one element fails, there are still multiple layers of protection.
• Safety is proactive and reactive: Through both proactive and reactive safety efforts such as road safety audits, traffic investigations, road monitoring, flexible design, and others help identify potential areas for safety enhancement to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes.
Caltrans’ adoption of the Safe System approach builds on its ongoing work to improve safety on the state’s transportation system.
In December, Caltrans adopted a new policy for all new transportation projects it funds or oversees to include “complete street” features that provide safe and accessible options for people walking, biking and taking transit.
For more information about Caltrans’ new safety guidelines, visit its Safety Program webpage.