To kick off the new year, we thought we'd take you on a journey into space.
With our co-astronaut Col Maybury - president of the Astronomical Society of the Hunter - we're heading to the Andromeda Galaxy, 2.5 million light years away.
Col said Andromeda is one of 88 constellations recognised in modern astronomy.
It's a huge double-cored spiral galaxy that's on a collision course with our own Milky Way.
"It will collide with us in 4.5 billion years. Together, the combined galaxies will be among the largest in the sky. And, of course, the most beautiful," Col said.
The best viewing position in the Hunter is atop Mount View, west of Cessnock, he said.
At this time of year, it can only be seen "low to the horizon" at night.
It can be viewed in binoculars or a small telescope on moonless nights, 10 degrees up from the horizon and just west of north at 9pm, he said.
The Setting Sun
Speaking of planetary things, we note that Copernicus proposed in the early 1500s that the Earth goes around the sun, rather than the other way round.
But nowadays, as dusk approaches, we still say "the sun is going down".
Guess we could say "we're spinning away from the sun".
But that's just not as catchy.
Robot Cameras
The M1 Pacific Motorway NSW Facebook page has posted a photo of one of the new mobile phone detection cameras.
The community page noted that these cameras had been erected through areas on the M1 with roadworks.
Those caught on the cameras before March will receive only a warning letter, after which $344 fines [$457 in a school zone] and a loss of five demerit points [10 points during double-demerit periods] will kick in.
Interestingly, the system uses artificial intelligence to automatically review images and detect offending drivers, Transport for NSW says.
Topics reckons people should see driving as a good time to have a much-needed break from mobile phones.
Flat Pack Girl
We're calling her Flat Pack Girl.
She posted a message on the Newcastle Echo Facebook page, offering her services to assemble flat packs.
"Did you get some flat packs for Chrissy? Wish there was someone out there who loved assembling them for you instead?" she said.
"Wish no further, all your dreams have come true! I'm a local Newy girl who is ready and willing to assemble your flat packs for you. Have many years experience (desks, bookcases, day beds, shelves) and a strange enthusiasm for constructing furniture from boxes."
To which Jen Tarran replied: "Oh, you'll be flat out when Ikea opens."
