Happy 2009! My New Year's card illustrates some constellations unique to the southern hemisphere: Centaurus, Cetus, Hydra, Scorpio, and Piscis Austrinus. The concept was inspired by Uranometria, a beautifully engraved star atlas of 1603 (the first to cover the entire celestial sphere), and by my recent travels south of the equator.

I'm currently at McMurdo Station in Antarctica for my project called The Art of Recycling in Antarctica : The Long View. I'll be here for most of January and you're invited to follow along on my dedicated project blog hosted by the California Academy of Sciences.

Incidentally, I won't see any constellations during my time here. At this deep southern latitude, the sun won't set till autumn.

This Op-Ed piece I did on Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe was selected for The New York Times "Notable Opinion Art of 2008".  PM's Sam Weber and Christian Northeast are also part of the show which can be viewed HERE.

Have a happy 2009 !

Have a great holiday