The Hardships of Science

Astronomy can sometimes feel like a chore.

Days (or weeks) of software troubles, problems with imperfect instrument calibrations, grant writing and/or management, dealing with PowerPoint talk preparation, rejected proposals and job applications, vanishing funding, and writers block can all combine to beat one's spirit down and make you feel like Science is not as much fun at it used be.

But it could always be worse. For example, you might have to find and collect floating whale poop in order to do your research on North Atlantic Right Whale health and reproduction [via Zooillogix].