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Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #569) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• BALL
• DROP
• DART
• GAME
• ATTENTION
• DEAR
• BRAND
• NAMES
• THRILL
• FOR
• FLY
• BLAST
• BOLT
• KICK
• TO
• DASH

NYT Connections today (game #569) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: In a hurry
• GREEN: Good times
• BLUE: To whom it may concern
• PURPLE: Your given moniker

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #569) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: MOVE QUICKLY 
• GREEN: FUN TIME 
• BLUE: WORDS BEFORE AN ADDRESSEE 
• PURPLE: NAME 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #569) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #569, are…

• YELLOW: MOVE QUICKLY BOLT, DART, DASH, FLY
• GREEN: FUN TIME BALL, BLAST, KICK, THRILL
• BLUE: WORDS BEFORE AN ADDRESSEE ATTENTION, DEAR, FOR, TO
• PURPLE: NAME _ BRAND, DROP, GAME, NAMES

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Today’s grid included several potential groups: things that come before “off”, names for potential delivery apps, various seekers of things, how someone from the 1950s might communicate happiness.

Despite these distractions, the actual groups were a little more obvious, although I did have to time travel back to a period when I actually received written communication in order to get WORDS BEFORE AN ADDRESSEE. Once, I received dozens of letters a week FOR my ATTENTION, but now the only regular communications I get through my letterbox are fast food menus, including one quite accurately addressed to The Pizza Lover.

A good Connections to end 2024 with. In fact, it was a BLAST.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, 30 December, game #568)

• YELLOW: LUNCH ORDERS CLUB, HERO, MELT, WRAP
• GREEN: USED TO MAKE COFFEE BEANS, FILTER, GRINDER, WATER
• BLUE: PAY, WITH "UP" ANTE, COUGH, PONY, SETTLE
• PURPLE: NAMES FEATURING "!" AIRPLANE, JEOPARDY, PINK, YAHOO

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #303) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Resolutions

NYT Strands today (game #303) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SOLD
• GREEN
• CLOSE
• TENSE
• CLONE
• LOVING

NYT Strands today (game #303) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Done and dusted

NYT Strands today (game #303) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 2nd row

Last side: right, 8th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #303) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #303, are…

• CODA
• ENDING
• CLOSURE
• FINALE
• EPILOGUE
• CONCLUSION
• SPANGRAM: ITS OVER

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

When I saw today’s theme I began looking for things that could be New Year’s Resolutions, but quickly realised “lose some weight”, “be the best version of me” “learn Japanese”, etc would not make the greatest of puzzles. Instead, clever Strands gave us various alternatives for IT’S OVER.

Although that’s not strictly true, as an EPILOGUE is an additional piece of information or storyline after you think it’s over in films, books, and plays, then after the epilogue it really is over – or is it? Epilogues are often there to wrap up all your unanswered questions about the characters, what happened in the years after the CONCLUSION of the story – or at their worst to tease the next instalment of the franchise. Either way, we live in a time when leaving a film before the credits reach the soundtrack listings is a gamble.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 30 December, game #302)

• SONATA
• PRELUDE
• CONCERTO
• SYMPHONY
• OVERTURE
• SPANGRAM: COMPOSITION

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1072) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1072) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1072) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1072) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1072) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• T

• I

• I

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1072) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1072, are…

• PLUMP
• TUBER
• IRATE
• ICILY

Another late show for me today, although I put a mental pin in TUBER after my fourth go and decided to resist the temptation of filling in the word, in favor of going after the other words instead – then returned to it later.

I’ve still not hit on a winning technique for Quordle other than skin-of-the-teeth completions, but there was at least some strategy involved in my approach here – and that's a start, right?

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #1072) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1072, are…

• SANER
• FUNKY
• CLANG
• SOOTY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1071, Monday 30 December: TODDY, GROIN, GROWN, VERVE
• Quordle #1070, Sunday 29 December: PURER, SPLAT, RABID, EMCEE
• Quordle #1069, Saturday 28 December: BUNCH, LABOR, TRIPE, BUNNY
• Quordle #1068, Friday 27 December: BRAWL, LYING, ORGAN, CRONY
• Quordle #1067, Thursday 26 December: TATTY, OVERT, FLOUR, SWEPT
• Quordle #1066, Wednesday 25 December: LIVER, CRIER, SHORE, MURKY
• Quordle #1065, Tuesday 24 December: TIPSY, SCALE, FLYER, VALVE
• Quordle #1064, Monday 23 December: SNAKE, SAVVY, ELBOW, TWEED
• Quordle #1063, Sunday 22 December: DOUBT, SLURP, PAPER, CIVIL
• Quordle #1062, Saturday 21 December: STRIP, BUDGE, SAPPY, SHELF
• Quordle #1061, Friday 20 December: PENAL, EAGLE, DILLY, QUITE
• Quordle #1060, Thursday 19 December: JEWEL, GNOME, TRAMP, IDLER
• Quordle #1059, Wednesday 18 December: LITHE, BIRTH, HUMID, ROBOT
• Quordle #1058, Tuesday 17 December: DOING, ENJOY, SNAKY, AMPLE
• Quordle #1057, Monday 16 December: HYDRO, CREAM, CHIDE, SLIME
• Quordle #1056, Sunday 15 December: DROVE, STILT, LINEN, GIANT
• Quordle #1055, Saturday 14 December: SPIEL, ONSET, TIGER, DITTO
• Quordle #1054, Friday 13 December: ERECT, REBAR, MOIST, IDIOM
• Quordle #1053, Thursday 12 December: MILKY, CRIER, STORK, DRIER
• Quordle #1052, Wednesday 11 December: BRIAR, NASAL, SHARD, FLUFF

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There’s nothing quite like looking up at the night sky. It’s always brought me a deep sense of peace and wonder, especially during difficult times.

One of my favorite tools to help me identify the stars as I journey through them from the ground is Sky Guide, an augmented reality app that overlays the sky to show constellations.

I often plan my evenings around events that it highlights, like when the International Space Station passes overhead (I always wave)! And, like many people, I’ve developed a strong connection to the Moon. I like to stare up at it when it’s just a sliver, when it’s round and full, and when it looks like a big smile suspended in the sky.

But as much as I’ve loved using apps to enhance my stargazing, I’ve been yearning for something more. A few years ago, a very kind friend gave me a telescope for my birthday.

Though I never made much use of it while living in a basement flat in London, UK, I’m now up in Yorkshire with darker skies – and I’m ready to make 2025 the year I truly up my astronomy game.

How to choose the right telescope for stargazing

If you’re considering taking your stargazing to the next level, the first step is finding the right telescope.

“The best telescope is the one you’ll actually use." This is what amateur astronomer and astrophotographer Nazmus Nasir, known as Naztronomy online, tells me. “For most people, it's the one that's easiest to set up and takes the least amount of time to maintain.” Otherwise it’ll just end up gathering dust – as mine has been doing for two years.

Tips for photographing the aurora with your phone

Photographer Rebecca Douglas shares her top tips:
1. Night mode or long exposure:
Use a 3- to 10-second exposure with night mode, or set ISO to 800-3200 in manual mode to balance light and noise.
2. Stabilize your phone:
Use a tripod or prop it against a sturdy surface. Or hold it steady with both hands, elbows tucked in, and press the button while holding your breath.
3. Focus on the sky:
Lower screen brightness to adjust your eyes to the dark and give the camera time to focus in low light.
4. Edit your photos:
Use built-in tools to enhance saturation, contrast, and sharpness for more detail.

To get to grips with what kind of telescope might work for you, Thomas Burbine, visiting assistant professor in Astronomy at Mount Holyoke College, offers practical advice. “Visit an amateur astronomy club or a star party. Talk to people who already have telescopes. If they have observing nights, try viewing a few objects through them. Too many people buy expensive telescopes they never use. It’s best to get as much hands-on information as you can before making a purchase.”

For beginners, Naz recommends tabletop Dobsonian telescopes. “They’re a really great starter type of scope,” he explains. “They’re small reflectors that you can put on a table and they give you the best bang for your buck.” He recommends taking a look at popular models, which include the Orion Starblast 4.5, Zhumell z114, and Sky-Watcher Heritage 130p. They're easy to set up and can provide excellent views of celestial objects.

You could also consider a refractor telescope. Naz suggests starting with a small, wide-field scope. “These are easier to use, require almost no maintenance, and are ideal for taking photos,” he explains.

Naz warns to steer clear of cheap telescopes that seem too good to be true, as their optics often disappoint. Instead, look for reputable brands, like Celestron, Apertura, Astro-Tech, and Sky-Watcher. While some of these can be pricey, their quality is leagues ahead of budget options.

The Seestar S50 (above) is one of the new breed of smart telescopes, but simpler tabletop Dobsonian telescopes like the ones recommended above cost half as much. (Image credit: Seetar)

Once you’ve chosen a telescope, consider upgrading your setup with a sturdy mount or tripod. “A mount with slow-motion controls makes it easier to track objects,” says Naz. For even more precision, a tracking mount with “go-to” capabilities is a game-changer. “You can tell it what to find and it’ll also keep the object in view so you don’t have to fidget with the gear,” Naz explains. He recommends models like the Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi and Star Adventurer 2i; by keeping objects in view, they open up possibilities for better imaging.

If you’re interested in instant gratification, smart telescopes, like the Seestar S50, are worth exploring. These compact, automated devices handle everything for you, from locating celestial objects to taking and stacking photos. “The only downside is that they don’t have eyepieces, so you can’t look through most of them like a traditional telescope,” Naz says. But they’re perfect for beginners looking for quick results.

How to take photos with your telescope

Seeing the wonders of the night sky is incredible, but what if you want to capture them to share or revisit later? Luckily, you don’t need a lot of new gear to get started. With just a smartphone and a few clever accessories, you can take impressive astrophotography shots right alongside your telescope.

For telescope users, Naz suggests getting a phone mount, which allows you to attach your device to the eyepiece. Once you’ve secured it, you can play around with what works best for the objects you want to photograph. “For moon and planets, a single exposure would be fine. For deep sky objects, you can do exposures that are several seconds long,” Naz says.

(Image credit: Astroshader)

He suggests starting with an intervalometer app to take regular photos, or using apps like Deep Sky Camera and AstroShader(above) to capture stunning night shots – especially of star trails or meteor showers. You can also check out our guide on how to take night sky images with your phone.

If you’re ready to move beyond your phone, consider investing in one of the best DSLRs or best mirrorless cameras. “Learn to use the manual mode,” Naz advises. “Experiment with ISO settings and exposure times to achieve different results.” Some good starting settings and tips can be found in our guide to photographing the Blue Moon and Milky Way.

Dedicated t-adapters can also connect your camera to your telescope. “This essentially turns your telescope into your camera's lens,” Naz explains.

How to take photos with your phone

Not ready to invest in a telescope? Binoculars are an excellent alternative. “Even a small pair can enhance your view of the night sky,” says Naz. “The Moon looks spectacular through binoculars. You may also be able to see the core of the Andromeda Galaxy more easily or even the Galilean moons of Jupiter..”

Even without advanced equipment, the night sky offers plenty of opportunities for capturing its beauty. Thanks to advancements in smartphone technology, creating stunning photos is more achievable than ever.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Photographer Rebecca Douglas explains just how far we’ve come. “10 years ago when I started shooting the night sky, it was impossible to capture anything on a phone,” she says that’s changing. “But there are quite a few things you need to know to be able to capture images that resemble the majesty you’re seeing with your eyes.”

She recommends using apps like Star Walk 2 for celestial identification and PhotoPills for planning your shots. She also tells me that a tripod and remote trigger are must-haves for reducing any motion blur.

But I love that Rebecca reminds me that astrophotography isn’t just about technology. “The night sky connects us to something much bigger than ourselves,” she says.

Whether you’re using a phone, binoculars, or a telescope, she says that stargazing offers a profound sense of awe. “Whether it’s ancient starlight, the swirling colors of an aurora, or the Milky Way’s vast ribbon across the sky, there’s a little magic waiting for you up there every time.”

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• U7inh instance has 1,920 virtual CPUs and 32TB of memory, and you can run 4 of these
• Need to sustain SAP workloads is what encouraged HPE to work with AWS
• However, there's also the fact HPE may be helping AWS get newer, lucrative leads

As businesses face relentless data growth, challenges like data silos and outdated legacy systems, such as Unix-based servers, increasingly stand in the way of progress.

HPE has positioned its Compute Scale-up Server 3200, which it launched in 2023, as the answer to these challenges, promising scalability and performance for mission-critical applications.

The server supports workloads like SAP HANA and ERP with up to 16 sockets and 32TB of shared memory, enabling seamless scalability and reduced server sprawl. Powered by 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors (Sapphire Rapids), it doubles core counts, integrates AI accelerators, and features DDR5 memory with PCIe 5.0 for enhanced performance and bandwidth, ideal for data-intensive applications.

Eroding on-premises market share?

AWS has now announced the general availability of a new Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) U7inh-32tb.480xlarge instance which runs on the 16-socket HPE Compute Scale-up Server 3200 and is built on the AWS Nitro System.

While that sounds like a positive move for HPE customers, it does raise concerns about the strategic implications.

AWS’s new U7inh instance features 1,920 vCPUs, 32TB of DDR5 memory, 160 Gbps of EBS bandwidth, and 200 Gbps of network bandwidth. AWS says, “You can run your largest in-memory database workloads like SAP HANA or seamlessly migrate workloads running on HPE hardware to AWS.”

As The Register notes, however, AWS’s announcement of the new offering mentions "customers that currently run on-premises with HPE servers have also asked how we can help them migrate to AWS to take advantage of cloud benefits while continuing to use HPE hardware."

By partnering with AWS, HPE potentially opens the door for the cloud giant to gain access to customers running critical workloads on-premises who may be considering cloud migration.

This partnership could inadvertently help AWS capture more enterprise leads, potentially eroding HPE’s on-premises market share. The timing is particularly striking, as AWS has acknowledged a growing trend of customers revisiting on-prem solutions.

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