This Corner of the Cosmos

Happy Carl Sagan Day! http://centerforinquiry.net/carlsaganday

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:29:08 -0500

Happy Carl Sagan Day!

http://centerforinquiry.net/carlsaganday

Look closely at the awesomeness.

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 16:34:31 -0400

Look closely at the awesomeness.

"The news these days is filled with polarization, with hate, with fear, with ignorance. But while..."

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:36:00 -0400

“The news these days is filled with polarization, with hate, with fear, with ignorance. But...

Kristin and I were fortunate enough to catch a sensational...

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:55:00 -0400

Kristin and I were fortunate enough to catch a sensational performance by the National Symphony Orchestra last night at Wolf Trap. Their show was called “The Planets - an HD Odyssey”, which included a stunning visual tour of NASA’s Curiosity rover’s journey to the Red Planet (it arrives the evening of August 5th!), followed by a visit to each planet, each with a complimentary musical theme. Seen here is Curiosity’s simulated descent, dubbed “Seven minutes of terror” by NASA.

There was a 75% chance of thunderstorms and a severe thunderstorm warning in effect last night. Fortunately we were only sprinkled upon and just prior to the show, the clouds broke, allowing the setting Sun behind us to produce the most brilliant double rainbow I have ever seen. The bows sat directly atop the theater for a about 30 minutes. It was marvelous.

Image Credit: NASA/Paul E. Alers

http://flic.kr/p/cETCd9

LIVE high-res SDO image of the Venus transit (updated every 15...

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:46:36 -0400

LIVE high-res SDO image of the Venus transit (updated every 15 min.)

Venus Transit Watch now (last chance in your...

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:17:26 -0400

Venus Transit

Watch now (last chance in your lifetime)

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

A. You’re atop the Statue of Freedom. B. You’re...

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:35:00 -0400

A. You’re atop the Statue of Freedom.

B. You’re taking pictures from atop the Statue of Freedom.

C. You’re taking pictures of Space Shuttle Discovery being transported by the SCA from atop the Statue of Freedom.

HOW DO YOU ARRANGE THAT?

Original

Photo Credit: NASA / Rebecca Roth

Discovery Departing Florida by Ben Cooper View Large

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:08:02 -0400

Discovery Departing Florida by Ben Cooper

View Large

abluegirl: What landscape photos would look like if the Earth...

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:00:17 -0400

abluegirl:

What landscape photos would look like if the Earth had Saturn-like rings. Absolutely beautiful.

(And from space!)

Dr. Robert H. Goddard

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 09:29:39 -0400

Dr. Robert H. Goddard

Photo

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:53:33 -0400

jtotheizzoe: crookedindifference: The Most Astounding Fact by...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:15:33 -0500

jtotheizzoe:

crookedindifference:

The Most Astounding Fact by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson was asked by a reader of TIME magazine, “What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?” This is his answer.

When you take something great, like the musings of the mind of Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, and combine it with something else great, like stunning images of life and wonder on and off of Earth … you get this.

It’s the sort of video that makes you prop your chin up in your hand, with your head tilted just so (yeah, like that), as you stare at your computer screen mumbling things like “Ahhh“ and “Wooahh” and other unintelligible noises that mean “I approve of this, and it makes me feel good.”

Watch it once, then twice, then with a friend.

itsfullofstars: physicsphysics: “Hail Sagan” by...

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:56:25 -0500

itsfullofstars:

physicsphysics:

“Hail Sagan”

by Brankovranic

$10. BOUGHT.

Alright, that’s pretty cool.

milkywaymusings: Have you ever wondered what a hypothetical...

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:50:57 -0500

milkywaymusings:

Have you ever wondered what a hypothetical alien civilization, capable of radio astronomy, might think of us? Well, that depends on how close this hypothetical civilization is. Here’s what these hypothetical civilizations, inhabiting the nearest stars may have seen of our television and radio culture

"All our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike- and yet it is the most..."

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:18:13 -0500

“All our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike- and yet it is the most...

bouncingdodecahedrons: “On our small planet, at this moment,...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:16:35 -0500

bouncingdodecahedrons:

“On our small planet, at this moment, here we face a critical branch point in history. What we do with our world right now will propagate down through the centuries and powerfully affect the destiny of our descendants. It is well within our power to destroy our civilization, and perhaps our species as well. If we capitulate to superstition, greed, or stupidity, we can plunge our world into a darkness deeper than the time between the collapse of classical civilization and the Italian Renaissance. But, we are also capable of using our compassion and our intelligence, our technology and our wealth to make an abundant and meaningful life for every inhabitant of this planet, to enhance enormously our understanding of the universe, and to carry us to the stars.”

The Blue Marble 2012 This image, captured on January 4th by...

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:54:00 -0500

The Blue Marble 2012

This image, captured on January 4th by NASA’s “Suomi NPP” Earth-observing satellite, has dethroned the 2010 Blue Marble as the highest resolution image of the planet, viewed as a whole. The (mind blowing) full resolution composite image is comprised of a staggering 8000x8000 pixels; I highly recommend it’s download and thorough exploration.

It was announced yesterday that the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) mission has been renamed Suomi-NPP in honor of the late Verner E. Suomi, known as the father of satellite meteorology. The invention of his spin-scan camera made it possible for satellites to capture meteorological data continuously from earth orbit- the resulting images were commonly used in network weather forecasts.

Note this excellent Flickr comment- ”if you’re in this photo, raise your hand”

*exuberantly throws both hands into the air*

laumabre: Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to...

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:05:08 -0500

laumabre:

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

Dr. Seuss “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

spacettf: Earth from Space: A southern summer bloom by...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:52:25 -0500

spacettf:

Earth from Space: A southern summer bloom by europeanspaceagency on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
In this Envisat image, acquired on 2 December 2011, a phytoplankton bloom swirls a figure-of-8 in the South Atlantic Ocean about 600 km east of the Falkland Islands. Different types and quantities of phytoplankton exhibit different colours, such as the blues and greens in this image.

Earth-observing satellites like Envisat can monitor these algal blooms. Once a bloom begins, an ocean colour sensor can make an initial identification of its chlorophyll pigment, and therefore its species and toxicity.

For further information on this image, and many more, please visit: www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMB88KX3XG_index_0.html

Credits: ESA

skatedogg420: cosmos <3

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:25:31 -0500

skatedogg420:

cosmos <3