APOD 3.6

The Milky Way Over Arizona Toadstools

The introduction posed by APOD to the summary regarding this photograph really caught my interest.  In this photograph, taken in Arizona, what is older: the rock formations or the sky above? In most instances rocks are far more ancient, but by merely even seeing the galaxy and the stars from the Milky Way, you are looking directly into history.  The light that you see is millions of years old but just now reaching us due to the insane distance between them and us.  

Godspeed,

Melanie

Maria Mitchell - Sources

"About Maria Mitchell." Maria Mitchell Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.

Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.

"Maria Mitchell." Maria Mitchell. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.

"This Month in Physics History." : Maria Mitchell Discovers a Comet. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.

APOD 3.5

Galaxy M106

At the center of this complex galaxy one can find swirling gases, stars, and dust.  It is thought to be that the matter at the center is falling into a black hole.  The core's bright and endearing colors originate from the radio waves and X-rays that are emitted.  Estimated to be about 23.5 million light years away, the M106 galaxy's 60 thousand light year wide appearance can be spotted through a telescope when looking at the constellation Hunting Dogs. 

Until next time,

Mela-knee

APOD 3.4

Aurora on Ice

Taken from a beach in southeast Iceland, this photograph (fisheye style) displays glacial chunks of ice underneath the aurora-filled sky above,  Also visible in this image is Jupiter - the bright object to the left of the moon.  I will be seeing the Aurora - northern lights - hopefully from Alaska on February 6, 2023 and preferably many more times! 

Godspeed,

Sunflower

Links!

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-stellar-nursery.htm

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2409.html#.VNzRZebF-So

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/stellar_nurseries.html

APOD 3.3

Stars, Sprites, Clouds, Auroras 

This photograph (taken in May of 2013) is astounding to look at by itself and even more astounding when you are aware of what the photograph consists of.  This image features stars from the Milky Way galaxy, an aurora, red lightning sprites, and thunderclouds in addition to the aesthetically pleasing horizon line and simple landscape (the composition of the photo is also exceptional).  It's amazing that the photo captures lightning sprites and an aurora in the same image - this is very rare.  This is thought to potentially be the first colored photograph of lightning sprites and an aurora in the same image.  

Godspeed,

Spaghetti

APOD 3.2

Part I: Comet Lovejoy

January 21st, a shot of the complex ion tail of Comet Lovejoy

From recent observations of the now-visible Comet Lovejoy, we now know that the tail is composed of ionized gas (energized by UV light from the Sun).  The green tint at the head of the comet and the blue tint in other regions are caused by the recombining of the carbon molecules in the comet. 

January 22, Launch to Lovejoy

On January 20th an Atlas V rocket carrying a US satellite heads toward the visible and shining green comet.  Among the stars in this image, one can identify the star Sirius, Orion, Taurus, Canis Major, the Pleiades star cluster, and much much more.  

January 28th, Comet Lovejoy in the night sky

The image you see above was taken near Paulau village in Spain about two weeks ago.  Featured in this image one can find numerous constellations (ex: Orion), bright stars (Rigel, Betelgeuse, the Pleides star cluster), and countless other astronomical objects (the Rosette Nebula, Orion Nebula, M35, Barnard's Loop, etc,). A truly amazing photograph that captures a good chunk of the night sky.  

Part II: The Milky Way Galaxy Over Seven Strong Men Rock Formation