APOD 4.7 (belated)

On a trip to Northern Norway, two brothers hoped to snap some quality pictures of auroras after there was an increase in solar activity.  Luckily they waited around just the right amount of time and caught this brilliant photograph. The duration of the aurora's appearance was merely a few minutes long, but this photograph will help spread its beauty. 

Godspeed,

Melanie

APOD 4.8

The Sky From Mauna Kea

On top of Hawaii's volcano, Mauna Kea, clear skies enabled this astounding photograph to be captured.  In the bottom left hand corner, another volcano is visible as well as the dark and thin Mauna Loa in the center. The green air glow visible in the center is credited to the molecules that were excited from the Sun's energy during the day.

Goodbye

Observation Post!

This never happens but I'm making an observation post.

I have been to a few stargazes over the past few months and haven't documented any of it! Let's see what I can remember. 

At the PV Astronomy night, I observed galaxies (which just looked like fuzzy patches), the Moon, many many constellations that Mr. Percival (Astrochap) generously pointed out with his insane red laser pointer. Although it was a bit cloudy that night, the wind allowed for the clouds to pass over and did give us time to observe most of the sky.  

At the local astronomers' stargaze over the weekend, I was able to observe through about eight or nine different telescopes! Most of the astronomers had their telescopes pointed at Jupiter (and its four moons), Mars, and the Moon.  I love seeing Jupiter through telescopes - even when the image is really tiny because you can still make out the colored bands across its surface.  Astrochap caught Maddy and myself towards the end and we reviewed the constellations briefly before leaving.  It was a night well spent.

Gudspud,

Spug

APOD 4.6

Across the Sun

Coronal mass ejections, plasma towers, solar filaments, and iodized hydrogen atoms are all key components in this telescopic capture (April 27th, 2015).  The solar filament seen in this image is estimated to be the same distance from the Earth to the Moon.  In the upper left corner, the plasma towers spotted are approximately reaching the Sun's edge.  !!! Amazing stuff.

Gxdspxxd,

Mxlxnxx