With the release of hi res pics from our space probes, a fellow can sit at the computer and explore our small part of the universe these days. What we are finding is some really mind boggling stuff. This is a pic taken by the Cassini probe of Iapetus, one of Saturns moons. Check out the ridge that runs nearly all the way around the moon at the equator. It's about 12km wide, and a little more than that high. Looks like someone built a moon in 2 pieces, and then welded it together. Weird but totally cool.
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NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING -
Re: Any stargazers out there...?
This is relevant here...
The greatest enemy of knowledge isn't ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. Stephen Hawking -
The greatest enemy of knowledge isn't ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. Stephen HawkingComment
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
There's apparently a solar eclipse that will be visible across a good portion of North America in August.
As always, open the link at your own peril.Comment
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
I used to spend a lot of time star gazing. I don't really live in a place I can do it now. Too many obstructions, along with lots of light pollution. Plus, I've gotten too soft and lazy to sit out on chilly evenings.
But I'm still fascinated by this stuff.Comment
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
Many years ago when I was a young man There was s solar eclipse during the summer here and it was surprising how cold it got and how quickly it got cold. It went from close to 80 down to around the low 70s in about three minutes. It warmed up just as quickly after it passed.Comment
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
The next time there's a solar eclipse, find a tree to look under. You know that trick you do with a hole in a piece of paper, where it makes a moon shape on the ground? The tiny holes in all the leaves on the tree does the same thing, and you can see thousands of little moon shapes on the ground.Comment
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
It is not star gazing but an amateur researcher reviewing satellite pictures of Antarctica has discovered a massive crack in the ice shelf that would create the world's largest ever iceberg (the size of Delaware) and threaten to increase the world's sea level.
100-mile-long crack in Antarctic ice shelf keeps growing
Another sign of global warming?
I have a telescope and sometimes get away from the City lights to use it.Comment
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
Only 10% of an iceberg is above the surface. Water expands to 9% of it's original volume when it freezes.
Take those two facts together, and tell me why the hell anyone should worry about the melting icecaps.Comment
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
Antarctica is approx the same land mass as the USA and Mexico combined.
This particular ice shelf, which could break off at any time, is seven times the size of New York City. The ice rift widens by the day and when it breaks off it will release a 2,000 square mile ice chunk into the ocean. When released into the ocean, this ice shelf will be the largest ever recorded in history.
The ice shelf in question rests partially on bedrock and can be one to three miles deep in places.
It is true that part of this ice shelf is already floating in water and will not contribute to a rise in sea levels. What has scientists worried is what happens after this ice shelf calves off.
The average temperature of Antarctica has risen almost 3 degree C over the last 100 years.
Today is Earth Day. Crowds massed in the US Capital and around the world to support science and evidence based research.Comment
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
In Astronomy this week:
Friday, April 21
Saturday, April 22
Sunday, April 23The Sky This Week for April 21 to April 30 | Astronomy.com
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
Could be global warming, but it is just as likely it is just the world continuing to warm up from the last ice age.
I wish I had some pictures of what the glaciers did to the limestone from the shallow tropical ocean here. I'll have to do that sometime.
Now, unlike saleserviceguy, I actually do have something to contribute which is within the context of the thread title. It looks like there is a moderate geomagnetic storm going on now and maybe for a couple of days longer, too. So keep an eye out for aurora.
(I have no idea how well that link will work globally, so if you aren't in the U.S. you may want to check the local space weather service first, and I apologize if you try that link and wrong things happen.)Comment
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
I apologize for being part of that hijack.
I've never seen the aurora. I very much want to, some day, before I die.
Speaking of solar effects...
I think it was last year, when a huge sun spot was visible to the naked eye... as long as you had some kind of light filter to look through. I have no such filter. But I woke up one morning to some heavy fog, which didn't clear until around 10 oclock. At 9, I looked up at a naturally dimmed sun, and could very clearly see the sun spot. That was pretty neat.Comment
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Re: Any stargazers out there...?
I have a Dobsonian scope, great views of Jupiter, Moon and Saturn. Too much light pollution where I live to see much else though, not too mention I am by a major airport approach. Planning on getting a sun filter next.Comment
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