“Using Nothing More Than Newton’s Laws Of Gravitation, We Astronomers Can Confidently Predict That

“This is a small example from an ambitious all-sky photographic survey completed during the mid to late 20th century. Every piece of sky was photographed on large glass plates. This astrophotography provided a catalog for astronomers to use in seeking out targets and planning observations. It is also an archival snapshot of the entire sky. Over 1,000 of these photographic plates were later digitized into a database used to aim Hubble.” (from the book Hubble’s Universe: Greatest Discoveries and Latest Images)

Undulatus asperatus

Undulatus asperatus is a new separate cloud classification currently on petition to be added to the official list of observable cloud types. If accepted as a distinct cloud type, it will be the first addition to the list of cloud types since cirrus intortus was added in 1951. It was proposed by the founder of The Cloud Appreciation Society. Recognition of the cloud classification is still pending.

The experience of these clouds is as if, it is said, one were below the Sea looking up at the surface of the water. Yet when they occur, there reportedly is little to no turbulence at the land surface. The clouds are most common in the Great Plains of the United States following thunderstorm activity in the earlier parts of the day.

- space;the physical universe beyond the earth’s atmosphere//mod carter

photography by Adam Kyle Jackson powerful nature

space goddess

The future in space, painted by Ron Miller.

Light pillars are a rare optical phenomenon in which ice crystals in the atmosphere reflect sources of light in a vertical formation. Long, illuminated beams can form above or below sources of artificial or natural light due to the air being extremely cold.

What drives auroras on Saturn? To help find out, scientists have sorted through hundreds of infrared images of Saturn taken by the Cassini spacecraft for other purposes, trying to find enough aurora images to correlate changes and make movies. Once made, some movies clearly show that Saturnian auroras can change not only with the angle of the Sun, but also as the planet rotates. Furthermore, some auroral changes appear related to waves in Saturn's magnetosphere likely caused by Saturn's moons. Pictured here, a false-colored image taken in 2007 shows Saturn in three bands of infrared light. The rings reflect relatively blue sunlight, while the planet itself glows in comparatively low energy red. A band of southern aurora in visible in green. In has recently been found that auroras heat Saturn's upper atmosphere. Understanding Saturn's auroras is a path toward a better understanding of Earth's auroras.

Image Credit: NASA, Cassini, VIMS Team, U. Arizona, U. Leicester, JPL, ASI