Open Cluster M25

Open Cluster M25




Reminds me of the Pleiades, only with a dash of other colors (not just the blue as all the stars are in the Pleiades). :-)

Goodness GRACEious

Goodness GRACEious



From the Moon to Ocean Bottom with Geodesy! :-)

The geodetic satellite Grace will allow us to measure changes in ocean bottom pressure globally for long periods of time. Through transferring data analysis methodology used on the Moon to Earth we will keep a better and sharper eye on the ocean bottom - from space!

The Sun and Climate Change

Solar Activity and Climate Change



Credit: NASA/ESA/SOHO

Solar activity have an influence on the climate on planet Earth. The question that remains unanswered with a satisfactory certainty is whether it is dominant compared to other effects like CO2.

Based on my experience and knowledge of the field it is done far to little research on the topic, mainly due to politics. It is very dangerous to even ask the questions we need to ask. It is a pity, because asking them is necessary to reduce the non manageable uncertainty of the climate models today.

The Sun is many orders of magnitude larger and energetic than the Earth. However, we do benefit from a protective magnetic field bouncing off enough to make it livable here.

I wish we could look at the Sun in this perspective in a more sober way than what is being done today.

Terrific Titan

Titanic Storm



AND - Saturn in BLUE!! :-D

Antarctic Lakes

Active Antarctic Lakes



Credit: NASA

We've suspected there is some kind of activity underneath the ice sheets of Antarctica. Now, we've gathered more information and have spotted a number of active lakes playing around under the ice.

We do not want the lakes to play in such a way that the ice disappear more rapidly than it already does!

Clouds

Rays of Clouds*



* not rays of Sun...ha! :-)

Rock Lobster

Rock Lobster



How do they do it? Rocking lobster, or more precisely perhaps, walking lobster! :-)

I'm merely adding intel on lobster for bears and catwomen.

Star Gazing

Star Gazing



...and a cat in boots as toppings...

New Worms: Glow-In-The-Dark Bombers

Glow-In-The-Dark Bombs



Totally awesome, dude! I want - and I need - those bombs.

And I know who to ask for help collecting them. I'll ask XineAnn to harass those bomb producing worms living outside the coast of Santa Barbara, California and Intrepiddreamer to take an annoying dive in the Philippines. (You need to harass the newly discovered worms to provoke the bombing...)

GPS Getting Better

Improving GPS



US Air Force is on the job!

Bloom!

Phytoplankton in Norwegian Fjords



Credit: NASA

Spectacular Algae Bloom.

Titan

Titan



And rotating....-)



It has sunk in; I really like Titan, don't I? :-)

Butterflies

Blue Butterflies



Credit: Midas Photography

Delightful Double Butterfly Blues!

Ground Water with GRACE

Ground Water



Geodetic satellites are gathering an unprecedented amount of information about the water cycle, also the big unknown factors such as ground water. Totally awesome! :-)

Animation of water fluctuations in northern India It is pretty, too. :-)

Coastal Mega Cities

Coastal Mega Cities



Cartographer Hugo Ahlenius, Nordpil

One of my favorite carthographer, Hugo Ahlenius, made me a pretty map. That's right, this is tailor made for me! :-)

Hugo's work shows that it is possible to make beautiful maps in modern digital times. I think Google Maps should take lessons at Nordpil, that is what I think. :-)

Rome Planetarium

Hitler's Gift to Astronomy



I was in Rome this summer and visited Rome Planetarium in EUR. This visit was extraordinary in many ways - the planetarium and it's exhibition are excellent in itself, the surroundings and the very building in the which the planetarium is placed is something else - and the history of both the optical instrument from Carl Zeiss and the general story behind Rome Planetarium is unique. So be it that both Hitler and Mussolini - some less than fine men - are part of the story. Remember, I am a scientist and astrophysicist - and just because I mention the role of these men in this story I do not endorse their actions!

Sam, I am not against Jews. There, I said it! It is official, I can talk about Hitler and like Jews at the same time. What do you know! :)

Dragons

Dragon Day




Dragons are so cool. And what an excellent and refreshing way of starting a new week...:-)

Clouds

Clouds All Over

Blood Veins

Delicate Blood Veins

EUR

EUR - Rome



A different Rome.

Cygnus

Cygnus by Warm Spitzer

Titan

Terrific Titan




Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

Elegant - and sort of deceivingly soft looking...

New Star

T Tauri




Credit:T. Rector (U. Alaska Anchorage), H. Schweiker, WIYN, NOAO, AURA, NSF

Pasta in Paris

To Paris with Stellare?



Rue Mouffetard, Paris
Credit: Stellare

I love Paris. I love pasta. So this spring I took a picture of some delicious fresh pasta on Rue Mouffetard in Paris. And what do you know, my image was selected as one of the descriptive pictures of this part of Paris by the online travel guide Schmap! Awesome as I also love maps!

The Earth

The Earth



Credit: NASA and NOAA

As seen by GOES-14

Bugs

Spotted Bugs



By Nutmeg