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NASA Astronomy Pictures of the Day | Top 10 of 2010

Maciek — Fri, 21 May 2010 23:26:03 +0000

The NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive is a large collection of astronomy-focused photographs taken by NASA and contributors since 1995. The incredible diversity in the photographs range from deep space images of galaxies, to our solar system and planets, down to the most extraordinary weather phenomena right here on earth. These photographs exhibit the natural universe and man-made technology on a grand scale.

Listed below are Top 5 of the most interesting pictures I have personally handpicked from the 2010 archive*. If you follow the link provided, it will take you to the official site, which includes a NASA explanation of what is happening in the picture. I also provide a short summary of my own reasons why I think the picture is special. I will be doing a “Part 2” follow up at the end of 2010 with another top 5 pictures, which will round-up the Top 10 of 2010, NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day.

5. Andromeda Island Universe - 2010 January 9

One of the most famous and studied galaxies in history, the Andromeda Galaxy offers a glimpse into how our own Milky Way Galaxy may look if we were to see it from an external point of view. It’s the closest spiral galaxy to our own galaxy, and is approximately 2.5 million light-years away. Imagine that you point a laser light beam, and knowing the speed of light (299,792,458 m/s or 1,079,252,848.8 km/hr), which covers more than one billion km/hr, it would still take the laser 2.5 million years to reach Andromeda. Truly astronomical distances! Another mind bending implication of light traveling from a galaxy 2.5 million light-years away, is that the actual light we are seeing through our telescopes is 2.5 million years old as it takes so long for the light waves to reach earth. We are actually seeing the galaxy as it looked 2.5 million years ago, it’s like looking back into history in real-time.
NASA Explanation

4. Dark Shuttle Approaching – 2010 February 1

At first glance this may look like a rare Pink Floyd album cover, but it actually is the Space Shuttle Endeavour in orbit around earth, taken by crew from inside the International Space Station. What makes this picture superb, are the several visible layers of the earth’s atmosphere, each with it’s own color. The earth is the entire left-hand side of the photograph, currently in darkness. The orange layer is the troposphere where clouds are formed and daily weather patterns are observed. The stratosphere appears white and is where temperatures rise with altitude caused by heating of the upper ozone layer; and in the lower layers commercial jets fly above the troposphere where air is cooler and jet burn is maximized. The blue hue behind and above the shuttle is the mesosphere, and here is where most meteorites “burn-up” in the earth’s atmosphere. If interested, you can always learn more about each layer.

In the photograph we see the atmospheric transition that each rocket launched from earth must go through in order to reach earth orbit altitude or beyond. The dark silhouette of the shuttle against the colors of the atmosphere symbolizes humanity’s quest for technological breakthroughs that allow us to observe the earth and universe in new astonishing ways. The encompassing “darkness” in the photo can be a metaphor to the great intellectual and spiritual unknowns we are seeking to illuminate, both on earth and in the heavens. The metaphorical darkness holds clues to how the universe was created, whether there exist other intelligent conscious beings, and in my view, insight into our own symbiotic relationship to the earth.
NASA Explanation

3. A Roll Cloud Over Uruguay, Las Olas Beach in Maldonado – 2010 January 5

The earth’s troposphere is a very eventful place, and on some rare occasions when the weather conditions are just right, interesting cloud formations occur. This incredible photograph documents the unusual roll cloud advancing towards the photographer, as it blocks out the blue skies with a low-pressure cold front. Cool air downdrafts force warmer humid air to rise and cool below their dew point, hence creating Arcus clouds, or roll clouds. Observing these cloud phenomena is an excellent way to understand how low and high pressure weather fronts interact with each other in the troposphere, especially when one sees how large these systems can be, spanning for hundreds of kilometres in the sky.

You can see more pictures of Roll cloud over ocean and Three consecutive roll clouds, amazing!
NASA Explanation

2. Ash and Lightning Above an Icelandic Volcano - 2010 April 19

A spectacular photograph of lightning during the volcanic explosion in Iceland, displays powerful forces at work during the eruption. A study in the journal Science indicated that electrical charges are generated when rock fragments, ash, and ice particles in a volcanic plume collide and produce static charges, just as ice particles collide in regular thunderstorms. Volcanic eruptions also release large amounts of water, which may help fuel these thunderstorms. See another famous photograph of a “dirty thunderstorm” and learn more here.
NASA Explanation

1. NGC 602 and Beyond - 2010 April 3

With the help of super powerful telescopes, we have a window to the beautiful universal landscape surrounding the earth in every direction. A truly stunning picture taken by the Hubble Telescope, it is a portrait of how some stars are created in our universe. Stars in these “clusters” are born out of vast clouds of moving gas and dust, which in the presence of gravitational forces create groups of new stars. The space matter is easily seen being formed in the shape of enormous “pillars”, which surround the newly created stars groups in the centre. Also notice the hundreds of various spiral galaxies seen dotting the photograph beyond the star cluster, further inspiring the human imagination to keep exploring the night time skies and the universe. This is my choice for the number 1 NASA picture of 2010, Part 1 of this series.
NASA Explanation

I hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures and learning new things about the world around you. Look forward to Part 2 coming at the end of 2010.

What Are the Most Rainy Cities in the World? | Top 10 List

Admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 05:21:42 +0000

Have you ever wondered what the wettest cities or places on earth are? You probably have asked this question if you don’t like too much rain or if you would like to see more rain. The list below shows the wettest (most rainy) cities so we can all avoid them. While writing this post, I couldn’t help but notice that the top rainy cities in the world also come with the most abnormal and exotic names. Why? I don’t know!

Photo

1. Cherrapunji, India: Average rainfall of 498.0 in / 126.5 cm

2. Mawsynram, India: Average rainfall of 467.4 in / 118.9 cm

3. Waialeale, USA (Hawaii): Average rainfall of 451.0 in / 114.6 cm

4. Debundscha, Cameroon: Average rainfall of 404.6 in / 102.8 cm

5. Quibdo, Colombia: Average rainfall of 353.9 in / 898.9 cm

6. Bellenden Der Range, Australia: Average rainfall of 340.0 in / 863.6 cm

7. Andagoya, Colombia: Average rainfall of 281.0 in / 713.7 cm

8. Henderson Lake, British Columbia: Average rainfall of 256.0 in / 650.2 cm

9. Kikori, Papua New Guinea: Average rainfall of 232.9 in / 591.6 cm

10. Tavoy, Myanmar: Average rainfall of 214.6 in / 545.1 cm

But hey, at least now you know that if you ever visit these rainy cities you should never forget your umbrella, right?!

Too much rain or too much sun? which one would you pick?

It’s a hard choice but for me I’d go with the first!

What Are the Highest Waterfalls in the World? – Top 10 List

Admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:33:57 +0000

1. Angel waterfall in Venezuela

At a height of 979 meters (3,212 ft), Angle waterfall is the surely the highest waterfall on the face of planet Earth. In almost 1 kilometer of free fall the water from Carrao river turns in to complete mist before reaching the bottom of its journey. A complete single drop of water only travels 807 meters (2,648 ft) before being atomized by the strong opposing wind and disintegrating into mist.

Angel Waterfalls - Venezuela

2. Tugela waterfall in South Africa

Tugena waterfall, located in Royal National Park of South Africa, actually consists of five free-leaping falls, which then sums to a stunning 948 meters (3,110 ft) in length. The water reaches high cliff of Dragon’s Mountains from Tugena river.

Tugela Waterfall - South Africa

3. Ramnefjellsfossen waterfall in Nesdale, Norway

Ramnefjellsfossen waterfalls, which is also known as Utigardsfossen or Utigordsfossen, is the result of Jostedal Glacier river in Norway. This waterfall travels a distance of 800 meters (2,65 ft) in height before reaching the bottom. Much like Tugena, Ramnefjellsfossen waterfall is in stages and not in a single fall.

4. Mongefossen waterfall in Mongebekk, Norway

Stemmed from Monge river, this waterfall drops 774 metres (2,540 feet), not much shorter from Utigardsfossen.

5. Gocta Cataracta waterfall in Peru

Located in Peruvian province of Chachapoyas, Amazonos, Gocta Cataracta falls 771 meters (2,531 ft) before flowing in to Cocahuaycho river. It is interesting to know that this Peruvian waterfall existence was made internationally public only in 2005 by a German and a group of Peruvian explorers.

6. Mutarazi waterfall in Zimbabwe

Only prior to discovery of Gogta Cataracta, Mutarazi fall was listed as the 5^th tallest waterfall in the world. At a height of 761 meters (2,499 ft), Mutarazi falls only 10 meters short of Gogta Cataracta to the 6^th place. However, this waterfall in Zimbabwe still holds its second position in the tallest African waterfalls.

7. Yosemite waterfall in California, USA

Yosemite Waterfalls makes for one spectacular scene. For its simple beauty and magnificent valleys and canyons, it brings in millions of tourist to Yosemite National Park in California every year. Yosemite falls a total 739 metres (2,420 ft) from the top of the upper falls to its base.

Yosemite Waterfall - California

8. Ostre Mardola Foss waterfall in Eikisdal, Norway

Ostre Mardola Foss waterfall drops a height of 560 meters (1837 ft)

9. Tyssestrengane waterfall in Hardanger, Norway

The total drop of Tyssestrengene is 646 metres (2,120 ft), while its tallest single drop falls 312 metres (1,020 ft) before being atomized and broken into fine mist.

10. Cuquenan waterfall in Venezuela

Lastly, Cuquenan Fall (also known as Salto Kukenan, Kukenaam) is the 10^th tallest fall in the world and the second of the kind in Venezuela after Salto Angel (aka Angel waterfall). It is interesting to note that after Angel waterfalls, Cuquenam is also the second tallest free-leaping waterfall on the face of our planet. The fall drops in a single leap to 670 m (2000 ft) and the final portion of it trickles down towards the base of the Kukenan Tepui.

What Are the Biggest Islands on Earth? – Top 10 List

Admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:14:30 +0000

We have put together the largest Islands on the Earth and their respective areas in square mile and square kilometers.

Although Australia could also be considered an island by definition, which is a piece of land surrounded by water, due to its vast size of 7,617,930 square kilometers it is more convincingly categorized as a continent. Thus Australia is exempted from the list of top 10 biggest islands around the world.

1. Greenland also known as Kalaatdlit Nunaat

840,004 square miles (2,175,600 sq Km)

Greenland (Source Google Map)

2. New Guinea in Indonesia

303,381 square miles (785,753 sq Km)

3. Borneo in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei

288,869 square miles (748,168 sq Km)

4. Madagascar

226,917 square miles (587,713 sq Km)

Morondava, Madagascar.

Photo by: Plizzba

5. Baffin Island in Canada

194,574 square miles (503,944 sq Km)

6. Sumatra Island in Indonesia

171,068 square miles (443,065 sq Km)

7. Honshu Island in Japan

87,805 square miles (227,413 sq Km)

Honshu Island in Japan

Photo by: Richardmasoner

8. Great Britain

84,200 square miles (218,077 sq Km)

9. Victoria Island in Canada

83,897 square miles (217,292 sq Km)

Victoria Parliament Buildings, Victoria Island, Canada

Photo by: Travellingred

10. Ellesmere Island in Canada

75,767 square miles (196,236 sq Km)