• ES Picture of the Day 04 2022

    From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Tue Jan 4 11:01:00 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Belt of Venus Viewed from Sicily, Italy

    January 04, 2022

    2021 10 The belt of Venus_2

    Photographer: Vincenzo Russo

    Summary Author: Vincenzo Russo

    When we take pictures during a sunset, usually we are attracted by
    the bright colors visible in the west and rarely point the camera in
    the opposite direction, towards the east. Yet, if the conditions are
    favorable (with a clear and transparent sky) the show we would see
    would be just as beautiful. This photo, taken near Acireale, Sicily
    on October 21, overlooks the Ionian Sea and serves as an example of
    why the eastern horizon at sunset is underappreciated. The color
    element that dominates the horizon is the pink band that extends from
    about 10-20 degrees above the horizon, known as “ The Belt of
    Venus”.

    The Belt of Venus is an atmospheric phenomenon resulting from
    backscattering of the red wavelength spectra of light at sunset by
    atmospheric particles that are to the east of the observer at the
    anti-solar point. Near the horizon, due to the shadow projected by
    the Earth, the belt progressively decreases in brightness and color
    until it disappears completely. The phenomenon lasts a few minutes and
    is visible even at dawn, just before sunrise.

    Photo details: Nikon D810a, Nikon 24-120 f/4 G lens, 48mm, f/4,
    ISO-200, 1/125 second exposure
    * Acireale, Sicily, Italy Coordinates: 37.6078, 15.1667

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    Atmospheric Effects Links

    * Atmospheric Optics
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    * Refraction Index
    * Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
    * What is a Rainbow?

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu
    --- up 4 weeks, 2 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes
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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Fri Feb 4 11:01:08 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Dramatic Skies

    February 04, 2022

    DramaticSkies2SMALL

    Photographer: Tomas Slovinsky

    Summary Author: Tomas Slovinsky

    Shown above is one of my most favorite shots I have ever taken. The
    photograph comes from La Palma in the Canary Islands, where I
    spent about two weeks in July. At the beginning of the night, I
    wondered if it was worth it to shoot in such extremely strong wind. I
    met with Jakob and Florian - a fantastic duo of German photographers-
    and finally, we found a leeward place. The position was at high
    altitude with an amazingly clear atmosphere that allowed the universe
    to shine at its greatest. The view overlooking the dark volcanic
    caldera and cloud inversion contrasted with the spectacular night
    sky. Only in the darkest places on Earth can you see the Milky Way
    shining that bright, accompanied by airglow above the horizon and
    even zodiacal light extending among the sky.
    * La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain Coordinates: 28.7134, -17.9058

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    Night Sky Links

    * Space Weather Live
    * Space Weather Live Forum
    * About the Moon
    * American Meteor Society
    * Arbeitskreises Meteore e.V.
    * Global City Lights
    * Heavens Above Home Page
    * The International Meteor Organization
    * Lunar and Planetary Institute
    * MoonConnection
    * NASA Eclipse Web Page
    * Understanding The Moon Phases

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Fri Mar 4 11:00:30 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    The Hidden Beauty of Seeds and Fruits

    March 04, 2022

    Menashe_Picture1_thistle

    Menashe_Picture2_thistle

    Photographer: Menashe Davidson

    Summary Author: Menashe Davidson

    This is Menashe Davidson's 100th Earth Science Picture of the Day!

    When it comes to admiring plants, flowers generally hog all of the
    attention. This is true also for the thistle plant, the small globe
    thistle ( Echinops genus, Asteraceae family). The plant’s Hebrew
    name is 'kipodan,” meaning “hedgehog,” because the spherical
    inflorescence of the flowers resembles a hedgehog. This thistle’s
    purple flower balls create a stunning display both in gardens and in
    the wild. Their cheerful blooms are drought tolerant and grow very well
    in poorer soils. (first photo).

    However, after the flower's petals fade, the fruits and seeds of the
    small globe thistle plant are eye-catching in their own right. This can
    be seen on the second photo, enhanced by the illumination of the early
    morning Sun.

    The thistle globe’s fruit or what we call "fruit" is just a bundle of
    many single fruits called " achenes," that are inserted directly on
    an apical plate. The botanical term "achene" means a dry,
    one-seeded fruit lacking special seams that split to release the seed.
    The seed coat is attached to the thin, dry ovary wall (husk) by a short
    stalk, so that the seed is easily freed from the husk. The small
    achenes are topped by membranous scales to ease dispersion (bottom
    photo).

    Menashe_Picture3_thistlea

    Note that the top photo was taken on May 2020, and the middle and
    bottom photos were taken on October 1, 2021, while walking along the
    Natal Stream (Lakhish Bank) Israel.
    * Nahal (stream) Lakhish Bank, Israel, Coordinates:
    31.801508, 34.672122

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    Plant Links

    * Discover Life
    * Tree Encyclopedia
    * What are Phytoplankton?
    * Encyclopedia of Life - What is a Plant?
    * USDA Plants Database
    * University of Texas Native Plant Database
    * Plants in Motion
    * What Tree is It?

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Mon Apr 4 12:01:10 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    The Belt of Venus Above Mount Etna and Piazza Armerina

    April 04, 2022


    Dario_Belt Of Venus Above Mount Etna and Piazza Armerina LD (003)

    Photographer: Dario Giannobile

    Summary Author: Dario Giannobile

    The Belt of Venus is a particular coloring effect just above the
    horizon that can be observed in the east shortly after sunset or just
    before dawn in a westerly direction -- normally between 10 and 20 °
    above the horizon. The pinkish coloration is caused by Sun’s rays
    illuminating the higher layers of the horizon, coloring them with a
    pink/orange light.

    This sunlight is however partially shielded by the horizon behind which
    the Sun has set (or from which it's rising). For this reason, a shadow
    forms in the lowest layer of the atmosphere, highlighted as a blue
    band, referred to as the dark segment, below the Belt of Venus. The
    Earth’s shadow in this case should not be confused with the shadow of
    the entire planet that obscures the Moon during a lunar eclipse. It’s
    certainly the shadow of the Earth but more precisely of a small
    portion; the horizon hiding the Sun.

    In this image, the Belt of Venus and the dark segment can be easily
    identified thanks to the "dividing line" that separates differences in
    brightness and color just above the snowcapped Etna Volcano. Note
    that below Etna is the city of Piazza Armerina, famous for the
    Villa del Casale, a UNESCO heritage site. Photo taken on
    December 20, 2021.

    Photo details: Canon 6D camera, Sigma 150 – 600mm lens, f/8, ISO-400,
    1/60 second exposure
    * Piazza Armerina, Sicily, Italy Coordinates: 37.3730, 14.3559

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    Atmospheric Effects Links

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    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

    --- up 5 weeks, 21 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)
  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Wed May 4 12:01:12 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Calymene Fossil in Spain

    May 04, 2022

    Calymene(2)

    Photographer: Carlos Gómez Fernández

    Summary Author: Carlos Gómez Fernández

    Hidden within the landscape around the Cijara Lake and reservoir in
    western Spain are metamorphic shakes dating to the Ordovician
    Period. During this geologic period that occurred between 485 and 444
    million years ago, global ocean levels were exceptionally high, which
    led to considerable sediment deposition on the seabed. As a result
    of combined processes of high temperatures and pressures, specimens
    buried in these sediment layers were preserved as fossils. One such
    outstanding example is the calymene fossil shown in the photo
    above. Despite the harsh environmental conditions over the past several
    hundred million years, the very fragile fossil remains almost fully
    intact. The 50mm diameter camera lens serves as a scale for this
    specimen. This photo was taken on February 3, 2022.
    * Embalse de Cijara, Cáceres, Spain Coordinates: 39.3683, -4.9533

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    Geology Links

    * Earthquakes
    * Geologic Time
    * Geomagnetism
    * General Dictionary of Geology
    * Mineral and Locality Database
    * Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
    * This Dynamic Earth
    * USGS
    * MyShake - University of California, Berkeley
    * USGS Ask a Geologist
    * USGS/NPS Geologic Glossary
    * USGS Volcano Hazards Program

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

    --- up 9 weeks, 2 days, 21 minutes
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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Mon Jul 4 12:01:10 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Northern Lights Take Center Stage Over Central Alaska

    July 04, 2022

    JohnC_IMG_3998Chumack032722HRweb (004)

    JohnC_IMG_4020ChumackHRweb (004)

    Photographer: John Chumack

    Summary Author: John Chumack; Jim Foster

    Featured above are photos of auroras I captured while teaching my
    annual Aurora Workshop in Alaska earlier this year. After a
    two-year shutdown due to pandemic concerns, we finally received
    clearance to go north again. It was worth the wait! I have to say that
    these were some of the best auroras I’ve seen in 32-years of observing
    them.

    Northern lights or auroras occur whenever the energized particles
    that makeup the solar wind interact with oxygen and nitrogen
    molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere (at least 50 miles or 80 km
    above the surface). The key is that the Sun has to be sufficiently
    active to generate solar wind streams that reach the Earth’s orbit.
    Photos taken in late March 2022.
    * Chena Hot Springs, Alaska Coordinates: 65.0518, -146.0510

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    * Image Gallery: Atmospheric Effects
    * What is a Rainbow?

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Thu Aug 4 12:00:34 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    The Marmolada and the Partial Lunar Eclipse of May 16, 2022

    August 04, 2022

    Allesandra_partially eclipsed Moon near the Marmolada Dolomiti_a

    Partially eclipsed moon

    Photographer: Alessandra Masi
    Summary Author: Alessandra Masi

    Featured above is the partially eclipsed Moon, about to set near the
    Marmolada (10,968 ft or 3,343 m), the highest mountain in the
    Dolomites Range of the Alps Mountains. This lunar eclipse could
    only be observed as a partial eclipse in Europe. The Marmolada
    Glacier at right center is the most extensive glacial system in the
    Dolomites. Photo taken on May 16, 2022.

    Photo details: Canon 5D Mark iii camera; Canon 24/105 a ,73mm lens;
    multi-exposures.


    Belluno, Veneto, Italy Coordinates: 46.1425, 12.2167


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    Geography Links

    * Atlapedia Online
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    * Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
    * Types of Land
    * World Mapper

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

    --- up 22 weeks, 3 days, 20 minutes
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  • From Dan Richter@1:317/3 to All on Tue Oct 4 12:01:12 2022
    EPOD - a service of USRA

    The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
    captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
    community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
    relevant links.


    Quechee Gorge in East Central Vermont

    October 04, 2022

    PattiW_IMG_0088 (003)a

    PattiW_IMG_0084 (003)a

    Photographer: Patti Weeks

    Summary Author: Patti Weeks

    The Quechee Gorge is a 165-feet deep (50 m), 1-mile long (1.6 km)
    narrow chasm on the Ottauquechee River. As Vermont’s deepest gorge,
    it is nicknamed by locals as “ Vermont’s Grand Canyon.” It was
    formed following the retreat of the massive Pleistocene
    Laurentide Ice Sheet, which covered all of present-day Canada and
    much of the northern United States, between 95,000 to 20,000 years ago.

    When the ice sheet began its retreat about 18,000 years ago, the
    Ottauquechee River re-emerged and began to flow east again, but was
    redirected from the Connecticut River to the newly-formed narrow
    Glacial Lake Hitchcock, which ran nearly 200 miles (320 km) from
    what is now northern Vermont to central Connecticut. A glacial
    terminal moraine (near present day Hartford, Connecticut) called
    the Rocky Hill Dam, blocked the flow of the Connecticut River for
    approximately 4,000 years, during which the Ottauquechee River filled
    the lake with 170 feet (52 m) of sand, mud and silt. When the dam
    eventually broke, the river made a sharp turn to the south, rapidly
    cutting through the soft mud. Geologist Frederick Larsen estimated
    that this initial erosion occurred in less than a week. The river has
    been slowly carving through the hard Devonian age schist and
    quartzite bedrock, the Gile Mountain Formation, ever since —
    for the past 13,000 years.

    Now, the Quechee Gorge is a tourist attraction. The Ottauquechee River
    is also rated as a Class III+(V) whitewater river for 3.7 miles
    (6.0 km). According to a report by American Whitewater, the water
    level was low (<30 cfs) most of this past summer. Bottom photo shows
    whitewater details. Even at its best whitewater level, however, there
    is a challenging rapid area called “Well Enough.” After a thorough
    scouting, you might need to leave “well enough” alone and just portage.
    The second photo, focusing nearly straight down into the gorge from the
    bridge, shows some large rocks that could make rafting navigation
    challenging, whether the water covers them or not. Photos taken on July
    19, 2022.


    Quechee Gorge, Vermont Coordinates: 43.6374, -72.4085


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    Geography Links

    * Atlapedia Online
    * CountryReports
    * GPS Visualizer
    * Holt Rinehart Winston World Atlas
    * Mapping Our World
    * Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
    * Types of Land
    * World Mapper

    -
    Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
    Space Research Association.

    https://epod.usra.edu

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