Tag: space

Friday’s ‘Strawberry Moon’ is the sixth Full Moon of the year

Post author By Wells Baum
Post date June 5, 2020

In what will be the sixth full moon of the year, the Strawberry Moon will bring a penumbral lunar eclipse.

The term “Strawberry Moon” originates from the berries that harvest in North America in June. Other names include the Rose Moon, Hot Moon, Mead Moon, and Honey Moon.

A penumbral eclipse occurs when the Earth’s outer (penumbral) shadow slightly darkens the moon to hues of orange, brown, yellows, and pinks.

The Strawberry moon happens on Friday June 5 at 3:12 pm ET with prime viewing at the dawn and dusk hours for East Coasters of the United States.

Take a look at the Strawberry Moon around the world in year’s past.

Tags moon, Nature, space

Space

The evolution of the spacesuit

Post author By Wells Baum
Post date April 11, 2020

As spacesuit design continues to become thinner, intricate, and more dynamic — there are touchscreen sensitive gloves, an attached helmet and built-in ventilation in the latest uniform — it’s worth looking at how both US and Russian spacesuits have evolved over time.

Start by looking at the original suit (the Marshmallow Moon-Suit) designed for the moon mission above, which was licensed to Mattel for toys, then check out the diagram detailing the history of suits below.

We still like the simplicity and balance of the Apollo A7-L EVA but the blue Apollo A5-L suit is ace as well.

Naturally, there will be variations of spacesuit design especially as other companies invest into future. For example, SpaceX is already working on its own version while other patents like an auto-return home button should the astronauts become untethered, are in development as well.

Tags design, Earth, Nasa, space

Nature

Views of the Super Pink Moon from around the world

Post author By Wells Baum
Post date April 9, 2020

Miss the ‘Super Pink Moon’ rise on Wednesday? We’ve got you covered.

The pink moon is the largest full moon of the year and occurs when the moon gets in close proximity to Earth, making it appear 7% larger and 15% brighter than the average full moon.

The Super Pink Moon isn’t really pink

The Super Pink Moon, however, is not exactly pink. Rather, stargazers should’ve seen a super moon that appeared more reddish-orange and yellow than moss pink.

The dusty particles in the Earth’s atmosphere filter out the traditional white/blue wavelengths to allow more red light to pass through.

The “Pink Moon” is named after the pink wild ground phlox (flower) and signifies the rebirth and renewal of spring after a long, dark winter.

Check out some of the images from across the globe after the jump.

Views of the Pink Moon from around the world — via tw

Tags Earth, Full Moon, Pink Moon, space

Architecture & Design Space

What cities look like at night without electricity

Post author By Wells Baum
Post date April 2, 2020

In his series Villes éteintes (Darkened Cities), French photographer Thierry Cohen imagines the world’s biggest cities at night without urban light.

Cohen uses a special exposure technique called day for night which enables him to capture the cities in the daytime but increase the impression of darkness. Then, he combines the city skylines into the backdrop of starry skies captured at the same altitude.

“By combining two realities, I am making a third that you cannot see … but it exists! I am showing you the missing stars,” Cohen told Wired.

“Photography is way of showing things that we can’t see. Photography is a way to dream. I am not showing you post-apocalyptic cities, merely cities without electricity. I am bringing back the silence.”

Cities lit by the stars

What appears to be an eerie blackout in some of the world’s biggest cities (Hong Kong, LA, New York, Paris, Rio, Shanghai, Tokyo) nonetheless creates a beautiful mirage.

“Photography is about poetry more than it is about reality,” added Cohen. “It is how you see the world. You can show the world you want to show.” See more images on the artist’s website.

Hong Kong at night under stars — Hong Kong

San Francisco at night under stars — San Francisco

Tags NYC, Photography, space

Space

What the northern lights look like from a U-2 spy plane at 70,000ft.

Post author By Wells Baum
Post date March 12, 2020

U-2 pilot and instructor and avid photographer Ross Franquemont took these snaps of the spectacular aurora borealis — or, northern lights, while flying the legendary U-2 spycraft.

“I had no idea how fast the aurora moved and changed. It danced around, changing shape several times a second. That made it a challenge for the photographer in a spacesuit sitting in shaking metal can moving 500 mph,” Ross told The Aviationist about the photos.

The northern lights, which also occur in the Southern Hemisphere — the “Aurora Australis” — have always fascinated mankind. They develop as a result of a solar storm that originates from the sun and blows a stream of charged electrons toward Earth.

The process creates a natural light phenomenon when the electrons collide with the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The colors green and red display between 60 to 150 miles in altitude when the electrons hit atoms of oxygen. Meanwhile, the blue and purple/violet colors occur up to 60 miles away from Earth’s magnetic field.

Tags aurora borealis, Earth, space, sun