astronomy

Aurora North

 

 

Time Lapse of Earth from the ISS

Astronaut Don Pettit created this incredible time lapse video during his off hours aboard the International Space Station. It conveys a unique sense of scale that I haven't seen elsewhere. The shots of the aurora, the lighted continents at night and the ISS's solar panels from an open airlock are particularly striking.

Via NPR's Science Friday

"Black Rain" from Semiconductor

This amazing art film by Semiconductor was created using satellite video of solar wind and coronal mass ejections.

Here we see the HI (Heliospheric Imager) visual data as it tracks interplanetary space for solar wind and CME's (coronal mass ejections) heading towards Earth. Data courtesy of courtesy of the Heliospheric Imager on the NASA STEREO mission.

Working with STEREO scientists, Semiconductor collected all the HI image data to date, revealing the journey of the satellites from their initial orientation, to their current tracing of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Solar wind, CME's, passing planets and comets orbiting the sun can be seen as background stars and the milky way pass by.

As in Semiconductors previous work 'Brilliant Noise' which looked into the sun, they work with raw scientific satellite data which has not yet been cleaned and processed for public consumption. By embracing the artifacts, calibration and phenomena of the capturing process we are reminded of the presence of the human observer who endeavors to extend our perceptions and knowledge through technological innovation.

Via boingboing

A Leonid Meteor Explodes

The 1998 Leonids was noteworthy for its many bright meteors. In the above slow-loading sequence, a 1998 Leonid was caught exploding over Los Alamos, New Mexico. In the last one-minute exposure, another Leonid streaks past.

Via APOD

First Solar Eclipse Recorded From Moon

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Photo credit: JAXA/NHK

For the first time ever, we have witnessed a solar eclipse from the moon. On 10 February 2009 Japan's Kaguya lunar orbiter captured the sight of the Earth eclipsing the sun. The spacecraft also recorded this video showing the Earth surrounded by a glowing ring and briefly forming the classic diamond ring that often occurs during a solar eclipse, as seen from down here on Earth.

Via Slashdot