Using a gradient filter on imagery captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, scientist were able to enhance places of contrast around the sun, making its explosive plasma loops not only more stunning, but also easier to study.
These huge arcs of solar material, which are constrained by magnetic fields, can swirl slowly on the edge of the sun for hours, sometimes even days.
More info here. Link to video.
Hubble telescope snapshot of MyCn18, a young planetary nebula that has an hourglass shape with an intricate pattern of “etchings” in its walls.
A planetary nebula is the glowing relic of a dying, Sun-like star.
Found here.
Google Chrome experiment visualized 100,000 stars to offer a cool web navigation into the Milky Way. Start your interactive galaxy tour here and click on the labels for information / closer look.
And since the world probably won’t end this month, check the upcoming Geminid meteor shower crescendo. The peak of “meteor nights” is after sunset on December 13 and as Astronomy Magazine says it should be the best display of the year.
Nasa’s “Watch the Skies” for more.
A set of 10 edible planet lollipops by Vintage Confections, including the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
All of the lollipops have had their back ends covered in silver edible glitter to mimic the stars in the sky.
Found here. Order here.
Kick-ass soda-bottle toy jet pack for a flight-obsessed toddler by Mosie.
Make yourself one:
Step 1: Spray plastic bottles with plastic primer (I used Krylon Fusion). Let dry.
Step 2: Spray bottles with your favorite silver spray paint (doesn’t have to be plastic specific.) Let dry.
Step 3: Adhere bottles to a piece of cardboard, approximately the width of the bottles next to each other. Let dry.
Step 4: Use ribbon to create backpack-like straps. Adhere. (I used duct tape. That shiz works for everything!)
Step 5: Cut crepe paper strips to create flames. Glue the tops of the strips to another piece of crepe paper. Let dry.
Step 6: Accordion fold the top strip of the flames. Glue to the inside of the bottle tops (which are actually the bottom of the jetpack.) Let Dry.
Step 7: Run around the house making flying sounds with your mouth (or let your kid handle this step)
Found here.
Photo from the open casket funeral of Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov. His spaceflight on Soyuz 1 made him the first cosmonaut to fly into outer space more than once and the first human to die during a spaceflight when the Soyuz 1 space capsule tragically crashed after re-entry on April 24, 1967. (pic via)
Plan of the City is an animated film, conceived and directed by Joshua Frankel,
about the architecture of New York City blasting off
into outa space… to find another race
See the whole video here
“Space” an inflatable cave shelter installation that moves like a living organism, by Berlin based artist Yael Herold
Time lapse of earth as seen from an altitude of 350 km created by Michael König from pictures taken by the crew of expeditions 28 & 29 onboard the International Space Station from August to October, 2011.
Check original post on vimeo, for a full list of shooting locations.
Here’s the original footage, courtesy of “The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth” project by NASA.
20 Hz is a project by artist duo Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt that go under the name Semiconductor.
It is created by data from geo-magnetic storms occurring in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, collected by the CARISMA magnetometer.
The data is interpreted as video and audio patterns, allowing us to “hear” and “see” solar wind captured at the frequency of 20 Hertz.
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