Tuesday, November 29, 2016
COMPARISON OF THE MOON AT APOGEE AND PERIGEE Taken by Tom Harradine on November 14, 2016 @ Brisbane, Australia
Some common coins can demonstrate the the visual size difference of the Moon when it is at its farthest point from Earth (apogee - about 406,700km) compared to its closest point to Earth (perigee - about 356,500km). The Moon reaches apogee and perigee once each every 27.55 days.
The photos of the Moon in this image were taken when the Moon was Full, as well as being at an apogee and at a perigee.
ALMOST SPOTLESS
This week the sun was hitting its lowest level of solar activity since 2011 (Nov. 14-18, 2016) as it gradually marches towards solar minimum. This activity is usually measured by sunspot count and over the past several days the sun has been almost spotless. The sun has a pendulum-like pattern of solar cycle of activity that extends over about an 11-year period. The last peak of activity was in early 2014. At this point in time, the sunspot numbers seem to be sliding downwards faster than expected, though the solar minimum level should not occur until 2021. No doubt more and larger sunspots will inevitably appear, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Credit: Solar Dynamics Observatory, NASA.
W5: THE SOUL OF STAR FORMATION Image Credit: José Jiménez Priego (Astromet)
Where do stars form? Many times, stars form in energetic regions where gas and dark dust are pushed around in chaotic mayhem. Pictured, bright massive stars near the center of W5, the Soul Nebula, are exploding and emitting ionizing light and energetic winds. The outward-moving light and gas push away and evaporate much surrounding gas and dust, but leave pillars of gas behind dense protective knots. Inside these knots, though, stars also form. The featured image highlights the inner sanctum of W5, an arena spanning about 1,000 light years that is rich in star forming pillars. The Soul Nebula, also cataloged as IC 1848, lies about 6,500 light years away toward the constellation of the Queen of Aethopia (Cassiopeia). Likely, in few hundred million years, only a cluster of the resulting stars will remain. Then, these stars will drift apart.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)