Just mesmerizing.
Category Archives: Dynamic Earth
China Lands Probe on the Moon, Iran sends Monkey into Space, maybe.
China has accomplished the first soft landing on the moon since 1976! They are only the third country to do so.
China successfully soft-lands probe on the moon
Update: The “Jade Rabbit” rover is sending back it’s first pictures…
China Moon Landing: ‘Jade Rabbit’ Rover Basks in Lunar Bay of Rainbows
Iran says they have launched a monkey into space, controversy ensues…
Mars was habitable less than 4 billion years ago
Getting closer and closer to finding remains of life of the Red Planet.
Mars Curiosity rover finds life-supporting chemicals
Image: NASA/JPL
Thanks Vrajesh!
Good News for Future Mars Missions
Well one hurdle won’t be quite as high as expected…
Radiation on Mars ‘Manageable’ for Manned Mission, Curiosity Rover Reveals
Shrinking Arctic Sea Ice Means Scorching US Summers
This has been expected for awhile based on computer models. Now we have evidence…
Bill Nye’s Open Letter to President Barack Obama
Comet Lovejoy
ISON is gone, but Comet Lovejoy can be seen, but not without binoculars or a small telescope and clear skies….
Adieu, Comet Ison; Hello Comet Lovejoy
Image:P-M Hedén
Some People are Still Thinking About the Future
Dynamic Earth – Virtual Earthquake Lab Make-up
If you were absent when we did the Virtual Earthquake Lab in Dynamic Earth you can make it up this week only! Here is the link…
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Instructions
NOTE: This lab requires that both Java is enabled on your browser and pop-ups are allowed for the website!
Select “Epicenter and Magnitude” a pop-up window should appear. Follow the instructions, the lab should take about 45 to 60 minutes to complete. If you are unsure how to complete and activity just click on the question mark and all will be explained. When completed take the quiz (there is no class code) and print the certificate with your results and bring it in. If you cannot complete the lab at home the computers in the media center are enabled to complete this lab.
ALSO NOTE: When entering the location of the epicenter in your journal, remember that longitude and latitude are divided into 60 minutes not decimals!
See me if you have any problems.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield on the Importance of Space Exploration
Chris Hadfield is one cool guy. PBS News Hour’s Miles O’Brien interviewed Hadfield about his new book.
India On Track to be the First Asian Country to Reach Mars
India’s MOM (Mars Orbital Mission) probe is on it’s way to Mars after a bit of a rocky start, thus making India only the fourth space agency to have a probe make it to the red planet.
India Set To Be The First Asian Country To Reach Mars
India’s Mars Orbiter Overcomes Engine Glitch
note – Space.com is becoming too clogged with ads.
How Soft Tissue Is Sometimes Preserved in Dinosaur Fossils
Now here’s an interesting paleontological mystery.
More on Moon Dust
NASA’s LADEE probe is on it’s way to the moon…
The Northern Lights
Also known as the aurora borealis. This is just beautiful.
Northern Lights Timelapse – Nov 9, 2013 from Richard Gottardo on Vimeo.
Video: Richard Gottardo
Mom Angry Because Son Makes Honor Roll
Lava Engulfs Can
It would have been better if the can was full. I wonder how close they had to get to get this footage.
Moon Dust is a Problem
If we intend to go back to the moon. I was speaking today about volcanic ash and how it can be extraordinarily abrasive like moon dust. Here is an article on the very subject to illustrate my point.
More Bad News from the Philippines
Typhoon Haiyan is one of the most powerful typhoons (or hurricanes) ever recorded. The death toll may hit 20,000.
Philippine typhoon deaths climb into thousands
Philippines Reeling in Aftermath of Typhoon
Image: indybay.org
What The World Would Look Like Without the Polar Ice Caps
National Geographic has just released a map showing the best representation of what the world will look like if the polar ice caps melt.
What if Everyone Jumped at Once?
Another nice video from Vsauce…
An Opalized Pine Cone
This is very cool. A fossilized pine cone where the gemstone opal has replaced the organic material. “This beautiful specimen was found at… “Kens Retreat” in the Coocoran mining area N/West of Lightning Ridge…” in Australia of course. The image credit links to a website selling such beautiful specimens.
image: Opal Auctions
Petrified Wood
Diamond Worlds May Not Have Oceans
Interesting…
Sugru
One of my favorite new products in the last couple of years is Sugru, a moldable silicone rubber compound. I mentioned it in one of my classes today so I thought I’d link to their rather irreverent video explaining their product. It’s a bit pricey, but invaluable for fixing A LOT of stuff.
Hubble Spots The Most Distant Galaxy Ever
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away….