APOD 4.1

This is an image of Valles Marineris, a canyon on Mars. Also the largest canyon in the Solar System. It is approximately 3000 km long, 600 km across, and 8 km deep. To put that into perspective, the grand canyon in the United States is 800 km long, 30 km across, and 1.8 km deep. Scientists are still unsure of how the canyon formed, but they hypothesize that it was started as a crack on the planet that cooled billions of years ago. Just by looking at this image of the planet, it is obvious that the canyon is extremely large, as it is visible from space. 

APOD 3.8

I chose this picture because I saw the title was "Red Snow Moon" and I was intrigued. This picture shows a full moon in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The term snow moon dates back to the Native Americans, who named the full moon of every February that. I also love this picture because when comparing the width and size of the buildings surrounding it, they look quite similar. Basically, the moon looks huge! It's so neat. I also love the red glow that is cast on the moon and sky, similar to that of a sunset. And that is because the blue light is scattered away by intervening air.

APOD 3.7

What you are seeing right here is the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, about 11,000 light-years away. It spans approximately 15 light-years, but what is so important about this picture is the inset. What is highlighted is the neutron star at the very center of the supernova. A neutron star is incredibly small and dense remains of the stellar core. This neutron core is different though, in the fact that this particular neutron star is cooling incredibly rapidly to the point that it is forming a frictionless neutron superfluid. This is so different and unique because it is the first observational for this bizarre state of matter.

APOD 3.6

I love Switzerland! I also love this picture because it's beautiful. I also like this picture because so much of the night sky is visible, and the Ms and constellations are labeled, which really helps with people like me who get incredibly disoriented when looking at the night sky. I also love how well captured the Milky Way is in this. Still, my favorite part of this is that so many of the different night sky objects are captured, because being able to see them in perspective, spanned across the night sky is very helpful. Some of the captured constellations and deep sky objects are M33 in Triangulum, M44 the Beehive, the Rosette Nebula, the Orion Nebula, and even the Pacman Nebula.

APOD 3.5

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/1102/rosette_lula_900.jpg

The picture that I chose is an image of the Rosette Nebula. I chose this mostly because we have learned the constellation that this is in, Monoceros. And I think it's neat to be able to see what we're learning as it really appears, and not just in diagrams and words. The stars in the center of the Rosette Nebula are very bright, and they're also fairly young, forming only approximately four million years ago. The stellar winds from these stars are actually forming a whole in the nebula, which is apparent when you look at it. The Rosette Nebula itself spans about 100 light years across, about 5000 light years away. 

3-16-11

On Wednesday Night I was on Siesta Key beach just a little after sunset, at about 8:15, and it was beautiful. Fortunately after driving I forgot to take off my glasses when we went onto the beach, so I could view the sky clearly.
The two main objects I noticed in the sky were very bright in the southwest direction, not very far apart. While I am not 100% sure of my guess, I think they were Rigel and Sirius. Rigel is in Orion, Sirius is in Canis Major.
Another few observations I made were the moon, which was in waxing gibbous phase, and the Pleiades and the Hyades.

Stargaze!

I'm sorry this is so late! I went to a stargaze almost a month ago I think (eek!) somewhere near the end of February, and have only ever remembered to post about it when I'm not next to a computer.
While, I admit, I do not remember all, I have stored a lot in my memory, because I have been meaning to post, so I will try to summarize to my best ability.
I met Amanda at Pine View for the stargaze and the first couple things we observed together were the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia, and the "W" that the stars in it make. Also, I was quick to point out Orion's Belt.
With Mr. Percival's help the three of us were able to identify most of the zodiacal constellations in the sky, and the heavenly G.