Ok, here are some pictures representing what has been happening the last few weeks.
First there’s the election of Scott Brown. This description of a neutron star flaring perfectly captures the press reaction to Brown’s election:
In December 2004, a neutron star flared up so brightly, it temporarily blinded all the x-ray satellites in space, and lit up the Earth’s upper atmosphere. This tremendous blast of energy was from a giant flare created by the neutron star’s twisting magnetic field. Objects like this are called magnetars, and they produce magnetic fields trillions of time more powerful than those here on Earth. These fields are so strong they can actually buckle the surface of the neutron star causing these powerful star quakes.
And here’s what it looks like (Credit: NASA–as always, click on the pictures to see a bigger version):
The second is a false color photo of Neptune, whose description:
The image reveals the presence of a ubiquitous haze that covers Neptune in a semitransparent layer. Near the center of the disk, sunlight passes through the haze and deeper into the atmosphere, where some wavelengths are absorbed by methane gas, causing the center of the image to appear less red. Near the edge of the planet, the haze scatters sunlight at higher altitude, above most of the methane, causing the bright red edge around the planet. By measuring haze brightness at several wavelengths, scientists are able to estimate the thickness of the haze and its ability to scatter sunlight.
The image is among the last full disk photos that Voyager 2 took before beginning its endless journey into interstellar space.
encapsulates the successful attempt by Repubicans to confuse the public about the national healthcare bill (death panels!!!!). I only hope the last sentence will soon describe their fate. Anyways, here’s the picture (Credit: NASA/JPL):
And finally a picture of Jupiter from its south pole which suggests … ok, I got nothing–I just like the picture (Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute):
Since it’s Friday, here’s a poem:
Look to my ear
What do you see
And where do you wish
To go?
