Electric Moon Jolts the Solar Wind.
This is a view of the moon transiting, or passing in front of, the Sun as seen from the STEREO-B spacecraft on Feb. 25, 2007. The Sun is in false color, and the moon appears as a black disk on the upper right. NASA’s STEREO mission consists of two spacecraft launched in October, 2006 to study solar storms. (Credit: NASA)
“With the moon as the most prominent object in the night sky and a major source of an invisible pull that creates ocean tides, many ancient cultures thought it could also affect our health or state of mind — the word “lunacy” has its origin in this belief. Now, a powerful combination of spacecraft and computer simulations is revealing that the moon does indeed have a far-reaching, invisible influence — not on us, but on the Sun, or more specifically, the solar wind.
The solar wind is a thin stream of electrically conducting gas called plasma that’s constantly blown off the surface of the Sun in all directions at around a million miles per hour. When a particularly fast, dense or turbulent solar wind strikes Earth’s magnetic field, it can generate magnetic and radiation storms that are capable of disrupting satellites, power grids, and communication systems. The magnetic “bubble” surrounding Earth also pushes back on the solar wind, creating a bow shock tens of thousands of miles across over the day side of Earth where the solar wind slams into the magnetic field and abruptly slows from supersonic to subsonic speed.”
Alice: It’s a lie. It’s a bunch of sad strangers photographed beautifully, and… all the glittering assholes who appreciate art say it’s beautiful ‘cause that’s what they wanna see. But the people in the photos are sad, and alone… But the pictures make the world seem beautiful, so… the exhibition is reassuring which makes it a lie, and everyone loves a big fat lie.
Manhattanhenge
As Neil deGrasse Tyson ponders:
“What will future civilizations think of Manhattan Island when they dig it up and find a carefully laid out network of streets and avenues?”
They might just think there was some astronomy behind NYC’s layout. I mean, we have (correctly) assumed the same for Stonehenge … why not Manhattan?
Twice a year on either side of the summer solstice, the Manhattan street grid lines up precisely with the setting sun, framing the glowing orb with towering steel and concrete, and creating even more traffic than normal. Last night’s sighting was a washout due to weather, but there will be another opportunity tonight at 8:16 PM to see the marvel of Manhattanhenge.
The path of the sun creeps north and south along with the changing seasons due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis and its orbit around the sun. The 30 degree shift of the Manhattan street grid (and the fact that the island offers uninterrupted horizon on its west side) allow this unique urban view of the sun, perhaps unequaled around the world.
NYC followers, I know you’re out there. Grab a camera and get out there (and feel free to tweet me any good pics)! If the weather messes you up again, well … I guess you can just stare at the 2011 photo above really hard.
(More info at the Hayden Planetarium, photo above by ejpphoto on Flickr)
