Where's Saturn? Is that a UFO--or the ISS? What's the name of that star? Get the answers from mySKY--a fun new astronomy helper from Meade. . PERUVIAN METEORITE: Evidence is mounting that a meteorite really did strike Peru last Saturday: A scientist from Peru's Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute says that a chondritic space rock lies at the bottom of the water-filled crater near the Peru-Bolivia border. In a related development, Peru's Regional Health Directorate reports an outbreak of dizziness, nausea and dermal injuries among people who have visited the impact site. The injuries are "not serious," according Regional Health Director Jorge López. Stay tuned for updates. TRILOBITES INVADE THE SUN: Last week in Boulder, Colorado, scientists converged on the "Living With A Star" workshop to share the latest research in solar physics. At one point, nearly 200 participants sat slack-jawed as they watched a new movie recorded by Japan's Hinode spacecraft showing a sunspot emerging from the depths of the sun: Click to launch the 19 MB movie. According to some observers, the emerging spot resembled nothing less than a swimming planet-sized trilobite. The unexpected form and behavior of the sunspot is both a challenge and delight to researchers working to understand solar activity. Get the full story from Science@NASA. RAINBOW BLOB: "Last week, I was in New Mexico where we are constructing the SpaceSpot Observatory and a microburst of rain formed nearby," reports amateur astronomer Steve Cullen. "Within the microburst, a rainbow 'blob' became visible. It had all the colors of a rainbow but none of the usual structure." What happened to the rest of the rainbow? (continued below) "This is rainbow fragment," explains atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley. "From where the photographer is standing, the spread of raindrops is too small to light up more of the bow. If Steve was much closer he would not only have got very wet but he would have seen more rainbow. These fragments are often oddly shaped and even distant rain makes them. But beware, not all that is colored is a rainbow!" September 2007 Aurora Gallery [August 2007 Aurora Gallery] [Aurora Alerts] |