NerdBeach

Dark Clouds of the Carina Nebula

Click for Larger Picture

NASA Picture of the Day

"What dark forms lurk in the mists of the Carina Nebula? These ominous figures are actually molecular clouds, knots of molecular gas and dust so thick they have become opaque. In comparison, however, these clouds are typically much less dense than Earth's atmosphere.

Pictured above is part of the most detailed image of the Carina Nebula ever taken where dark molecular clouds are particularly prominent. The entire Carina Nebula spans more than 300 light years and lies about 7,500 light-years away in the constellation of Carina.

NGC 3372, known as the Great Nebula in Carina, is home to massive stars and changing nebula. Eta Carinae, the most energetic star in the nebula, was one of the brightest stars in the sky in the 1830s, but then faded dramatically. Wide-field annotated and zoomable versions of the larger image composite are also available."

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, N. Smith (U. California, Berkeley) et al., and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Phoenix Looks Around

Click for Larger Picture

NASA Picture of the Day

"Combining more than 400 images, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander views its surroundings in the Red Planet's northernmost region.

The full-circle panorama in approximately true color shows the polygonal patterning of ground at the landing area, similar to patterns in permafrost areas on Earth. South is toward the top. Trenches, where Phoenix's robotic arm has been exposing subsurface material, are visible in the lower half of the image. The spacecraft's meteorology mast, topped by the telltale wind gauge, extends into the sky portion of the panorama."

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University

Edouard in the Gulf

Click for Larger Picture

NASA Picture of the Day

"This image, taken from aboard the International Space Station flight engineer Greg Chamitoff, is of Tropical Storm Edouard as it moved westward along the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico on the morning of Monday, Aug. 4, 2008 .

According to the Associated Press, the storm 'hit the Texas Gulf coast east of Galveston on Tuesday with strong winds and rain but was expected to weaken as it makes its way inland during the day.' "
 

Image Credit: NASA

 

NASA Captures Remarkable Video of Earth and Moon

 This actually came out last week, but we have to get it on the Beach.  On its trip out into the universe, NASA's EPOXI spacecraft turned an eye back towards home.  The spacecraft, from its vantage point 31 million miles away, was able to capture  the moon as it was happily rotating around the earth.   The video is short but very sweet.

via