http://www.dirtyskies.com Experiences in Urban Backyard Astronomy Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:32:44 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I came by these images via a NASA employee who is related to an acquaintance of my wife (got that?). Although I do not have the particulars of how they came to be taken or by whom, I've decided to post them because they are just too cool! The NASA employee ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2010/06/15/uncommon-shuttle-images/ NASA has waved off the first landing opportunity of space shuttle Discovery because of weather. The next landing opportunity at Kennedy Space Center in Florida is at 10:23 a.m. ET via CNN UPDATE: The space shuttle Discovery will not land today. The last landing attempt for Kennedy will take place tomorrow at 7:34 a.m, then it's ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2010/04/19/nasa-delays-shuttle-landing-because-of-weather/ This is the launch plume from the recent shuttle launch STS-131 Discovery just before sunrise. I of course missed what was a freaking amazing launch from my vantage point in the Tampa Bay area but about 30 minutes after the launch I went outside and saw this. It's amazing how ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2010/04/07/sts131-discovery-launch-plume/ I found this video over at NASA this morning. It's called the 2009 Tour of the Cryosphere. Produced by the Goddard Space Flight Center, it combines the satellite imagery with computer animation to take the viewer on a brief tour of our planet's frozen regions –- the cryosphere. "The Tour of ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2009/09/04/2009-tour-of-the-cryosphere/ Crepuscular rays occur when objects such as mountain peaks or clouds partially shadow the sun's rays. The name crepuscular means "relating to twilight" and these rays are observed at sunrise and sunset. Crepuscular rays appear to diverge outward from the setting sun, and are visible only when the atmosphere contains ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2009/08/26/crepuscular-rays-uncommon/ …is another man's good fortune. I was fortunate enough to pick up an Orion 10-inch SkyQuest Dob, Orion 9 and 25 mm plössls, a Celestron 3.6mm plössl, and an Orion DeepView 35mm multi-coated lens for a measly $200 at a "we're getting divorced get this the hell out of our house" ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2009/04/13/one-mans-misery%e2%80%a6/ Over the years of neglect endured by my blog's software engine (if it ain't broke right?) somehow my blogroll and all my links stopped appearing on my site. Apparently my software was so out of date that the original db calls we no longer supported! Anyhoo, I've rectified this and verified/updated ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2009/03/08/apologies-to-fellow-bloggers/ I grabbed the camcorder last night and went out to watch the launch of NASA's Kepler Telescope from my front yard located about 150 miles west-southwest of the Cape Canaveral. To my eyes the engine glow was quite red (atmospheric effect?). It was very clear and dark so there is ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2009/03/07/kepler-telescope-launch-from-my-front-yard/ Once again I was on my way out at the right time and noticed this pairing in the sky. You'd think I'd be more informed right? So I ran back in and grabbed the camera for a few shots. http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2009/02/28/moonvenus-conjunction-on-feb-27th/ Mercury and Jupiter at 6:27 PM EST. http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2009/01/01/new-years-day-followup/