EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Archive - Afternoon Analemma for Athens

January 23, 2021

Analemma1600

Every weekend we present a notable item from our archives. This EPOD
was originally published January 23, 2004.

Provided by: Anthony Ayiomamitis
Summary authors & editors: Anthony Ayiomamitis; Jim Foster

The image above is a set of 44 multi-exposures on the same frame of
film taken from January through December of 2003, in Athens, Greece at
precisely 16:00:00 Local Meridian Time (the foreground was added
later). This analemma represents the motion of the Sun during the
course of one year as observed in the late afternoon. As a result of
the Earth's tilt about its axis (23.5 degrees) and its elliptical orbit
about the Sun, the position of the Sun in the sky changes from one day
to the next, even when observed at the same time on each day of the
year. Furthermore, the figure 8 loop the Sun makes in the sky over a
12-month period (analemma) will be inclined at different angles
depending on one's geographical latitude. The latitude of Athens is
approximately 38 degrees. Imaging the Sun over a given location for an
entire year is a demanding photographic accomplishment indeed -- few
such attempts have been successful.


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Sun Links

* NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory
* NASA Solar Eclipse Page
* NOAA Solar Calculator
* The Sun-Earth Connection: Heliophysics
* The Sunspot Cycle
* Solar System Exploration: The Sun
* The Sun Now
* This Week’s Sky

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 5 weeks, 4 days, 21 hours, 27 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Development of a Zinnia Flower

February 24, 2021

TOP

BOTTOM

Photographer: Menashe Davidson
Summary Author: Menashe Davidson

When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your
world for the moment
- Georgia O’Keeffe

In nature, flowers have a simple purpose: reproduction. Insects are
lured into their pollen-filled centers to facilitate the plant’s
fertilization and survival. Coincidentally, humans are attracted by
the harmonious colors, soft curves, fragrance and symmetrical forms
of flowers.

Zinnias (family compositeae) convert all their shoots on every
stem into flowering branches and have a single flower head (top).
The head consists of small, fertile, symmetrical flowers gathered in
the central disk ( disk florets), surrounded by a petal-shaped row
of infertile and asymmetrical flowers ( ray florets, in the
periphery). Very popular in horticulture, zinnias are excellent plants
to have in my apartment garden. With them close by, I'm able to
photograph all stages of growth (bottom). In these pictures, I focused
on the core of the flower's head (capitulum) as it matured. The
resulting photos show the magnificent beauty of the variable shapes,
colors and curves.
Like the painter O'Keeffe said, it became my world for many moments.
* Rishon LeZion, Israel Coordinates: 31.9730, 34.7925

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Plant Links

* Discover Life
* Tree Encyclopedia
* What are Phytoplankton?
* Encyclopedia of Life - What is a Plant?
* USDA Plants Database
* University of Texas Native Plant Database
* Plants in Motion
* What Tree is It?

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 10 weeks, 21 hours, 27 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Camel Rock, New Mexico

May 24, 2021


RickS_IMG_5164A (1)

Photographer: Rick Stankiewicz
Summary Author: Rick Stankiewicz
Featured above is Camel Rock, New Mexico. Found 10 miles (16 km)
north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the foothills of the Sangre de
Cristo Mountains (along U.S. Highway #285), this obscure, natural
sandstone formation, to many, resembles a camel resting in the
desert. It’s easily visible from the highway, but there’s a small
pull-off if you wish to have a closer look -- now protected by a wire
fence to avoid vandalism. No matter how you look at it, this
long-necked, flat-headed “ dromedary” certainly is true to its name.
Photo taken on October 6, 2013.
Photo details: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi camera; ISO 200; f/10;
1/200^th second exposure; 28mm (cropped).


Camel Rock, New Mexico Coordinates: 35.847240, -105.993700


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Geology Links

* Earthquakes
* Geologic Time
* Geomagnetism
* General Dictionary of Geology
* Mineral and Locality Database
* Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
* This Dynamic Earth
* USGS
* USGS Ask a Geologist
* USGS/NPS Geologic Glossary
* USGS Volcano Hazards Program

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 2 weeks, 3 days, 12 hours, 15 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Dew Drops on Spider Web

June 24, 2021

DSC_0735_5bw

Photographer: Teresa Molinaro
Summary Authors: Teresa Molinaro; Jim Foster

During an excursion on the high Madonie, in Sicily (Italy), my eye
was drawn to this weathered spiderweb, adorned with shimmering
drops of dew. All that was required to show it off at its best was
just a little more light, which was achieved by shooting in black and
white and slightly increasing the ISO. Because beads of water
have a tendency to gather at roughened spots on the web, at thread
intersections for instance, this is where the larger dew drops are
found. Photo taken on June 14, 2020.
Photo details: Nikon D3400 camera:105 mm; 1/250 second exposure; f/5.6;
ISO 400.
* Parco delle Madonie, Sicily, Italy Coordinates: 37.84861,
14.0497265

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Animal Links

* Animal Diversity Web
* ARKive
* BirdLife International
* Bug Guide
* Discover Life
* Integrated Taxonomic Information System
* Microbial Life Resources
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the
-
Universities Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 6 weeks, 6 days, 12 hours, 15 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Archive - Full Moon Over Mount Rainier

July 24, 2021

6a0105371bb32c970b0133f3ebedd1970b Every weekend we present a
notable item from our archives. Inspired by the full moon this weekend,
we are re-posting this spectacular EPOD originally published September
9, 2010.

Photographer: Sally Budack
Summary Author: Sally Budack; Jim Foster
The above photo shows the full Moon of July 24, 2010 centered
directly above the ever picturesque Mount Rainier, Washington. It
was taken just before sunset some 50 miles (80 km) away in Tacoma,
Washington. This snow capped composite, or stratovolcano, stands
14,411 feet (4,392 m) above sea level towering above its surroundings.
It is the loftiest summit in the Cascade Range. When the Moon is
near the horizon, it seems to appear larger to us than when it resides
higher in the sky. This is an illusion, however. It's no bigger
when perched on the horizon than when overhead. What's different is
that at the horizon the Moon has a point of reference, and our brain
processes visual information into a spatial reference frame.

Photo details: Camera Maker: SONY; Camera Model: DSLR-A100; Focal
Length: 70.0mm (35mm equivalent: 105mm); Aperture: f/5.6; Exposure
Time: 0.0040 s (1/250); ISO equiv: 125; Exposure Bias: none; Metering
Mode: Matrix; Exposure: program (Auto); White Balance: Auto; Flash
Fired: No; Color Space: sRGB.
* Mount Rainier Coordinates: 46.85278, -121.76028

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Night Sky Links

* Space Weather Live
* Space Weather Live Forum
* About the Moon
* American Meteor Society
* Arbeitskreises Meteore e.V.
* Global City Lights
* Heavens Above Home Page
* The International Meteor Organization
* Lunar and Planetary Institute
* MoonConnection
* NASA Eclipse Web Page
* Understanding The Moon Phases

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 11 weeks, 1 day, 12 hours, 15 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)

EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Bootleg Wildfire Pyrocumulus Cloud

August 24, 2021


RLarson_pyro_0 (004)

Photographer: Ron Larson [ rlarson@ccountry.net]

Summary Authors: Ron Larson; Jim Foster

The photo above shows an extensive pyrocumulus cloud taken above
the Bootleg Wildfire in south-central Oregon, on the afternoon of
July 16, 2021. Apparently, a similar cloud would build each afternoon
and dissipate by early evening. At the time the photo was snapped, this
fire was just 7% contained, having consumed some 250,000 acres
(101,171 hectares) and with a perimeter stretching approximately 200
miles (320 km) in length. Over 2,000 fire fighters were called in to
help battle the Bootleg Fire. Pyrocumulus clouds may form if a fire
becomes so energetic that it’s essentially creating its own weather.
Intense heat above the fire initiates an updraft that generates
convective cells, eventually leading to the formation of these cumulus
type clouds.
* Bootleg Wildfire in Oregon: 42.9660 -121.578

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Cloud Links

* Atmospheric Optics
* The Cloud Appreciation Society
* Cloud Atlas
* Color and Light in Nature

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

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