Image description: This animated gif shows the distribution of water vapor over Africa and the Atlantic Ocean. White areas have high concentrations of water vapor, while dark regions are relatively dry. The brightest white areas are towering thunderclouds. The image was acquired on the morning of September 2, 2010.
Learn more about the water cycle and why water is so important to the health of Earth from NASA’s Earth Observatory.
Image description: This animated gif shows a global composite image showing the glow of natural and human-built phenomena across the planet.
Learn about the technology used to capture these nighttime images of Earth from space on NASA’s website.
Image description:
From the U.S. Department of Interior:
Pan-STARRS comet photographed at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on March 12th.
It still may be possible to view this comet over the next several days in the northern hemisphere. Use binoculars if you have them.
Start looking 30 minutes after sunset in the direction of sunset. Look low about 10 degrees above the horizon near the top edge of twilight. With your binoculars, you should be able to see the comet head with the tail pointed upward.
Learn more about this comet from NASA.
Photo: Rick Jurgen
NASA will host a Google+ Hangout Fri., Feb. 22, live from the International Space Station. The hangout will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST.
You can ask questions about life on the International Space Station to astronauts Kevin Ford, Chris Hadfield, and Tom Marshburn.
NASA will be taking live questions on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ during the hangout. Use the hashtag #askAstro so NASA sees your questions.
Hangouts are limited to 10 people at a time, so NASA is also encouraging fans to submit their video questions ahead of time. Several of these questions will be picked and aired during the hangout when the astronauts answer them live.
Learn more about NASA’s upcoming hangout and how you can participate.
Image description: Brand new manufactured parts give off gases from chemicals and residual solvents involved in their manufacture in a process known as outgassing. These gases filling your cabin are the cause of that familiar “new car smell.”
However, if your new car were actually a new spaceship full of extremely sensitive instruments and astronauts unable to roll down the windows, those gases could be a big problem.
In this image, a NASA technologist studies a paint sample as part of research that has resulted in a low-cost technique for preventing damage from outgassed contaminants. Find out more.
Photo by Pat Izzo, NASA.
