Photo: StefanMal/Depositphotos

The April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse is upon us. Since all of the continental U.S. will get at least a partial eclipse, why not join in on the fun? Given the rarity of the event—this will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the lower 48 until 2044—it's best to make the most out of the experience. To make this sweeping event smooth and memorable, here's everything you need to know about the eclipse, as well as some handy tips.

The Basics

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the surface of the Sun. We owe this to a unique coincidence. While the Sun is about 400 times bigger than the Moon, it is also about 400 times farther away—that's why they appear to be about the same size in the sky from our point of view.

Photo: NASA

The Path of Totality

The eclipse will be seen across North America. However, only a strip of land, roughly 4,000 miles long and 115 miles wide will get a total solar eclipse. The eclipse will begin in Mazatlán, Mexico, before crossing the border in Texas, and continuing its way to the northeast—Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Very small corners of Tennessee and Michigan will also be able to view totality of the eclipse. You can browse this map to make sure if your location is in the path, or how much you'll get to see from the eclipse, and check here for the exact start and peak times.

Many wonder what they'll get to see if they are not in the path of totality. At best, you'll see the Sun almost covered, and the leaves in the trees projecting crescent-shaped shadows, but it will not get dark. For you to experience the day-to-night turn, you must be inside the path. As one Redditor put it, 100% totality is Disney World, while 99.9% totality is the Disney World parking lot.

It is not recommended to go out of your way to reach a destination within the path of totality. There is sure to be a lot of traffic in and out of these areas—in 2017 there were record-breaking traffic jams, and the same is expected this year. Hotel rooms and flights are going for hundreds of dollars, and availability is extremely limited in most places. If you're undecided about making last-minute plans, make a list of pros and cons—some are willing to break the bank for the experience, while others are happy to follow it from their home. Think what's best for you. NASA will also have a livestream of the eclipse for you to follow wherever you are.

Photo: ChinaImages/Depositphotos

Safety

If you want to watch the solar eclipse, you need solar eclipse glasses. These are specially made to protect your eyes. Regular sunglasses don't offer any protection at all, so don't see them as an alternative. If you're in the path of totality, you need to keep them on all the time except for the few minutes of totality, when the Sun's corona appears. If your area only gets a partial eclipse, you need to keep them up any time you want to look at the Sun. Also, put them on before looking at the Sun and don't take them off before you've looked away.

“With the coming eclipse in April, ophthalmologists advise people to be careful and not assume that short glances at the Sun are safe. Damage can occur, they say, in less than a minute,” reports The New York Times. “With every eclipse, ophthalmologists see patients who looked at the Sun and complain afterward that their vision is distorted: They see small black spots, their eyes are watery and sensitive to light. Usually, the symptoms resolve, although it may take several weeks to a year.”

To guarantee they give you the protection you need, make sure your eclipse glasses are ISO 12312-2 compliant. The American Astronomical Society put together a list of vetted vendors where you can get your glasses from. This includes some large retail chains. Many cities will also host events where glasses will be given away.

If you aren't able to get a pair of eclipse glasses or would feel more comfortable with an indirect viewing method, you can make a simple projector with two pieces of cardboard. Just make a tiny prick in the center of one of the cards, and project the shadow onto the other one without ever looking up at the Sun yourself. If you have the time, you can make a simple cardboard projector following this NASA tutorial. In a pinch, a colander can also project the shadows on the ground.

Photo: Andrew_Rybalko/Depositphotos

Weather

While many eclipse chasers are already looking at forecasts, it's hard to determine the conditions so far ahead. While the southwest edge of the eclipse path has better odds at a clear sky, cloud cover can be difficult to pin down, even hours before the eclipse. Still, you should be able to experience the day-to-night phenomenon, as well as the Purkinje effect—as the lights dim, our eyes get more sensitive towards the blue end of the spectrum.

Photography

There will be many people photographing the eclipse, so it's perfectly ok if you just want to take it in with your eyes. Still, if you want to give it a try, we previously talked to photographer Jon Carmichael about capturing the eclipse. “If you’re more of a professional or hobbyist with a DSLR or mirrorless camera,” he told My Modern Met, “you may want a telephoto lens (200-400mm) to get closer detail of the eclipse or a wider lens if you want to capture the scenery around you.” He added, “Also, be sure to have a sturdy tripod, a shutter remote to prevent camera shake, solar filters to protect your eyes, and a camera sensor. It's entirely possible to photograph the eclipse on a budget, especially with how far phone cameras have come.”

You can read our entire conversation with Carmichael and all of his tips here.

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READ: April 8 Eclipse: Everything You Need To Know Before This Once-in-a-Lifetime Astronomical Event

Image: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

This year is full of exciting astronomical events. In just a few weeks, a good chunk of North America will get to see a total solar eclipse, which could also feature a green “devil comet.” Now, NASA has revealed that yet another stellar occurrence will take place later this year. The star system T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB, is predicted to experience a nova outburst, which would make it visible to the naked eye between now and September.

The nova outburst only occurs about every 80 years, and since T CrB last exploded in 1946, this could be the opportunity of a lifetime. The system is located 3,000 light-years away from Earth, and its light is usually magnitude +10—too dim to see without a telescope. However, the nova will make a jump to magnitude +2, meaning it will have a brightness similar to that of the North Star, Polaris.

Contrary to the supernova, which marks the end of a star's life, the nova only expels the outer layers of accumulated material. The energy thrust out of the star temporarily increases its luminosity several thousand times its normal level, providing us with a unique chance to see it.

“Once its brightness peaks, it should be visible to the unaided eye for several days and just over a week with binoculars before it dims again, possibly for another 80 years,” says NASA. T CrB is only one of five recurring novas in our galaxy, and its structure as a binary system with a white dwarf and red giant is what makes it go nova every 80 years.

“The stars are close enough that as the red giant becomes unstable from its increasing temperature and pressure and begins ejecting its outer layers, the white dwarf collects that matter onto its surface,” explains NASA. “The shallow dense atmosphere of the white dwarf eventually heats enough to cause a runaway thermonuclear reaction—which produces the nova we see from Earth.”

As its name suggests, T Coronae Borealis is part of the Corona Borealis constellation, or the Northern Crown. It can be spotted as a small, semicircular arc near Bootes and Hercules. When the nova occurs, it will appear as a “new” bright star. “Look up after sunset during summer months to find Hercules!” suggests NASA. “Scan between Vega and Arcturus, near the distinct pattern of Corona Borealis.”

Bradley Schaefer, professor emeritus at Louisiana State University told Astronomy Magazine, “This is the one big chance you have of seeing the brightest nova of the generation.” Since he points out that T CrB could go up any night or month now, it's best to stay updated and keep an eye on it.

The star system T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB, is predicted to experience a nova outburst, which would make it visible to the naked eye between now and September.

Image: NASA

“This is the one big chance you have of seeing the brightest nova of the generation,” Bradley Schaefer, professor emeritus at Louisiana State University. Here's how to find the Corona Borealis constellation, home to T Coronae Borealis, in the night sky:

View of Granada War Relocation Center from the interpretive signs at the entrance. (Photo:  International Astronomical Union (IAU) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)

h/t: [NASA]

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NGC 5468, a galaxy containing Cepheid variable stars. (Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Adam G. Riess (JHU, STScI))

From the moment of the Big Bang, our universe started expanding and has not stopped. By studying the red shift of far away galaxies, modern scientists have even determined that the pace of this expansion is increasing. Dark energy pushes this expansion, and astronomers and physicists have struggled to come to terms with what's known as the Hubble Tension. Named for the famed telescope that has been used to study the expanding universe, the conundrum is that, in the words of NASA, “the current rate of the expansion of the universe is faster than what astronomers expect it to be, based on the universe's initial conditions and our present understanding of the universe’s evolution.” This problem and what it says about gaps in our knowledge of the universe has recently been confirmed by researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Until recently, there was some concern that the data—coming from the Hubble Telescope—which underlay the Hubble Tension could itself be flawed. If so, perhaps no true unexplainable problem existed. However, a study recently published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters lays this debate to rest. The study announced that by using the most superior modern techniques, they could eliminate “unrecognized crowding of Cepheid photometry” in Hubble's data as a cause of the mystery. “With measurement errors negated, what remains is the real and exciting possibility we have misunderstood the universe,” lead author and Nobel Prize-winner Adam Riess, a physicist at Johns Hopkins University, said in a NASA statement.

The rate of the expansion of the universe is known as the Hubble constant. However, at the outer reaches of our observable universe, this constant as predicted does not match what is actually happening. The Lambda CDM—the current governing system of measuring universe expansion by examining the cosmic microwave background—breaks down at these points. Another measuring system, used by the paper authors to confirm the Hubble Tension exists, is based on observing Cepheid variables. These are dying, pulsating stars whose light's red-shift can expose the past of the universe. The prior concern was that the further one goes back the cosmic ladder, the more these signals would essentially blur into one another, possibly skewing the data to create the tension.

By finding “no significant difference in the mean distance measurements determined from HST and JWST,” the study clarified the tension does in fact exist. “Combining Webb and Hubble gives us the best of both worlds. We find that the Hubble measurements remain reliable as we climb farther along the cosmic distance ladder,” said Riess. This leaves scientists with a problem of immense magnitude in their quest to learn the true origins and present state of the universe. Exactly how fast is it expanding? The JSWT is an essential tool in this study, as it continues to push the boundaries of human knowledge into the final frontier.

The new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have confirmed just how much we still do not know about the origins of our universe.

Showing how the Hubble constant is calculated. (Photo: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI))

The Hubble Tension is the name assigned to the problem of accurately understanding just how fast the universe is expanding and why it does not match what we know.

h/t: [Live Science]

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An artist’s impression of the quasar J059-4351. (Photo: ESO/M. Kornmesser)

Stars dominate our nighttime visual universes, dazzling us with beauty and sparkle as they rise in the evening and shift with the seasons. Chief among the stars is our Sun, so bright you cannot look directly at it without vision damage. However, stars—and even our Sun—are not the brightest things in the universe. Quasars hold that highest honor. These are celestial phenomenon within the active galactic nuclei category: at the center is a black hole sucking in matter from the surrounding space, including stars themselves. The matter swirls into an accretion disk, where the gas and stars and matter all collide to produce heat, visible to us as light. Excitingly, researchers have discovered the brightest quasar yet known—500 trillion times brighter than our own Sun.

This speck of light in a vast universe was photographed by telescopes in the 1980s but categorized initially as a star. Modern technology has vastly accelerated the process of discovering quasars, as artificial intelligence can be trained to scan for signatures of these phenomena. Last year, researchers using the Siding Spring Observatory and the Very Large Telescope in Chile realized the “star” was in fact a quasar, now known as J0529-4351. According to a statement from the European Southern Observatory, the quasar is 12 billion light-years away, meaning the light we see is from the distant past. “We have discovered the fastest-growing black hole known to date,” Christian Wolf, lead author paper in Nature Astronomy, said in a statement. “It has a mass of 17 billion Suns, and eats just over a Sun per day. This makes it the most luminous object in the known Universe.”

The black hole is no longer expanding at the rate it once did. “It is a surprise that it has remained unknown until today, when we already know about a million less impressive quasars. It has literally been staring us in the face until now,” stated co-author Christopher Onken. However, the “past” of the quasar can tell us a lot. Because of its massive size, it is the perfect fit for new techniques intending to measure the mass of black holes. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, a quasar with a light-sucking black hole at its center is the brightest thing in the universe, and the next big thing in astronomy.

Scientists have discovered the brightest quasar yet known, 500 trillion times as bright as our own Sun.

ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) captures the quasar. (Photo: ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2/Dark Energy Survey)

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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In late February 2024, history was made when the first female-led space company, 4SPACE, took Jeff Koons‘ art to the Moon. The successful launch makes Koons the first artist to have authorized artwork on the lunar surface and everything came together thanks to the vision of 4SPACE founder Chantelle Baier.

Baier founded 4SPACE as a vehicle to bridge non-traditional space companies with the space industry. Under her leadership, 4SPACE has achieved the first authorized art gallery to be sent to the Moon in 2024, a significant milestone in the footprints on the Moon. And it seems fitting that Koons, a pioneer of the contemporary art world, would be the first creative to hold this honor.

Jeff Koons: Moon Phases comprises 125 unique artworks, each consisting of three components: a sculpture that was installed on the Moon, a sculpture that stays on Earth, and an NFT that corresponds with the sculptures on the Moon and the Earth. The 125 miniature stainless steel Moon Phase sculptures are currently displayed on the Moon in a cube, which was designed and built by 4SPACE in consultation with Koons.

“The Moon Phase artworks are associated with individuals who made important accomplishments in human history,” 4SPACE revealed in a written statement. “The list of names is universal, from various cultures throughout the world, fields, and time periods. Displayed in front of each artwork, the names memorialize the figures. In this way, Koons honors some of the greatest achievements of the past to inspire future generations.”

The work made its way into space via the Intuitive Machines Nova-C lunar lander, Odysseus, named after the hero of Homer's Greek epic. The Nova-C is part of NASA's CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center.

When Odysseus touched down on the lunar surface, it became the first successful U.S. moon landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. And it is the first time that a privately owned spacecraft has successfully landed.

We had a chance to speak with Baier about this momentous occasion and what it means to her, as well as what it took to make this outer space art gallery come to life. Read on for My Modern Met's exclusive interview.

What sparked your initial love of space?

I was born in the land of the living sky in Canada, where there was no light pollution, and I was surrounded by the vastness of trillions of twinkling stars in the sky. We would spend a lot of time stargazing, so naturally I dreamt of going to the Moon since I was a kid. I began to realize NASA has led to wonderful advancements that help us here on Earth, and I began to learn how important space is for our future. The idea of exploration beyond Earth’s gravity and traveling the Moon and Mars ignited my curiosity to learn more about space and the earth.

Photo: David Bellman

What motivated you to start 4SPACE?

I was encouraged by a mentor of mine, Dr. Chris McKay, to set up 4SPACE to hone in on my diverse skillset that ranges from technical knowledge to the entertainment/fashion industry. 4SPACE was set up as a vehicle to bring non-traditional space companies into the space industry. With this non-linear way of thinking, our focus is on commercializing the space industry by incorporating branding, marketing, and outside-of-the-box ways of approaching traditional industries.

What accomplishment are you most proud of since 4SPACE was founded?

We just became the first woman-owned company on the Moon. We also became the first company to place a clear art gallery with Jeff Koons Moon Phases statues on the Moon on board the Intuitive Machines Lunar Lander that successfully landed on February 22, 2024.

Photo: Chris Farina

How did you become involved in the Jeff Koons project?

In 2021, I contacted a small company that had just won an award from NASA to go to the Moon. Their mission had scientific NASA payloads, and I had an idea for a project to be placed on the Moon. The lunar lander didn’t have enough power for our payload, so I had to redesign a powerless payload. My investor had a great relationship with Jeff Koons' son Sean, and we commissioned him to design 125 statues.

What type of research went into creating the display for his art?

Extensive work in many different areas spanning material research, adhesives that would survive the trip to the Moon, space radiation, lunar environment, and analysis.

What type of work went into getting permission to leave something like this on the Moon?

Currently, there aren’t any permissions per se. It is our ethos to think of sustainability, scientific relevance, marketing, commercializing, and the return on investment in a circular way of thinking in every project. We understand the rare opportunity we have, we know these projects will be placed on the Moon and remain there forever, so we want them to have scientific relevance, paired with new ways of marketing, branding, and connecting our everyday lives to the Moon. Our approach is to ensure multiple facets of success in each project that positively support the space industry, NASA objectives, and what’s relevant to our partners whether it be artists, brands, you name it.

How does it feel to have 4SPACE involved in such a groundbreaking project?

Out of this world. It’s truly an honor to be a part of this historic mission to the Moon and to have had such a cultural impact and footprint.

What do you hope that people take away from this work?

I hope to inspire a new way of thinking. I hope to show the world that you can dream and achieve your goals no matter what challenges you face. I came from very modest roots, and I believe we need to support each other and work together to create a better world here on Earth. Utilizing the new opportunities that the Space Industry has to offer, everyone brings hope to us here on Earth. New ways of exploring that open up new jobs and hopefully a bright future.

If I can take a world famous artist and put his work on the Moon… please take my word, there is a new industry coming and it’s the space industry.

4SPACE: Website

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by 4SPACE.

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Photo: (Background image) NASA/USGS Mars globe. Geologic interpretation and annotations by Pascal Lee and Sourabh Shubham 2024.

According to recent findings, there is a huge volcano the size of Mount Everest on the surface of Mars with a thick layer of glacial ice at its base. It is located near the Martian equator, in the rocky terrain of the Tharsis volcanic province. As its name might suggest, the area is rife with volcanic activity, and this newly discovered volcano is one of three that have already been identified in the region.

The volcano has an elevation of 29,600 feet, making it taller than Mount Everest, which stands at 29,032 feet. It is also approximately 280 miles wide, which is about as long as the state of Colorado is from North to South. Because of its size, the volcano has likely been active for a long time.

Even though several rovers have been exploring Mars in both the past and present, this volcano wasn't discovered until earlier this year. This may be due to the severe erosion on the volcano's surface, which has made it beyond easy recognition over the years. NASA’s SETI team states, “Imaged repeatedly by orbiting spacecraft around Mars since Mariner 9 in 1971—but deeply eroded beyond easy recognition, the giant volcano had been hiding in plain sight for decades in one of Mars’ most iconic regions, at the boundary between the heavily fractured maze-like Noctis Labyrinthus (Labyrinth of the Night) and the monumental canyons of Valles Marineris (Valleys of Mariner)”

The discovery of this volcano, especially the thick layer of ice at its base, could hold exciting truths for researchers and others interested in the history of the Red Planet. “Its discovery points to an exciting new place to search for life,” the SETI team explains, “and a potential destination for future robotic and human exploration.”

A giant active volcano has been discovered on the surface of Mars that is taller than Mount Everest.

Photo: Background image: NASA Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) digital elevation model. Geologic interpretation & annotations by Pascal Lee and Sourabh Shubham 2024.

Photo: Background images: NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Context Camera (CTX) mosaic and Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) digital elevation model. Geologic interpretation & annotations by Pascal Lee & Sourabh Shubham 2024.

h/t: [Interesting Engineering]

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It took me until my last day in space to get a good picture of these! pic.twitter.com/BChtFZBvk7

— Terry Virts (@AstroTerry) June 10, 2015

The International Space Station is a triumph of human dreams and engineering. It has orbited the Earth for over 25 years now, and it has been visited by over 270 astronauts hailing from around the world. It has hosted an impressive 269 spacewalks, but it mainly serves as a laboratory in space for the conducting of high-tech research that has illuminated the far reaches of the galaxy. The station whips around the globe in 92 minutes, giving stunning views to its select astronaut inhabitants—including 16 sunrises and sunsets per day. On his last day on the ISS in 2015, retired NASA Commander of the International Space Station, Terry Virts, indulged his passion for photography one last time to capture an ancient view—that of the Egyptian pyramids.

The stunning image peers down upon the pyramids, which look shockingly large and solid. These monuments, a wonder of the ancient world, were as impressive a human feat in their day as the the ISS was the the millennia. They blend into the nearby sand, but their building blocks are visible. The view from space is pretty incredible. “I was ready to stay up there because there were still pictures I wanted to take, there were still videos I wanted to do,” Virts told Time Magazine back then. “If you’re an astronaut flying in space, you gotta look at that as your last flight. And so you gotta enjoy it. And I’ve got the rest of my life to be on Earth.”

Virts had a prolific career with NASA and in the US Air Force. “I was hooked at a very young age,” Terry admitted. “I grew up with posters of space, rockets and galaxies on my wall. Even then, I loved astronomy, learning about it in magazines. My parents even got me a telescope when I was in sixth grade.” Reading the famous book The Right Stuff propelled him to strive for the career as a teen. “My favorite part of being in space was obviously the view,” Virts told Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in 2023. “Someone had to count up the images I took, and they told me that I had taken the most pictures ever in space. People always ask me if I would go back, and I tell them I would if I could make a movie. Seeing the Aurora Borealis is rare and it was amazing. I also enjoyed seeing the galaxy at night with so many stars, different deserts, the Bahamas and the coloration of the planet.”

Astronaut Terry Virts loved shooting photography from his postings on the International Space Station—on his last day he even captured the pyramids of Egypt.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Terry Virts Astronaut (@astro_terry)

The International Space Station, photographed in 2010. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

h/t: [IFL Science]

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Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Space enthusiasts have long dreamed of exploring Mars. Today, we may be closer than ever to this dream coming true. One of the main goals of NASA's Artemis mission is to establish a permanent base on the Moon that will facilitate human missions to the Red Planet. With a little luck, this may happen in the 2030s. For now, we can feel like we're roaming the surface of Mars thanks to a short film put together by ElderFox Documentaries, using high-resolution footage shot by NASA's rovers.

By stitching together images taken by Mars rovers Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity—along with contributions by JPL-Caltech, MSSS, Cornell University and ASU—ElderFox Documentaries offers a sweeping tour of the red planet. From towering mountains to dusty valleys, the clips capture the various facets of Martian topography. The 4K quality of the footage makes for a near-immersive experience that will benefit from the biggest screen you have access to.

The filmmaker has made sure to pay tribute to each rover's individual achievements: “Spirit and Opportunity, the trailblazers, revealed the first conclusive evidence of water on Mars, forever changing our understanding of the planet. The Curiosity rover, a mobile laboratory, has been climbing Mount Sharp for over a decade, unveiling layers of Martian history and providing insights into the planet's climatic changes. Perseverance, the latest rover, accompanied by the Ingenuity helicopter, explores Jezero Crater, an ancient lakebed. This duo represents the pinnacle of Mars exploration technology, with Ingenuity serving as the first aircraft to fly on another planet, scouting and capturing breathtaking aerial images.”

Ultimately, the fact that these images are so easily available is a testament to the scientific advances in space exploration, and everything that is yet to come. “As viewers immerse themselves in this Martian experience, they are reminded of the significance of these moments in cosmic history,” writes ElderFox. “The video encourages viewers to appreciate the monumental strides made in understanding our celestial neighbor and to share this awe-inspiring journey with others.”

You can watch Mars in 4K below, and subscribe to ElderFox's YouTube channel to stay up to date with their space footage compilations.

Explore the surface of Mars with this 4K video compilation put together by ElderFox Documentaries.

ElderFox Documentaries: YouTube
h/t: [Open Culture]

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Recently in Sweden, photographer Peter Rosén caught a burst of several colors, especially green, around Venus in a dazzling, rare show. To fully appreciate the significance of this, it’s important to understand how light works. Light passes constantly around us and through our solar system, emanating from sources such as the sun. Sunlight—typically the white light we see illuminating our world—comes to us across millions of miles of space. When rays enter the atmosphere at an angle, they are refracted by the gas and other particles in the air we breathe. Blue light has short waves, so it bounces around even more than other colors in the spectrum—it colors the celestial dome into our blue sky. Blue is, however, just one color of the rainbow that makes up light.

Rosén—who according to his bio is a photographer, digital artist, and amateur astronomer based in Stockholm—pointed his camera at the planet Venus on January 8, 2024. “On Monday morning I woke up early to get a beautiful view of Venus and the Moon rising over Stockholm's skyline,” he told Spaceweather. “Because of the extreme cold that still persists over southern Sweden, I also got an unexpected bonus in the form of a rare green flash on Venus.”

This flash comes from a combination of factors. The light from Venus must have traveled at the exact right angle, allowing the atmosphere of Earth to fully separate the light into its component colors. Known as atmospheric dispersion, the red light rims the bottom and the blue the top of the planet. But the blue light can be heavily scattered by particles in the atmosphere, leaving instead the slightly longer green wavelengths above the planet.

Rosén's video displays this brilliant green, but other colors are visible as well. The cold of the night made for the perfect conditions for the rare occurrence. Other celestial bodies have green flashes, including the sun.

A photographer in Sweden captured a rare green flash off Venus on a cold night.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Peter Rosén (@pixmix_photo)

h/t: [Live Science]

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Photo: VAMPY1/Depositphotos

The Earth spins around an axis that is roughly vertical, and as it spins, we move through day and night. When the seasons change, the angle of the axis also moves. But occasionally, something strange can be observed. Some days are ever so slightly longer or shorter than others. Similarly, tracking the motion of Earth's pole, scientists have long observed slight shifts in its location once every 8.5 years. A new paper in Nature Communications finds these deviations are due to what is called an inner core wobble. This finding sheds light on the inner workings of our planet.

The researchers behind the study—under Hao Ding of Wuhan University—tracked the polar rotation, meaning the shifting of where the polar axis is. They completed this work in 2019, and then built upon it for the next paper by analyzing day lengths. These indicate a 0.17 degree misalignment between the axis of the core and that of the mantle (and crust above). This may come from the differences between the inner and outer core. The former is solid, the latter liquid. Since the tilt is westwards, it also suggests that the northwestern portion of the core is densest.

“In summary, based on the Earth’s rotation observations (PM and ΔLOD), we experimentally confirmed for the first time that the 8.5 yr signal is the ICW,” the paper concludes. This scientific wobble may seem insignificant to us on Earth's crust, but understanding what is within the Earth is critical to studying magnetic fields, space, and our planet's history. What was once a homogenous mass of molten rock is now a complex and multi-layered phenomenon. There may be similar planets in the universe, and understanding Earth is essential to this exploration.

Earth's inner core is not stable, and new research suggests it shifts periodically in a “wobble” around its axis.

Earth's layers. (Photo: Kelvinsong via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED)

h/t: [Space]

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READ: New Study Finds That Earth’s Core Wobbles on Its Axis Every 8.5 Years