Yearly Archives: 2005

musings, stargazing

Rough Week

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This has been an astoundingly stressful week for a lot of people. Those of us not directly affected by Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath have gone about our lives with the daily news reports echoing in our minds. It’s hard to believe this is happening, and that the problems are so widespread. So, take a moment out from your websurfing to send help if you can.

Stargazing-wise, some of the nicest nights for Northern Hemisphere skywatchers (weather-wise) are coming up with the rise of September. So, take a break from whatever you’re doing and step out tonight after dark and check out the stars. The other day Astronomy Picture of the Day had a great picture of the double star Albireo in the constellation Cygnus the Swan. You can spot this beautiful double star with good binoculars or a small telescope, right at the foot of Cygnus. Check it out!

planetary science

Amazing Views

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Hurricane Katrina advances on New Orleans (wait for it to load)
Hurricane Katrina advances on New Orleans (wait for it to load)

Here’s another astonishing bit of comparative planetary science to feast your eyes on as you explore the cosmos via the Web. This morning (August 28, 2005) we have been tracking the progress of Hurricane Katrina as it bears down on New Orleans. Earthlings are used to tracking storms this way on our planet; we’ve been doing it for the past half-century or so and are used to seeing Earth from space (and the actions of its atmosphere).

We’ve been doing the same thing on Mars now for a couple of years or more. The Red Planet doesn’t have hurricanes as we know them, although it does occasionally undergo planet-wide dust storms. But, parts of its surface do experience little storms that are NOTHING like hurricanes, but still fascinating to watch anyway. They’re called “dust devils” and they scurry along the dry and dusty plains, raising columns of dust just like little twisters.

Dust devils on Mars
Dust devils on Mars

Want to watch storms in action? For Earth, surf on over to the Weather Channel, or Goes East satellite page for views of the half of the Earth that the GOES East satellite covers.

For Mars, point your browser to the Mars Exploration Rover Page and look under “Latest Press Images” for the latest weather animations from the Red Planet.

The biggest difference is now that Katrina has the potential to do much damage and take human life. Let’s hope for the best and keep our brothers and sisters in the storm’s path in our thoughts.