For the other Astronuts out there

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• Diamonds in the Sky​
• Image Credit & Copyright: Wright Dobbs​
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• Explanation: When the dark shadow of the Moon raced across North America on April 8, sky watchers along the shadow's narrow central path were treated to a total solar eclipse. During the New Moon's shadow play diamonds glistened twice in the eclipse-darkened skies. The transient celestial jewels appeared immediately before and after the total eclipse phase. That's when the rays of a vanishing and then emerging sliver of solar disk are just visible behind the silhouetted Moon's edge, creating the appearance of a shiny diamond set in a dark ring. This dramatic timelapse composite from north-central Arkansas captures both diamond ring moments of this total solar eclipse. The diamond rings are separated by the ethereal beauty of the solar corona visible during totality.​
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• Tomorrow's picture: perijove 16​

 

Moon and Smoke Rings from Mt. Etna​

Image Credit & Copyright: Dario Giannobile​

Explanation: Yes, but can your volcano do this? To the surprise of some, Mt. Etna emits, on occasion, smoke rings. Technically known as vortex rings, the walls of the volcano slightly slow the outside of emitted smoke puffs, causing the inside gas to move faster. A circle of low pressure develops so that the emitted puff of volcanic gas and ash loops around in a ring, a familiar geometric structure that can be surprisingly stable as it rises. Smoke rings are quite rare and need a coincidence of the right geometry of the vent, the right speed of ejected smoke, and the relative calmness of the outside atmosphere. In the featured image taken about two weeks ago from Gangi, Sicily, Italy, multiple volcanic smoke rings are visible. The scene is shaded by the red light of a dawn Sun, while a crescent Moon is visible in the background.

Tomorrow's picture: sky X
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Somewhere near the top of Etna is a six pack of beer, entombed in the lava. I may have been drunk when I set it down and wandered off. Shit happens, then you DIE! O.P.

 

A smaller moon may have impacted the far side of Luna.

 

Looks like atmospheric Jellyfish.

 

NGC 604: Giant Stellar Nursery​

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI​

Explanation: Located some 3 million light-years away in the arms of nearby spiral galaxy M33, giant stellar nursery NGC 604 is about 1,300 light-years across. That's nearly 100 times the size of the Milky Way's Orion Nebula, the closest large star forming region to planet Earth. In fact, among the star forming regions within the Local Group of galaxies, NGC 604 is second in size only to 30 Doradus, also known as the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Cavernous bubbles and cavities in NGC 604 fill this stunning infrared image from the James Webb Space Telescope's NIRCam. They are carved out by energetic stellar winds from the region's more than 200 hot, massive, young stars, all still in early stages of their lives.
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Tomorrow's picture: Regulus and the Dwarf Galaxy​

 

The fact that they can correct their findings is reassuring.

 

Just wait for Milkomeda.

 

Why just one other?

 

Seen elsewhere, and promptly stolen:

A solar flare is headed this way that prompted the first geomagnetic storm level 4 warning since 2005.

The good news is they are saying the aurora borealis may be visible in the US as south as northern Alabama where I'm at.

The bad news is peak viewing opportunity is going to be between 2 and 5 am tomorrow morning. I may have to get up early. Oh, and there may be power and communications disruptions.

 

I'm going to do my best to stay up all night. That usually means 10 or 11 o'clock. Wife said she's going to keep me awake. We'll see how that works. I'll let you know what we see.

Or if I remember my dream after falling asleep.

 

About 10:30 you take three tablespoons of instant coffee, chase that with water. You'll be up FOR A WHILE.

 

Me Too ! Nice shot and I’m glad you got to see tonight’s event.

After years of patience we finally got a lot of pictures. I’ll try to post a couple later.

 

Rather dark but inspiring none the less.