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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Airglow Ripples over Tibet
NASA ^ | September 01, 2014 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 09/01/2014 12:50:51 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Why would the sky look like a giant target? Airglow. Following a giant thunderstorm over Bangladesh in late April, giant circular ripples of glowing air appeared over Tibet, China, as pictured above. The unusual pattern is created by atmospheric gravity waves, waves of alternating air pressure that can grow with height as the air thins, in this case about 90 kilometers up. Unlike auroras powered by collisions with energetic charged particles and seen at high latitudes, airglow is due to chemiluminescence, the production of light in a chemical reaction. More typically seen near the horizon, airglow keeps the night sky from ever being completely dark.

September 01, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; science
[Credit & Copyright: Jeff Dai]

1 posted on 09/01/2014 12:50:51 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: SunkenCiv

Nice!


2 posted on 09/01/2014 12:51:42 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a stBut is it grammatically catement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
The Big One

3 posted on 09/01/2014 12:51:45 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Sweet!


4 posted on 09/01/2014 12:52:05 PM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: SunkenCiv

That’s something really special.... :)


5 posted on 09/01/2014 12:57:19 PM PDT by moose07 (the truth will out ,one day. Doggies Rock.)
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To: SunkenCiv
The sky there would be beautiful. NO urban lights to obscure even the most distant stars.

I drove from Mexico City back to California a LONG time ago and saw all kinds of desert nights. When I crossed the border into the U.S. I felt safe enough to drive at night.

I hadn't seen those night lights since we went to a "dude ranch" in northern California. WHAT a night sky!

6 posted on 09/01/2014 1:00:28 PM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: SunkenCiv

Earthlings! Pay no attention to the circles in the sky! They are NOT a reference point for an invasion from Mars. Now, go back to your futile existence.


7 posted on 09/01/2014 1:14:46 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: SunkenCiv

Just WOW!


8 posted on 09/01/2014 2:53:26 PM PDT by PistolPaknMama
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To: SunkenCiv

Stunning! Great APOD, Mr. Civilizations. Thank you so much.


9 posted on 09/01/2014 6:23:17 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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