Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Two Hours Before Neptune
NASA ^ | February 15, 2015 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 02/15/2015 10:21:38 AM PST by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Two hours before closest approach to Neptune in 1989, the Voyager 2 robot spacecraft snapped this picture. Clearly visible for the first time were long light-colored cirrus-type clouds floating high in Neptune's atmosphere. Shadows of these clouds can even be seen on lower cloud decks. Most of Neptune's atmosphere is made of hydrogen and helium, which is invisible. Neptune's blue color therefore comes from smaller amounts of atmospheric methane, which preferentially absorbs red light. Neptune has the fastest winds in the Solar System, with gusts reaching 2000 kilometers per hour. Speculation holds that diamonds may be created in the dense hot conditions that exist under the cloud tops of Uranus and Neptune. Twenty-six years later, NASA's New Horizons is poised to be the first spacecraft to zoom past Pluto this July.

February 15, 2015

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; neptune; science
[Credit: Voyager 2, NASA]

1 posted on 02/15/2015 10:21:38 AM PST by SunkenCiv
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
2015 APoD Calendar
The Big One

2 posted on 02/15/2015 10:21:52 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary men)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

That is an amazing photo!

bet those diamonds will be even more expensive than the ones from Kimberly!


3 posted on 02/15/2015 10:24:14 AM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

BTTT.


4 posted on 02/15/2015 10:25:03 AM PST by OddLane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: left that other site

Several hundred billion dollars per carat and technologically impossible today.


5 posted on 02/15/2015 10:30:54 AM PST by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

How about some shots of Venus?


6 posted on 02/15/2015 10:37:18 AM PST by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Pope Francis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Not that I’m disappointed, but I was expecting a photo of Winter Storm Neptune...


7 posted on 02/15/2015 10:43:16 AM PST by Calvin Locke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

That would be some rock!

And a perfect post for valentine’s day! LOL!


8 posted on 02/15/2015 10:44:38 AM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson