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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Neptune: Once Around
NASA ^
| July 14, 2011
| (see photo credit)
Posted on 07/14/2011 3:10:48 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Neptune rotates once on its axis in about 16 hours. So, spaced about 4 hours apart these 4 images of the solar system's most distant gas giant cover one Neptune day. Recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope in late June they combine exposures made with visible and near-infrared filters to show high-altitude clouds composed of methane ice crystals against the planet's normally blue cloud tops. Because Neptune's axis of rotation is tilted to its orbital plane by 29 degrees, compared to Earth's 23.5 degrees, Neptune experiences seasons analogous to Earth's. As early summer comes to Neptune's southern hemisphere and winter to the north, Hubble observations have shown cloud activity shifting to the northern hemisphere. In fact the progression of Neptune's seasons has come around once since its position was predicted by French mathematician Urbain Le Verrier and British mathematician John Couch Adams, and the planet was subsequently discovered by German astronomer Johann Galle on September 23, 1846. With an orbital period of approximately 165 years, this week on July 12, Neptune has been once around the Sun since its discovery date.

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; neptune; science
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To: SunkenCiv
We agree about Uranus, Carl Sagan, Halley, his comet, Bill Haley, and his Comets. We’z compatible, friend.
21
posted on
07/14/2011 4:19:53 PM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: SunkenCiv
*groan*
Now that’s really bad. :-P
22
posted on
07/14/2011 4:43:30 PM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
To: TheOldLady
I just washed the ring out of it the other day.
23
posted on
07/14/2011 4:44:36 PM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
To: SunkenCiv
Sagan had some weird-ass ways of pronouncing things. Like his, “Bullions and bullions of stars !” I thought he was talking about making soup or gold bars.
24
posted on
07/14/2011 4:46:40 PM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
To: TheOldLady
We must thank Sunken for his lovely picture of Uranus. It does look very shiny and clean.
25
posted on
07/14/2011 4:49:03 PM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
To: fieldmarshaldj; SunkenCiv
Come now, that’s one of his better ones. At least you can figure it out easily.
26
posted on
07/14/2011 5:46:22 PM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: fieldmarshaldj
It’s a laundry-day chore for you? Ew.
27
posted on
07/14/2011 5:49:29 PM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: fieldmarshaldj
Sagan was a pro-death, leftist, loony-tunes nutjob. I didn’t find that out until after I bought Cosmos, dang it.
28
posted on
07/14/2011 5:51:46 PM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: fieldmarshaldj; SunkenCiv
You’re right. Civ’ did a spectacular job cleaning up Uranus.
You realize that they’re going to pull this thread and zot the three of us, right?
29
posted on
07/14/2011 5:54:02 PM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: TheOldLady; fieldmarshaldj
If I get zotted, I’m blamin’ the two of ya.
Everyone else, however, will be thanking ya, and breathing a sigh of relief. ;’)
30
posted on
07/14/2011 7:00:34 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(Yes, as a matter of fact, it is that time again -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: Cincinatus' Wife
Apropos of nothing:

(attributed to Edgar Watson 'Ed' Howe)
31
posted on
07/14/2011 7:28:36 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(Yes, as a matter of fact, it is that time again -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: SunkenCiv; fieldmarshaldj
It would NOT be Free Republic without you, Civ’!
Of course, we can do without fieldmarshaldj, and even me, but never you.
32
posted on
07/14/2011 7:50:27 PM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: TheOldLady
Do they employ any other types at PBS ? Maybe you can unload your purchase on a like minded Sagan loon... :-P
33
posted on
07/15/2011 5:58:33 AM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
To: TheOldLady
After all, it only gets washed once in a blue moon. ;-D
34
posted on
07/15/2011 5:59:32 AM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
To: TheOldLady
Hey, like Laz, I’m here to give the joint atmosphere.
35
posted on
07/15/2011 6:00:22 AM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
To: fieldmarshaldj
Unload it? Sure! You interested?
36
posted on
07/15/2011 9:31:28 AM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: fieldmarshaldj
37
posted on
07/15/2011 9:32:10 AM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: fieldmarshaldj
Oh, very well. [sing-song] Free Republic wouldn’t be the same without you either, I suppose. ;-p
38
posted on
07/15/2011 9:33:46 AM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: TheOldLady
39
posted on
07/15/2011 9:37:18 AM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
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