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Astronomy Picture of the Day 4-10-02
NASA ^ | 4-10-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

Posted on 04/10/2002 1:41:02 PM PDT by petuniasevan

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 April 10
See Explanation.  Clicking on the picture will download
 the highest resolution version available.

Unusual Rocks in Death Valley
Credit & Copyright: Joe Orman

Explanation: How did those big rocks end up on that strange terrain? One of the more unusual places here on Earth occurs inside Death Valley, California, USA. There a dried lakebed named Racetrack Playa exists that is almost perfectly flat, with the odd exception of some very large stones, one of which is pictured above. Now the flatness and texture of large playa like Racetrack are fascinating but not scientifically puzzling -- they are caused by mud flowing, drying, and cracking after a heavy rain. Only recently, however, has a viable scientific hypothesis been given to explain how 300-kilogram stones ended up near the middle of such a large flat surface. Unfortunately, as frequently happens in science, a seemingly surreal problem ends up having a relatively mundane solution. It turns out that high winds after a rain can push even heavy rocks across a momentarily slick lakebed.


TOPICS: Astronomy Picture of the Day; Miscellaneous; Science
KEYWORDS: california; deathvalley; desert; earth; image; mud; mystery; mysterysolved; photography; playa; racetrack; racetrackplaya; rocks; slide; wind
This does seem more like a mix of geology and meteorology,
but the Earth and its wonders are still a part of the universe.

As always, ask to be added to the APOD PING list OR
subscribe to the APOD topic (look under General Interest).

1 posted on 04/10/2002 1:41:02 PM PDT by petuniasevan
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To: MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; grlfrnd...
An off-topic APOD PING!
2 posted on 04/10/2002 1:46:40 PM PDT by petuniasevan
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To: petuniasevan
Running a little late today?
3 posted on 04/10/2002 1:47:52 PM PDT by aomagrat
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To: aomagrat
Well, I work rotating shifts; normally I get the image up in the early morning.
I don't always have time when I'm on day shift to post the image before leaving for work so I do it after I get home.
4 posted on 04/10/2002 1:53:57 PM PDT by petuniasevan
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To: petuniasevan
Better late than never :-)
5 posted on 04/10/2002 1:59:41 PM PDT by aomagrat
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To: petuniasevan
the Earth and its wonders are still a part of the universe

Guess you wouldn't be a Flat-earther?

6 posted on 04/10/2002 2:23:44 PM PDT by RightWhale
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To: RightWhale
No.
7 posted on 04/10/2002 2:27:49 PM PDT by petuniasevan
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To: petuniasevan; Graewoulf

" It turns out that high winds after a rain can push even heavy rocks across a momentarily slick lakebed."

I knew that ... sorta' like pushing my sportscar too hard around a wet curve at breakneck speed ... OK, OK ... sorta', not like that! &;-)

Woulfie ... I think I stick to poetry and not the laws of physics! &;-)

8 posted on 04/10/2002 4:43:22 PM PDT by 2Trievers
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