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Astronomy Picture of the Day 8-18-02
NASA ^
| 8-18-02
| Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Posted on 08/17/2002 10:15:12 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 August 18
Earth's North Magnetic Pole
Credit: NOAA
Explanation: A magnetic compass does not point toward the true North Pole of the Earth. Rather, it more closely points toward the North Magnetic Pole of the Earth. The North Magnetic Pole is currently located in northern Canada. It wanders in an elliptical path each day, and moves, on the average, more than forty meters northward each day. Evidence indicates that the North Magnetic Pole has wandered over much of the Earth's surface in the 4.5 billion years since the Earth formed. The Earth's magnetic field is created by Earth's partially ionized outer core, which rotates more rapidly than the Earth's surface. Indicated in the above picture is Ellef Ringnes Island, the location of Earth's North Magnetic Pole in 1999.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: atmosphere; aurora; drift; image; ionosphere; ions; magnetic; north; pole
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Perfect timing! A solar flare erupted yesterday, and may produce aurorae in the wee hours starting now (find a dark sky location and look north/northeast after moonset).
Astronomy Fun Fact:
The light of the aurora is caused by charged particles from the sun exciting atoms ("ionization") of various gases in the upper atmosphere ("ionosphere"). The colors depend on the chemical element being ionized. This is very similar to a neon light or fluorescent tube in principle.
Yes you might see aurorae TONIGHT! Here's an address to visit: Solar Terrestrial Dispatch/Spaceweather. Be sure to read it - the aurorae may be seen as far south as southern Georgia.
Get on the APOD PING list! 
To: MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; grlfrnd; ...
APOD PING!
To: petuniasevan
I am so glad to see you back safe and sound. I hope your vacation was a good one!
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to post the APOD thread a few times this last week. It's been such fun!
To: petuniasevan
looks like moonset will be in two hours. i think i'll look at the solar page for auroral activity before i climb up on the platform above the garage to see... cool. thanks for hte ping.
To: glock rocks
To: mtngrl@vrwc
And thanks to YOU and sleaveless for covering for me while I was computer-deprived!
Vacation was kinda fun - no real pressing itinerary - no "Griswold" vacation trip!
To: petuniasevan
no "Griswold" vacation trip!Well that's a plus!
About covering for you (along with sleaveless), it was my pleasure. You are very welcome!
To: petuniasevan
Twer a Blast! Keep me on the reserve roster!:-D
BR
SS 
To: petuniasevan
Welcome back kiddo ... everyone behaved themselves quite well. MG and the Sleavester did an admireable job. There were only two or three days that we didn't have APOD this week, which wasn't too bad! *wink*
Are those drops of Jupiter in your hair? &;-)
9
posted on
08/18/2002 7:27:08 AM PDT
by
2Trievers
To: 2Trievers; petuniasevan
P7...I hope you brought potato salad because I believe there will be a BARBECUE here shortly....
To: sleavelessinseattle
&;-)
To: sleavelessinseattle; petuniasevan
It was a party ! Bump !
To: MeeknMing; sleavelessinseattle
Yes it was MnM ... now who is going to dive down and get all of those undergarments from the bottom of my pool? &;-)
To: 2Trievers; sleavelessinseattle; petuniasevan
Schultz (Hogan's Heroes 1965)
To: petuniasevan
O! Canada!
I'm off in the gray area to the left of Canada. Magnetic north is roughly 29 degrees east of polar north from here. It's fun to see houses built by compass here; they think they are aligned north-south and are quite proud of their carpentry skill!
To: MeeknMing; 2Trievers; petuniasevan
Jeez 2T, Everything was astronomy related in some way...I mean, the Femalien Senator from New York, The mysterious appearance of Hollings around the disappearance of the Dinosaurs?....I admit...I have an unhealthy attraction to obtaining ring side seats for the US application of space borne weaponry to certain sponsors of terrorism, but I wouldn't JUST whoop and light sparklers, I'd comment on the accuracy of the geosyncronous satellite guidance system! Whatdya WANT?:-D
To: sleavelessinseattle; 2Trievers; petuniasevan
ROFL !
It was fun, for sure ! I learned a LOT about Astronomy.....
Oops! How did those pictures get in here?........
To: MeeknMing; sleavelessinseattle; petuniasevan
To: 2Trievers
ROTFL!!! Reminds me of when I starred in the high school play...The audience was torn between horror and sick fascination like at a NASCAR racetrack on a rainy day...Thanks for the Flashback, 2T!;-D
To: petuniasevan
Welcome back bump.:)
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