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Updated Jakobshavn Glacier C …
Title Updated Jakobshavn Glacier Calving Front Retreat from 2001 through 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, ocean sea levels raise. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006. This animation is an update of and extension to animation ID #3374. In this version, a pause is added on the approach to the Jakobshavn glacier in order to highlight the meltwater lakes visible on the Greenland ice sheet. In addition, semi-transparent overlays and text indicate different regions of the glacier before the calving lines are shown. After the calving front retreat, an additional segment shows a zoom to a global view. During the pull out, historic calving front locations are shown followed by a color overlay showing regions of increase and decrease in the Greenland ice sheet.
Completed 2007-07-20
Updated Jakobshavn Glacier C …
Title Updated Jakobshavn Glacier Calving Front Retreat from 2001 through 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, ocean sea levels raise. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006. This animation is an update of and extension to animation ID #3374. In this version, a pause is added on the approach to the Jakobshavn glacier in order to highlight the meltwater lakes visible on the Greenland ice sheet. In addition, semi-transparent overlays and text indicate different regions of the glacier before the calving lines are shown. After the calving front retreat, an additional segment shows a zoom to a global view. During the pull out, historic calving front locations are shown followed by a color overlay showing regions of increase and decrease in the Greenland ice sheet.
Completed 2007-07-20
Updated Jakobshavn Glacier C …
Title Updated Jakobshavn Glacier Calving Front Retreat from 2001 through 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, ocean sea levels raise. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006. This animation is an update of and extension to animation ID #3374. In this version, a pause is added on the approach to the Jakobshavn glacier in order to highlight the meltwater lakes visible on the Greenland ice sheet. In addition, semi-transparent overlays and text indicate different regions of the glacier before the calving lines are shown. After the calving front retreat, an additional segment shows a zoom to a global view. During the pull out, historic calving front locations are shown followed by a color overlay showing regions of increase and decrease in the Greenland ice sheet.
Completed 2007-07-20
Updated Jakobshavn Glacier C …
Title Updated Jakobshavn Glacier Calving Front Retreat from 2001 through 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, ocean sea levels raise. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006. This animation is an update of and extension to animation ID #3374. In this version, a pause is added on the approach to the Jakobshavn glacier in order to highlight the meltwater lakes visible on the Greenland ice sheet. In addition, semi-transparent overlays and text indicate different regions of the glacier before the calving lines are shown. After the calving front retreat, an additional segment shows a zoom to a global view. During the pull out, historic calving front locations are shown followed by a color overlay showing regions of increase and decrease in the Greenland ice sheet.
Completed 2007-07-20
Updated Jakobshavn Glacier C …
Title Updated Jakobshavn Glacier Calving Front Retreat from 2001 through 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, ocean sea levels raise. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006. This animation is an update of and extension to animation ID #3374. In this version, a pause is added on the approach to the Jakobshavn glacier in order to highlight the meltwater lakes visible on the Greenland ice sheet. In addition, semi-transparent overlays and text indicate different regions of the glacier before the calving lines are shown. After the calving front retreat, an additional segment shows a zoom to a global view. During the pull out, historic calving front locations are shown followed by a color overlay showing regions of increase and decrease in the Greenland ice sheet.
Completed 2007-07-20
Updated Jakobshavn Glacier C …
Title Updated Jakobshavn Glacier Calving Front Retreat from 2001 through 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, ocean sea levels raise. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006. This animation is an update of and extension to animation ID #3374. In this version, a pause is added on the approach to the Jakobshavn glacier in order to highlight the meltwater lakes visible on the Greenland ice sheet. In addition, semi-transparent overlays and text indicate different regions of the glacier before the calving lines are shown. After the calving front retreat, an additional segment shows a zoom to a global view. During the pull out, historic calving front locations are shown followed by a color overlay showing regions of increase and decrease in the Greenland ice sheet.
Completed 2007-07-20
Updated Jakobshavn Glacier C …
Title Updated Jakobshavn Glacier Calving Front Retreat from 2001 through 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, ocean sea levels raise. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006. This animation is an update of and extension to animation ID #3374. In this version, a pause is added on the approach to the Jakobshavn glacier in order to highlight the meltwater lakes visible on the Greenland ice sheet. In addition, semi-transparent overlays and text indicate different regions of the glacier before the calving lines are shown. After the calving front retreat, an additional segment shows a zoom to a global view. During the pull out, historic calving front locations are shown followed by a color overlay showing regions of increase and decrease in the Greenland ice sheet.
Completed 2007-07-20
Updated Jakobshavn Glacier C …
Title Updated Jakobshavn Glacier Calving Front Retreat from 2001 through 2006 with Blue/White Elevation Change over Greenland
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier gradually receded until about 1950, where it remained stable for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, ocean sea levels raise. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006. This animation is an update of, and extension to, animation IDs #3374 and #3434. In this version, the pause on the approach to the Jakobshavn glacier where the meltwater lakes on the Greenland ice sheet are visible is shortened. In addition, the colors showing regions of elevation increase and decrease over the Greenland ice sheet are modified.
Completed 2007-09-27
Updated Jakobshavn Glacier C …
Title Updated Jakobshavn Glacier Calving Front Retreat from 2001 through 2006 with Blue/White Elevation Change over Greenland
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier gradually receded until about 1950, where it remained stable for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, ocean sea levels raise. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006. This animation is an update of, and extension to, animation IDs #3374 and #3434. In this version, the pause on the approach to the Jakobshavn glacier where the meltwater lakes on the Greenland ice sheet are visible is shortened. In addition, the colors showing regions of elevation increase and decrease over the Greenland ice sheet are modified.
Completed 2007-09-27
Jakobshavn Glacier Flow in t …
Title Jakobshavn Glacier Flow in the year 2000 and Calving Front Retreat from 2001 to 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, it raises sea levels. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006.
Completed 2006-09-12
Jakobshavn Glacier Flow in t …
Title Jakobshavn Glacier Flow in the year 2000 and Calving Front Retreat from 2001 to 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, it raises sea levels. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006.
Completed 2006-09-12
Jakobshavn Glacier Flow in t …
Title Jakobshavn Glacier Flow in the year 2000 and Calving Front Retreat from 2001 to 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, it raises sea levels. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006.
Completed 2006-09-12
Jakobshavn Glacier Flow in t …
Title Jakobshavn Glacier Flow in the year 2000 and Calving Front Retreat from 2001 to 2006
Abstract Since measurements of Jakobshavn Isbrae were first taken in 1850, the glacier has gradually receded, finally coming to rest at a certain point for the past 5 decades. However, from 1997 to 2006, the glacier has begun to recede again, this time almost doubling in speed. The finding is important for many reasons. As more ice moves from glaciers on land into the ocean, it raises sea levels. Jakobshavn Isbrae is Greenland's largest outlet glacier, draining 6.5 percent of Greenland's ice sheet area. The ice stream's speed-up and near-doubling of ice flow from land into the ocean has increased the rate of sea level rise by about .06 millimeters (about .002 inches) per year, or roughly 4 percent of the 20th century rate of sea level increase. This animation shows the glacier's flow in 2000, along with changes in the glacier's calving front between 2001 and 2006.
Completed 2006-09-12
The Mountains of Mars
Title The Mountains of Mars
Explanation Volcanic activity on Mars has produced towering mountains. The largest one, Olympus Mons, is pictured here in this Viking Orbiter [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html ] image. Olympus Mons is a shield volcano nearly 15 miles high and over 300 miles wide at its base. By comparison, Earth's largest volcano, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, is just over 5 miles high and about 12 miles wide. For more information about volcanic mountains on Mars see Calvin J. Hamilton's Mars page. [ http://www.c3.lanl.gov/~cjhamil/SolarSystem/marsvolc.html ] The exploration of Mars is chronicled by the Center For Mars Exploration. [ http://cmex-www.arc.nasa.gov/ ]
The Grand Canyon of Mars
Title The Grand Canyon of Mars
Explanation The Mariner Valley, also known as the Valles Marineris canyon system, appears in this mosaic of images from NASA's Viking spacecraft [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html ] as a huge gouge across the red planet. This "Grand Canyon" of Mars is about 2500 miles long and up to 4 miles deep. By comparison, the Earth's Grand Canyon is less than 500 miles long and 1 mile deep. For more information about Mars see Calvin J. Hamilton's Mars Page. [ http://www.c3.lanl.gov/~cjhamil/SolarSystem/mars.html ] The exploration of Mars is chronicled by the Center For Mars Exploration. [ http://cmex-www.arc.nasa.gov/ ]
The Night Side of Saturn
Title The Night Side of Saturn
Explanation This image of Saturn was made in November 1980 by the Voyager [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/voyager.html ] 1 spacecraft as it flew past the ringed gas giant planet. From a spectacular vantage point, looking back toward the inner solar system, the robot spacecraft recorded this view of the night side of Saturn casting a sharp shadow across the bright rings. No Earth based telescope could ever take a similar picture. Since Earth is closer to the sun than Saturn, only the day side of the planet is visible from the Earth. For more information see Calvin J. Hamilton's Saturn Page. [ http://bang.lanl.gov/solarsys/saturn.htm ]
Venus: Earth's Sister Planet
Title Venus: Earth's Sister Planet
Explanation This picture in visible light was taken by the Galileo [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/galileo.html ] spacecraft. Venus [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/venus.html ] is very similar to Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950622.html ] in size and mass - and so is sometimes referred to as Earth's sister planet - but Venus has a quite different climate. Venus' [ http://www.c3.lanl.gov/~cjhamil/SolarSystem/venus.html ] thick clouds and closeness to the Sun [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950813.html ] (only Mercury [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950814.html ] is closer) make it the hottest planet - much hotter than the Earth. Humans could not survive there, and no life of any sort has ever been found. When Venus [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/PhotoGallery-Venus.html ] is visible it is usually the brightest object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. More than 20 spacecraft have visited Venus including Venera 9, which landed on the surface, and Magellan [ http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/mveg/guide.html ], which used radar to peer through the clouds and make a map of the surface. There are still many things about Venus's unusual atmosphere that astronomers don't understand. Tomorrow's picture: Uranus: The Tilted Planet
Ganymede: Moonquake World
Title Ganymede: Moonquake World
Explanation Ganymede [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/ganymede.html ] probably undergoes frequent ground shaking events not unlike terrestrial earthquakes. Ganymede [ http://www.c3.lanl.gov/~cjhamil/SolarSystem/ganymede.html ], the largest moon of Jupiter [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950625.html ] and the Solar System [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950819.html ], has a thick outer coating of water ice. Passing Voyager spacecraft found a large number of cracks and grooves in the ice so it is thought that Ganymede, like the Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950622.html ], has large shifting surface masses called tectonic plates. Ganymede was discovered by Galileo [ http://galileo.imss.firenze.it/museo/4/index.html ] and Marius [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/billa/tnp/help.html#M ] in 1610, and is larger than the planets Mercury and Pluto. The NASA spacecraft Galileo [ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/ ] is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter is December of 1995. Tomorrow's picture: Europa: Ancient Water World
Europa: Ancient Water World
Title Europa: Ancient Water World
Explanation Beneath the cold icy surface of Jupiter [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950625.html ]'s moon Europa [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/europa.html ] are probably the only oceans of water in our Solar System [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950819.html ] outside of Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950622.html ]. These oceans, possibly 50 kilometers deep, might also be the most likely local place to find extra-terrestrial life. Europa [ http://www.c3.lanl.gov/~cjhamil/SolarSystem/europa.html ]'s smooth surface is unlike any other known planet or moon, giving evidence for relatively few craters or mountains. Europa was discovered by Galileo [ http://galileo.imss.firenze.it/museo/4/index.html ] and Marius [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/billa/tnp/help.html#M ] in 1610. The NASA spacecraft Galileo [ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/ ] is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in December of 1995. Tomorrow's picture: Callisto: Dark Smashed Iceball
Atete Corona on Venus
Title Atete Corona on Venus
Explanation What could cause a huge cylindrical mountain to rise from the surface of Venus [ http://www.nineplanets.org/venus.html ]? Such features that occur on Venus [ http://pdsmaps.wr.usgs.gov/PDS/public/explorer/html/fmapeasy.htm ] are known as coronas [ http://emma.la.asu.edu/~hamilton/abstracts/coronae.html ]. Pictured above [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/PIAGenCatalogPage.pl?PIA00096 ] in the foreground is 500-kilometer wide Atete Corona found in a region of Venus known as the Galindo [ http://wwwflag.wr.usgs.gov/USGSFlag/Space/GEOMAP/MapStatus/VenusStatus/V40.html ]. The image was created by combining multiple radar maps [ http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm_makemap3.htm ] of the region to form a computer-generated three-dimensional perspective. The series of dark rectangles that crosses the image from top to bottom were created by the imaging procedure and are not real. The origin of massive coronas [ http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/captions/venus/vencor.htm ] remains a mystery although speculation [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1999Icar..139..100S ] holds they result from some form of volcanism [ http://www.usgs.gov/education/learnweb/volcano/ ]. Studying Venusian coronas [ http://www.star.ucl.ac.uk/~idh/geology/g3613.htm ] help scientists better understand the inner structure [ http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/venus/interior.html ] of both Venus and Earth [ http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate1.htm ].
Rhea: Saturn's Second Larges …
Title Rhea: Saturn's Second Largest Moon
Explanation Rhea [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/rhea.html ] is the second largest moon of Saturn [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950705.html ], behind Titan [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950923.html ], and the largest without an atmosphere. It is composed mostly of water ice, but has a small rocky core. Rhea [ http://www.c3.lanl.gov/~cjhamil/SolarSystem/rhea.html ]'s rotation and orbit are locked together (just like Earth's Moon) so that one side always faces Saturn. A consequence of this is that one side always leads the other. Rhea's leading surface is much more heavily cratered than its trailing surface. The above photograph was taken with the Voyager 1 spacecraft in 1980.
Uranus' Largest Moon: Titani …
Title Uranus' Largest Moon: Titania
Explanation Titania's tortured terrain is a mix of valleys and craters. NASA's interplanetary robot spacecraft Voyager [ http://spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov/NASA.Projects/Planetary.Probes/Voyager/Mission.Summary ] 2 passed this moon of Uranus [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950816.html ] in 1986 and took the above photograph. The photograph was then transmitted back to earth by radio [ http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/physics/p13news/number_2/maxnew-2.html ]. The valleys of Titania [ http://bang.lanl.gov/solarsys/titania.htm ] resemble those on Ariel [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960303.html ] indicate that Titania underwent some unknown tumultuous resurfacing event in its distant past. Although Titania [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/titania.html ] is Uranus' largest moon, it is still much smaller than Triton [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950805.html ] - the largest moon of Uranus' sister planet Neptune [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950817.html ]. Titania is essentially a large dirty iceball that orbits Uranus - it is composed of about half water-ice and half rock. Titania was discovered by William Hershel [ http://www.dsi.unimi.it/Users/Students/amoroso/sun/fortunes/life-e.html ] in 1787.
Europa's Surface
Title Europa's Surface
Explanation Voyager spacecraft [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/photogallery-voyager.html ] images of Europa's surface [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/europa.html ], like the one above, are suggestive of sea ice on Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951118.html ]. The criss-crossing dark streaks may indeed be cracks in its ice-covered surface caused by Jupiter's tidal stresses accompanied by the freezing and expansion of an underlying layer of water [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960806.html ]. This tantalizing prospect of oceans of liquid water [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950905.html ] beneath its frozen surface has helped make the smallest of the Galilean [ http://galileo.imss.firenze.it/museo/4/index.html ] moon's of Jupiter a planned focus of the Galileo spacecraft's ongoing mission to explore the Jovian system. New Europa images and results [ http://newproducts.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/index.html ] from the Galileo mission were released today revealing [ ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/1996/96-164.txt ] details which further suggest that Europa's icy surface was once - and may still be - supported on slush or liquid water.
Rhea: Saturn's Second Larges …
Title Rhea: Saturn's Second Largest Moon
Explanation Rhea [ http://www.nineplanets.org/rhea.html ] is the second largest moon of Saturn [ http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/choices/saturn1.htm ], behind Titan [ http://www.nineplanets.org/titan.html ], and the largest without an atmosphere. It is composed mostly of water ice, but has a small rocky core. Rhea [ http://www.solarviews.com/eng/rhea.htm ]'s rotation and orbit are locked together (just like Earth's Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010218.html ]) so that one side always faces Saturn. A consequence of this is that one side always leads the other. Rhea's leading surface is much more heavily cratered than its trailing surface. The above photograph [ http://www.solarviews.com/cap/sat/rhea2.htm ] was taken with the Voyager 1 spacecraft [ http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/index.html ] in 1980. NASA's Cassini spacecraft [ http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/ ] is currently on route to Saturn and will arrive in 2004.
Venus: Earth's Cloudy Twin C …
Title Venus: Earth's Cloudy Twin Credit: Galileo [ http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov/ ] Spacecraft, JPL [ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ ], NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov/ ];
Explanation This picture by the Galileo spacecraft [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/galileo.html ] shows just how cloudy Venus [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/venus.html ] is. Venus [ http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=34067 ] is very similar to Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010204.html ] in size and mass - and so is sometimes referred to as Earth's sister planet - but Venus [ http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome/venus.htm ] has a quite different climate. Venus [ http://spacelink.nasa.gov/NASA.Projects/Space.Science/Solar.System/Pioneer.Venus/Venus.Discoveries ]' thick clouds and closeness to the Sun [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980830.html ] (only Mercury [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010819.html ] is closer) make it the hottest planet - much hotter than the Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/earth.html ]. Humans could not survive there, and no life of any sort has ever been found. When Venus is visible [ http://www.space.com/spacewatch/venus_guide_031024.html ] it is usually the brightest object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/moon.html ]. More than 20 spacecraft have visited Venus [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/PhotoGallery-Venus.html ] including Venera 9 [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1975-050D ], which landed on the surface, and Magellan [ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/magellan/ ], which used radar to peer through the clouds and make a map of the surface [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030427.html ]. This visible light picture of Venus [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/venus.html ] was taken by the Galileo spacecraft [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951206.html ] that orbited Jupiter from 1995 to 2003. Many things about Venus remain unknown, including the cause of mysterious bursts of radio waves [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1995JATP...57..557S ].
Rhea: Saturn's Second Larges …
Title Rhea: Saturn's Second Largest Moon
Explanation Rhea [ http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/rhea.html ] is the second largest moon of Saturn [ http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome/saturn.htm ], behind Titan [ http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/titan.html ], and the largest without an atmosphere. It is composed mostly of water ice, but has a small rocky core. Rhea [ http://www.solarviews.com/eng/rhea.htm ]'s rotation and orbit are locked together (just like Earth's Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap991108.html ]) so that one side always faces Saturn. A consequence of this is that one side always leads the other. Rhea [ http://cass.jsc.nasa.gov/pub/research/outerp/rhea.html ]'s leading surface is much more heavily cratered than its trailing surface. The above photograph [ http://www.solarviews.com/cap/sat/rhea2.htm ] was taken with the Voyager [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960629.html ] 1 spacecraft in 1980.
Australia's Great Barrier Re …
PIA03401
Sol (our sun)
Multi-angle Imaging SpectroR …
Title Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Original Caption Released with Image The Great Barrier Reef extends for 2,000 kilometers along the northeastern coast of Australia. It is not a single reef, but a vast maze of reefs, passages, and coral cays (islands that are part of the reef). This nadir true-color image was acquired by the MISR instrument on August 26, 2000 (Terra orbit 3679), and shows part of the southern portion of the reef adjacent to the central Queensland coast. The width of the MISR swath is approximately 380 kilometers, with the reef clearly visible up to approximately 200 kilometers from the coast. It may be difficult to see the myriad details in the browse image, but if you retrieve the higher resolution version, a zoomed display reveals the spectacular structure of the many reefs. The more northerly coastal area in this image shows the vast extent of sugar cane cultivation, this being the largest sugar producing area in Australia, centered on the city of Mackay. Other industries in the area include coal, cattle, dairying, timber, grain, seafood, and fruit. The large island off the most northerly part of the coast visible in this image is Whitsunday Island, with smaller islands and reefs extending southeast, parallel to the coast. These include some of the better known resort islands such as Hayman, Lindeman, Hamilton, and Brampton Islands. Further south, just inland of the small semicircular bay near the right of the image, is Rockhampton, the largest city along the central Queensland coast, and the regional center for much of central Queensland. Rockhampton is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Its hinterland is a rich pastoral, agricultural, and mining region. MISR was built and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, for NASA's Office of Earth Science, Washington, DC. The Terra satellite is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology.
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