Kool Image Spring Fling: Sun Emits a Mid-Level Flare

	Spring Fling: Sun Emits a Mid-Level Flare
	Scientists produce some amazing images while performing their research. Astronomers are no different. An April 11, 2013 solar flair provided astronomers the opportunity to track the sun’s solar cycle. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however — when intense enough — they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel. This disrupts the radio signals for as long as the flare is ongoing, anywhere from minutes to hours. The flare’s coronal mass ejection (CME), another solar phenomenon that can send billions of tons of solar particles into space, reached Earth one day later producing a temporary radio blackout. It also produced the incredible image that is today’s cool image. Available as a 16″ X 20″ poster at our store. Credit: NASA/SDO

Kool Image Hands of Opposites

	Hands of Opposites
	Credit: The blog Into the outside

Kool Image Noctilucent Clouds

	Noctilucent Clouds
	Noctilucent clouds are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, being bright polar mesospheric clouds illuminated by the Arctic sun from below the horizon, between latitudes of 50° and 70°. They are composed of water ice crystals up to 100 nm across, forming most frequently in the northern summer at altitudes of 76 to 85 km (47 to 53 mi). The clouds form directly from water vapor and sometimes around dust: water may be produced from the reaction of CH4 and OH-, while the dust is believed to originate from micrometeors and possibly volcanic particulate matter entering the mesosphere. The clouds are detectable by radar and the observed increase in these clouds serves as a possible indicator of climate change. (Wikipedia) Credit: © (CC by-nc-nd) Maurizio De Angelis/Wellcome Images

Brain teaser – Can you read this?

	This has been floating around the Internet for some time. But I have just discovered it and thought it was great. I’ve no idea where it came from. Credit: ©? Unknown

A water drop plunges down a black hole

	This water drop appears to be plunging into a black hole Credit: © (CC by-sa) Sven Hoppe