stripesweatersandwaterbottles:
…The Fukang Meteorite
Back in the year 2000, an incredible meteorite weighing 2,211 pounds was discovered near Fukang, a city located in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, China. Named the Funkang meteorite, it was identified as a pallasite, a type of stony–iron meteorite. With 4.5 billion years in the making, its golden olivine mixed with silvery nickel-iron to create a stunningly beautiful mosaic effect.
Pallasites are extremely rare even among meteorites (only about 1% of all meteorites are this type) and Fukang has been hailed as one of the greatest meteorite discoveries of the 21st century.It has since been divided into slices which give the effect of stained glass when the sun shines through them. It is so valuable that even tiny chunks sell in the region for $40 to $60 a gram. An anonymous collector holds the largest portion, which weighs 925 pounds.
Dat olivine
that’s a big fukang meteorite
Meteorites can be so *beautiful*
Mars’ Regolith Could be Used to Build Astronaut Shelter
The rover “Curiosity” is now working on Mars. NASA also plans to send humans to Mars within the next 20 years. On the flight and during the stay on the Moon or Mars the astronauts have to be protected against long exposure to cosmic radiation that might cause cancer. On behalf of the European Space Agency ESA the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH tests whether Moon and Mars regolith can be used to build shielding for ground stations.
On Earth the atmosphere and the magnetic field weaken cosmic rays. But on the Moon and Mars they pelt down unhampered. The cosmic radiation can harm astronauts and could cause cancer in the long run as a result of damage in DNA and cells.
Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2012/09/mars-regolith-could-be-used-build-astronaut-shelterSoil can be used to protect space travellers! Although not exactly sure why there is a picture of a ion accelorator…
Apheline!
It’s Underhill!!! I want to tell them to work on making Good, strong, radiation-proof glass, because that central courtyard is important in making a place live-able.
(Underhill is the first living place on Mars in Red Mars)
The Cosmos Art Glass. Hanging stained glass in clear glass surrounding 16 textures including the sun and planets made of inlaid moonstone, yellow obsidian, flat stones, and agate framed in oak.
Wow.
Watching Apollo 13 Again
And seeing it in a new way now.
I was thinking about something Amanda B. said about how humanity is designed to make sure disabled people survive.
And Apollo 13 is kind of a disability story. I mean, the command module is Crippled. The normal way it gets around (its engines) aren’t working right. There’s problems with getting enough oxygen and water. The computers aren’t working quite right (not enough power). And since the astronauts sure aren’t going anywhere in space without the spaceship - they have the same disabilities by default.
And the whole story is about the astronauts - and other people making sure they get home safely - making sure they survive.
And to do it they have to figure out new ways of moving the spaceship. New ways of filtering the air. (Which involves some pretty awesome assistive technology made with socks and duct tape BTW.)
And with help, the astronauts and the spacecraft survive and make it back to Earth safely. Even if they don’t complete the original “mission” of going to the Moon. And it’s considered a victory. One of the greatest stories ever. Not a tragedy.
Here are some more photos, with more detail.
NASA Sdo.Sometimes it just overwhelms me, that this fantasy-like ball of gas is what keeps us alive.
We really do live in a magical world. Who can deny it?
more Transit of Venus stuff.
[Venus (a black dot) moving into the corona of the sun - which looks like lighted swirls of mist - except it’s actually as hot as lightning]
(Source: x-vansterre)
Transit of Venus is happening right NOW guys
Basically Venus is going across the Sun like the worlds smallest mini-eclipse!
What is a Transit of Venus and why it is cool
(also has a link to a live webcam)
How to see the transit in Low-Tech ways
(Do not stare directly at the sun without a filter PLZ. To protect your eyes.)
[Transit of Venus - a small black dot is passing in front of the sun - a bird is also flying in front of the sun]
(picture from Shespeaks)
