BE ALERT FOR NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: If you're watching tonight's twilight alignment of planets, you might see something extra: Noctilucent clouds (NLCs). This is the time of year when summertime wisps of water vapor rise to the edge of space and crystallize around specks of meteor dust. The resulting electric-blue tendrils often appear in the twilight sky especially at higher latitudes: NLC Photo Gallery.
IT HAPPENED--THE DAYTIME OCCULTATION OF VENUS: Across the USA today, people ducked into the shadows of buildings and trees to block the sun and watch a rare daytime occultation of Venus. "It was a wonderful pairing," says Aaron Watson, who photographed the event over the West Elk Mountains of Colorado:
"I loved watching it disappear," he says. "It took a second, unlike stars, which are more instantaneous. This photo is of Venus emerging from the bright limb of the Moon."
We are receiving reports from many other observers as well. The event was visible from coast to coast in the USA. Did you see it? Submit your pictures here!
more images: from Richard Sears of Ballico, California; from James Perez-Rogers of Saugerties, NY; from Carel Neffenger of Burien, Washington; from Susan Colosimo of La Crescenta, California; from Thomas Schutz of Benicia, California; from Vanessa Pelham of Tennessee; from Mark Stalcup of Portland, OR
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"I LOVE YOU MORE" MOONSTONE PENDANT: Nothing says "I love you" like a moonstone from space. On May 26th, this sterling silver moonstone pendant hitched a ride to the stratosphere on an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon. Here it is floating 112,201 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $142.95. The students are selling these pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Engraved with "I Love You More," it makes a great anniversary, birthday or (never too early!) Christmas gift. Each pendant comes with a greeting card showing the moonstone in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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