Looking out from a window on the International Space Station, an astronaut captured this rare photograph of the Scottish Highlands. Cloud-covered skies are common for the region and typically prevent landscape photography from space, especially during the winter months (when this image was taken). The topography of the Scottish Highlands is the result of geological processes … [Read more...] about A Clear View of Scottish Highlands
International Space Station
Great Britain and Ireland Show Their Colors
An astronaut on the International Space Station took this photograph during a rare clear day over Ireland and Great Britain. The wide view captures the contrasting colors of various land cover types present across the two islands. Coastal mountains and rough terrain flank the western edge of Ireland, making the peninsulas there appear browner than the more vegetated (green) … [Read more...] about Great Britain and Ireland Show Their Colors
Blue Jets: How Scientists Captured the Spark that Triggers Exotic Lightning
Blue jets are a unique type of lightning that appear to move in reverse, shooting up from thunderclouds and into the stratosphere at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per second. Unlike regular lightning, blue jets are known for their striking blue hue, which is created when they excite mostly stratospheric nitrogen gases. Although blue jets have been observed from the ground … [Read more...] about Blue Jets: How Scientists Captured the Spark that Triggers Exotic Lightning