Posts

Showing posts from July, 2020

The Elephant's Trunk Nebula in Cepheus

Image
Like an illustration in a galactic Just So Story, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula winds through the emission nebula and young star cluster complex IC 1396, in the high and far off constellation of Cepheus. Also known as vdB 142, the cosmic elephant's trunk is over 20 light-years long. This detailed close-up view was recorded through narrow band filters that transmit the light from ionized hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the region. The resulting composite highlights the bright swept-back ridges that outline pockets of cool interstellar dust and gas. Such embedded, dark, tendril-shaped clouds contain the raw material for star formation and hide protostars within. Nearly 3,000 light-years distant, the relatively faint IC 1396 complex covers a large region on the sky, spanning over 5 degrees. This dramatic scene spans a 1 degree wide field of view though, about the size of 2 Full Moons. via NASA https://ift.tt/2PaHaGq

Wikipedia article of the day for August 1, 2020

Image
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 1, 2020 is Brownsea Island Scout camp . A boys' camping event at the site of the Brownsea Island Scout camp from 1 to 8 August 1907 is regarded as the origin of the worldwide Scouting movement. Held on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, southern England, it was organised by Robert Baden-Powell (pictured) to test his ideas for the book Scouting for Boys. Boys from different social backgrounds participated in activities themed around camping, observation, woodcraft, chivalry, lifesaving and patriotism. Up to the early 1930s, camping by Boy Scouts continued on Brownsea Island. In 1962, the island became a nature conservation area owned by the National Trust. The following year, Olave Baden-Powell reopened the island to the public, and in 1964 a formal 50-acre (200,000 m2) Scout campsite was established there. In 1973, a Jamboree was held on the island for 600 Scouts from seven nations. The worldwide centenary of Scouting was celeb...

agbada: Word of the day for August 1, 2020

agbada , n : A long, flowing robe with wide sleeves worn by men in some parts of West Africa, often decorated with embroidery. Today is the 60th Independence Day of Benin.

Picture of the day for August 1, 2020

Image
Female Common Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) on a Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) in Bernwood Forest, Oxfordshire. Learn more .

Picture of the day for August 1, 2020

Image
Wikipedia picture of the day on August 1, 2020: Female Common Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) on a Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) in Bernwood Forest, Oxfordshire https://ift.tt/2EuZvMf

U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Enter Into a Memorandum of Agreement

Image
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced it has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, acting through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Under this MOA, the Departments will provide access and share information about immigrant and nonimmigrant petition records and data contained within the Office of Foreign Labor Certification’s labor certification and labor condition application databases. Most critically, the MOA establishes processes by which USCIS will refer suspected employer violations within the H-1B program to the Department of Labor that USCIS identifies in the course of adjudicating petitions – a source of information never previously accessed by the Department for enforcement purposes – and conducting administrative and targeted site visits. The enhanced collaboration and sources of information will be used by Department of Labor in support of Secretary-certified investigations. Th...

U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia Highlights Economic Reopening In Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

Image
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, where he visited The GIANT Company’s GIANT Direct eCommerce facility and store to meet with employees. The Secretary also joined a roundtable with local business and community leaders to discuss the safe reopening of the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. Secretary Scalia highlighted how fair and reciprocal trade through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will bolster the economic recovery. “It was good to be back in Pennsylvania today to hear from workers who have kept our essential industries open during the pandemic,” said Secretary Scalia. “I also had a good discussion with business leaders about steps to protect the health and safety of workers in their facilities. Workplace safety, along with efforts to knock down burdensome regulatory barriers and implement strong trade agreements like the USMCA, will be key to the economic recovery in eastern Pennsylvania....

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Over $102 Million in Grants Through Trade Adjustment Assistance Program

Image
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced the award of nearly $102.5 million in grants to 47 states and Puerto Rico through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program. This annual formula grant provides funding to states for Training and Other Activities, including training services, job search and relocation allowances, and employment and case management services to serve eligible workers affected by foreign trade. The Department distributed $266.4 million to states in FY 2020 Training and Other Activities funding in an initial allocation in April 2020. This second distribution of $102.5 million together with the initial allocation represents 90 percent of the amount of Training and Other Activities funds available for the fiscal year. A final distribution of the remaining 10 percent will be made in September.  Trade-affected workers experience losses in income when their wages or hours are reduced or jobs lost when their employers send their work t...

Liftoff to the Red Planet!

Image
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover onboard launches from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Thursday, July 30, 2020. via NASA https://ift.tt/2XecjNN

EPA! EPA! EPA Week in Review: PFAS Edition

EPA Week in Review: PFAS Edition Headquarters, Office of the Administrator (AO) WASHINGTON (July 31, 2020) — This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a series of announcements regarding the Trump Administration’s aggressive actions to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Published July 30, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

A Different View of the Mars Perseverance Launch

Image
The engines fired as a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover onboard launched from Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, July 30, 2020. via NASA https://ift.tt/2PcUEBu

Mars 2020 from 5,000 Feet

Image
On Thursday this snapshot from a small plane 5,000 feet above Florida's Space Coast caught a rocket's trail rising into the blue morning sky. It was July's third launch of a mission from planet Earth bound for Mars. The Atlas V rocket left Cape Canaveral Air Force Station from Space Launch Complex 41 at 7:50am EDT carrying NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. The car-sized Perseverance is headed for a landing at Jezero Crater on the Red Planet in February 2021. On board the sophisticated rover is the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. via NASA https://ift.tt/3gb8IY6

Wikipedia article of the day for July 31, 2020

Image
The Wikipedia article of the day for July 31, 2020 is Rodrigues rail . The Rodrigues rail (Erythromachus leguati) was a flightless bird endemic to the Mascarene island of Rodrigues, east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The rail was described as having grey plumage, a red beak and legs, and a naked red patch around the eye. The bird fed on tortoise eggs. It was described as being attracted to red objects, which humans exploited while hunting it. The Rodrigues rail is believed to have become extinct in the mid-18th century because of predation by introduced cats and destruction of its habitat by tortoise hunters. The bird was first documented from life by two contemporaneous accounts, first by François Leguat, a French Huguenot refugee marooned on Rodrigues in 1691, and then by Julien Tafforet, marooned on the island in 1726. Subfossil remains (pictured) were later discovered and connected with the old accounts in 1874, and the species was named E. leguati in Leguat's honour.

logorrhea: Word of the day for July 31, 2020

logorrhea , n : (often humorous) Excessive talkativeness. (often humorous) Excessive use of words in writing; prolixity. (psychology) Excessive and often uncontrollable speaking due to a mental disorder.

Picture of the day for July 31, 2020

Image
A newborn baby girl yawning.. Learn more .

Picture of the day for July 31, 2020

Image
Wikipedia picture of the day on July 31, 2020: A newborn baby girl yawning. https://ift.tt/39HJ62v

U.S. Department of Labor Will Award $8 Million in Grants To Increase Tracing of Goods Made by Child Labor

Image
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) today announced its intent to award up to $8 million in grant funding for up to two technical assistance projects to improve downstream tracing of goods made by child labor or forced labor. The grant will support the recipient’s development of tested supply-chain methodologies, piloted tools for supply-chain tracing, and disseminating supply-chain tracing tools and methodologies to stakeholders. Learn more about the funding opportunity. For information about the Department’s work on these issues, visit https://ift.tt/2l0iiSj. ILAB’s mission is to promote a fair global playing field for workers in the U.S. and around the world by enforcing trade commitments, strengthening labor standards, and combating international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees ...

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Dislocated Worker Grant to Washington State in Response to Opioid Crisis

Image
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant for $863,500 to the Washington State Employment Security Department. The grant will support disaster-relief jobs and provide employment services to eligible individuals in Washington communities affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose. This grant will provide eligible participants with disaster-relief employment in peer support counseling positions will assist individuals affected by opioid use obtain access to recovery resources. It will also provide employment and training services to reintegrate eligible individuals back into the workforce. The State anticipates serving approximately 90 grant participants in Clark and Cowlitz counties. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency in October 2017, enabling the State of Washington to reques...

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

Image
In the week ending July 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,434,000, an increase of 12,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 6,000 from 1,416,000 to 1,422,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,368,500, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,750 from 1,360,250 to 1,362,000.

EPA! EPA! La EPA propone un plan de limpieza para el Lugar de Superfondo Pesticide Warehouse I en Arecibo, Puerto Rico

La EPA propone un plan de limpieza para el Lugar de Superfondo Pesticide Warehouse I en Arecibo, Puerto Rico Region 02 Puerto Rico (30 de julio de 2020) – La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los EE. UU. (EPA) propone un plan de limpieza para abordar el problema suelos contaminados en el Lugar de Superfondo Pesticide Warehouse I en Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Published July 29, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! U.S. EPA issues PCB permit to Kettleman Hills hazardous waste facility

U.S. EPA issues PCB permit to Kettleman Hills hazardous waste facility Region 09 KETTLEMAN CITY, Calif. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a permit renewal and modification for the continued storage and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste at the Kettleman Hills hazardous waste facility. Published July 29, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

NASA Astronauts in Space to Discuss Upcoming SpaceX Crew Dragon Return

NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will address their upcoming SpaceX Crew Dragon departure and splashdown in a news conference at 10:45 a.m. EDT Friday, July 31, from the International Space Station. July 30, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/2BIjHcw via IFTTT

EPA! EPA! EPA Region 8 actions protect public from coronavirus and other pathogens

EPA Region 8 actions protect public from coronavirus and other pathogens Region 08 DENVER (July 30, 2020) -- Today, the U.S. Published July 29, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Proposes No Further Action at Barrels, Inc. Superfund Site in Lansing

EPA Proposes No Further Action at Barrels, Inc. Superfund Site in Lansing Region 05 For Immediate Release No. 20-OPA-067 LANSING, Mich. (July 30, 2020) – Tomorrow, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin a 30-day public comment period on its proposal to take no further cleanup action at the Barrels, Inc. Superfund Site.  Published July 29, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Proposes Cleanup Plan to Address Pesticide Warehouse I Superfund Site in Arecibo, Puerto Rico

EPA Proposes Cleanup Plan to Address Pesticide Warehouse I Superfund Site in Arecibo, Puerto Rico Region 02 PUERTO RICO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a cleanup plan to address contaminated soil at the Pesticide Warehouse I Superfund Site in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Published July 29, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

NASA, ULA Launch Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mission to Red Planet

NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission is on its way to the Red Planet to search for signs of ancient life and collect samples to send back to Earth. July 30, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/3hP5NEX via IFTTT

EPA! EPA! EPA Approves 13 Products from List N as Effective Against SARS-CoV-2

EPA Approves 13 Products from List N as Effective Against SARS-CoV-2 Headquarters, Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) WASHINGTON (July 30, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Published July 29, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Announces $4.3 Million for Tribes to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water in Schools

EPA Announces $4.3 Million for Tribes to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water in Schools Headquarters WASHINGTON (July 30, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new grant program to help protect children in tribal communities from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities. Published July 29, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! ICYMI: EPA, State, and Local Partners Team Up to Address PFAS Across the Country

ICYMI: EPA, State, and Local Partners Team Up to Address PFAS Across the Country Headquarters WASHINGTON (July 30, 2020) — Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Published July 29, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! ICYMI: EPA speeds up Colorado cleanup as climate change takes back seat to Superfund

ICYMI: EPA speeds up Colorado cleanup as climate change takes back seat to Superfund Headquarters Published July 29, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Mars Perseverance: Prepared for Launch to the Red Planet

Image
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover onboard is seen illuminated by spotlights on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41. via NASA https://ift.tt/39EcQ0t

EPA! EPA! EPA Region 8 continues to aggressively address PFAS

EPA Region 8 continues to aggressively address PFAS Region 08 DENVER (July 29, 2020) — Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Published July 29, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

The Red Planet Mars

Image
Mars looks pretty sharp in this backyard telescope image captured on July 23 from Hoegaarden, Belgium, planet Earth. The Red Planet's bright south polar cap is bathed in sunlight at the top of the inverted view, while the dark feature known as Syrtis Major extends toward the right (eastern) edge. Rising around midnight for now, the Red Planet is months away from its own opposition in early October. Telescopic views will improve even more as Earth, in its faster orbit, catches up to Mars, the ruddy disk growing larger and brighter still. The martian Jezero Crater is within the Syrtis Major region. That's the landing site for NASA's 2020 Mars Rover Perseverance, scheduled for launch today. via NASA https://ift.tt/3f9MDbe

Wikipedia article of the day for July 30, 2020

Image
The Wikipedia article of the day for July 30, 2020 is Ceilings of the Natural History Museum, London . The decorated ceilings of the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London, were designed by the museum's architect Alfred Waterhouse, and were unveiled at the building's opening in 1881. The ceiling of the large Central Hall (pictured) consists of 162 panels, 108 of which depict plants considered significant to the history of the museum, to the British Empire or to the museum's visitors. The remaining 54 are highly stylised decorative botanical paintings. The ceiling of the smaller North Hall consists of 36 panels, 18 of which depict plants growing in the British Isles. Both ceilings make extensive use of gilding for visual effect. Built of lath and plaster to save costs, the ceilings are unusually fragile and require extensive maintenance and restoration. Since 2016 the skeleton of a blue whale has been suspended from the ceiling of the Central Hall.

blimey: Word of the day for July 30, 2020

blimey , interj : (Australia, Britain, New Zealand) Used to express anger, excitement, surprise, etc.

Picture of the day for July 30, 2020

Image
A Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) at the Etschlsattel (2,546 metres (8,353 ft)) near Mallnitz, High Tauern National Park, Carinthia, Austria. Learn more .

Picture of the day for July 30, 2020

Image
Wikipedia picture of the day on July 30, 2020: A Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) at the Etschlsattel (2,546 metres (8,353 ft)) near Mallnitz, High Tauern National Park, Carinthia, Austria https://ift.tt/312BHa3

EPA! EPA! ICYMI: EPA’s Wheeler Focuses on Environmental Justice In Colorado Site Cleanup

ICYMI: EPA’s Wheeler Focuses on Environmental Justice In Colorado Site Cleanup Headquarters Western Wire July 28, 2020 Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Finalizes Revisions to the Coal Ash Closure Regulations, Increases Public Access to Information

EPA Finalizes Revisions to the Coal Ash Closure Regulations, Increases Public Access to Information Headquarters WASHINGTON (July 29, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Evaluates Restoration Plans; Continues to Support States’ Commitments

EPA Evaluates Restoration Plans; Continues to Support States’ Commitments Region 03 PHILADELPHIA (July 29, 2020) – The U.S. Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Announces Another Significant Step in Effort to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water

EPA Announces Another Significant Step in Effort to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water Headquarters, Water (OW) WASHINGTON (July 29, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule to reduce lead in plumbing materials used in public water systems, homes, schools and other facilities. Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA awards grant to Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of El Paso to protect the environment

EPA awards grant to Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of El Paso to protect the environment Region 06 DALLAS – (July 29, 2020) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded over $75,000 to the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in Texas as part of the General Assistance Program (GAP). Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! U.S. EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS in the Pacific Southwest

U.S. EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS in the Pacific Southwest Region 09 SAN FRANCISCO — Addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Pacific Southwest continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA, State and Local Partners Team up to Address PFAS in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska

EPA, State and Local Partners Team up to Address PFAS in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska Region 10 SEATTLE — Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! Trump EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS on the Federal, State, and Local Level

Trump EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS on the Federal, State, and Local Level Region 03 PHILADELPHIA (July 29, 2020) — Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Region 2 Continues to Address PFAS on the State and Local Level

EPA Region 2 Continues to Address PFAS on the State and Local Level Region 02 NEW YORK - Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Region 2 Continues to Address PFAS

EPA Region 2 Continues to Address PFAS Region 02 NEW YORK - Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS in the Great Lakes Region

EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS in the Great Lakes Region Region 05 CHICAGO (July 29, 2020) – The U.S. Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS in New England

EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS in New England Region 01 BOSTON (July 29, 2020) — Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! ICYMI: EPA making progress on Superfund

ICYMI: EPA making progress on Superfund Headquarters EPA Making Progress on Superfund Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Supports States in Addressing PFAS Across the Southeast

EPA Supports States in Addressing PFAS Across the Southeast Region 04 ATLANTA (July 29, 2020) — Yesterday, the U.S. Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Proposes Groundwater Cleanup Plan for Landfill and Resource Recovery, Inc. Superfund Site in N. Smithfield, Rhode Island

EPA Proposes Groundwater Cleanup Plan for Landfill and Resource Recovery, Inc. Superfund Site in N. Smithfield, Rhode Island Region 01 NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a proposed plan to cleanup groundwater at the Landfill and Resource Recovery, Inc. (L&RR) Superfund Site located on Oxford Road in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Awards State of Texas More Than $3.8 Million to Manage Water Pollution

EPA Awards State of Texas More Than $3.8 Million to Manage Water Pollution Region 06 DALLAS – (July 29, 2020) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a grant of $3,887,500 to the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. Published July 28, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Countdown to Mars

Image
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover onboard is seen as it is rolled out of the Vertical Integration Facility to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41. via NASA https://ift.tt/33cxNhw

The Giants of Summer

Image
As Comet NEOWISE sweeps through northern summer skies, Jupiter and Saturn are shining brightly, near opposition. With Jupiter opposite the Sun on July 14 and Saturn on July 21, the giant planets are still near their closest to planet Earth in 2020. Sharing the constellation Sagittarius they are up all night, and offer their best and brightest views at the telescope. Both captured on July 22 from a balcony in Paris these two sharp telescopic images don't disappoint, showing off what the giant planets are famous for, Saturn's bright rings and Jupiter's Great Red Spot. These giants of the Solar System are worth following during 2020. On December 21, skygazers can watch the once-in-20-year great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. via NASA https://ift.tt/3f3JMjW

EPA! EPA! EPA Releases Final Plan for Quendall Terminals Cleanup

EPA Releases Final Plan for Quendall Terminals Cleanup Region 10 The U.S. Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Wikipedia article of the day for July 29, 2020

Image
The Wikipedia article of the day for July 29, 2020 is Eris (dwarf planet) . Eris is the second-largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System, slightly smaller by volume than the dwarf planet Pluto, although it is 27 percent more massive. Discovered in January 2005 by a team based at Palomar Observatory, it was named after Eris, the Greek goddess of strife and discord. The ninth-most-massive object directly orbiting the Sun, Eris is the largest object in the Solar System that has not been visited by a spacecraft. It is a member of a high-eccentricity population known as the scattered disk and has one known moon, Dysnomia. It is about 96 astronomical units (14.4 billion kilometres; 8.9 billion miles) from the Sun, roughly three times as far away as Pluto. Except for some long-period comets, Eris and Dysnomia were the most distant known natural objects in the Solar System until 2018 VG18 was discovered in 2018. Observations of a stellar occultation by Eris in 2010 sh...

netball: Word of the day for July 29, 2020

netball , n : (uncountable) A (usually women's) team sport derived from basketball, with seven players on each side who attempt to score goals by passing a ball and throwing it into the opponent's goal, which is a raised hoop with a net at one end of the playing area. Unlike basketball, a player in possession of the ball cannot move until the ball is passed to another player. (countable) The ball used in this sport. Swedish-born physical education instructor and women’s suffrage advocate Martina Bergman-Österberg died on this day 105 years ago in 1915. She played a pivotal role in the development of netball as she introduced a version of basketball to her students at Hampstead College, London, after returning from the United States in 1893 having seen that sport being played.

Picture of the day for July 29, 2020

Image
Interior of the parish church (Christ the King Church) in Mallnitz, Carinthia, Austria. Learn more .

Picture of the day for July 29, 2020

Image
Wikipedia picture of the day on July 29, 2020: Interior of the parish church (Christ the King Church) in Mallnitz, Carinthia, Austria https://ift.tt/39BCYZG

EPA! EPA! ICYMI: Administrator Wheeler Visits Western States, Reaffirms President Trump’s Commitment to Reducing Regulatory Burdens and Revitalizing Communities

ICYMI: Administrator Wheeler Visits Western States, Reaffirms President Trump’s Commitment to Reducing Regulatory Burdens and Revitalizing Communities Headquarters WASHINGTON (July 28, 2020) This week, U.S. Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Proposes Change to Cleanup Plan for the Imperial Oil Superfund Site in Morganville, New Jersey

EPA Proposes Change to Cleanup Plan for the Imperial Oil Superfund Site in Morganville, New Jersey Region 02 Morganville, N.J. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a change to its plan to address groundwater contamination at the Imperial Oil Superfund Site in Morganville. Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA extends public comment period on proposed cleanup plan for NIPSCO Bailly Generating Facility in Chesterton

EPA extends public comment period on proposed cleanup plan for NIPSCO Bailly Generating Facility in Chesterton Region 05 CHESTERTON, Ind. (July 28, 2020) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period on the proposed cleanup plan for Area C of the NIPSCO Bailly Generating Facility in Chesterton through October 18, 2020. Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Proposes Change to Cleanup Plan for the Imperial Oil Superfund Site in Morganville, New Jersey

EPA Proposes Change to Cleanup Plan for the Imperial Oil Superfund Site in Morganville, New Jersey Region 02 Morganville, N.J. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a change to its plan to address groundwater contamination at the Imperial Oil Superfund Site in Morganville. Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA and Utah DEQ establish procedures and policies for administration of State's self-audit law

EPA and Utah DEQ establish procedures and policies for administration of State's self-audit law Region 08 Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA announces $4.2 million for habitat restoration work at Rouge River Area of Concern

EPA announces $4.2 million for habitat restoration work at Rouge River Area of Concern Region 05 DETROIT (July 28, 2020) — The U.S. Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! Trump EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS on the Federal, State, and Local Level

Trump EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS on the Federal, State, and Local Level Headquarters, Office of the Administrator (AO) WASHINGTON (July 28, 2020) — Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Supports 2020 Tribal Lands and Environment Forum; Registration Closes August 3

EPA Supports 2020 Tribal Lands and Environment Forum; Registration Closes August 3 Headquarters WASHINGTON (July 28, 2020) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to announce the first virtual Tribal Lands and Environment Forum scheduled from Monday, August 17 through Thursday, August 20, 2020. Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Jezero Crater, Landing Site for the Mars Perseverance Rover

Image
This image of Jezero Crater, the landing site for the Mars Perseverance Rover, was taken by instruments on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. via NASA https://ift.tt/2EmZ8TT

EPA! EPA! EPA Administrator Wheeler Touts Superfund Accomplishments after 40 years

EPA Administrator Wheeler Touts Superfund Accomplishments after 40 years Region 03 PHILADELPHIA (July 28, 2020) – U.S. Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! ICYMI: EPA Leads on Trump Deregulatory Agenda

ICYMI: EPA Leads on Trump Deregulatory Agenda Headquarters, Office of the Administrator (AO) Newsweek  By EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler July 28, 2020 Published July 27, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

NASA Announces Astronauts to Fly on SpaceX Crew-2 Mission to Space Station

NASA and its international partners have assigned crew members for Crew-2, which will be the second operational SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. July 28, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/30X4vRg via IFTTT

Roblox Corporation released a new update for Roblox : Version 2.441.408614

Image
Roblox by Roblox Corporation has been updated to a new version. Download on the App Store. Release notes: To make Roblox work better for you, we deliver updates regularly. These updates include bug fixes and improvements for speed and reliability. Price: Free Rating: 4.6208 Category: Games Version: 2.441.408614 Created: July 27, 2020 at 02:59PM Description: Roblox is the ultimate virtual universe that lets you play, create, and be anything you can imagine. Join millions of players and discover an infinite variety of immersive worlds created by a global community! Already have an account? Log in with your existing Roblox account and play now! MILLIONS OF WORLDS TO EXPLORE In the mood for an epic role-playing adventure? Want to compete against rivals worldwide? Or do you just want to hang out and chat with your friends online? A growing library of worlds created by the community means there’s always something new and exciting for you to play every day. PLAY TOGETHER ANYTIME...

Wikipedia article of the day for July 28, 2020

Image
The Wikipedia article of the day for July 28, 2020 is Elasmosaurus . Elasmosaurus was a large marine reptile in the order Plesiosauria. The genus lived about 80.5 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous. The first specimen was sent to the American paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope after its discovery in 1867 near Fort Wallace, Kansas. Only one incomplete skeleton is definitely known, consisting of a fragmentary skull, the spine, and the pectoral and pelvic girdles, and a single species, E. platyurus, is recognized today. Measuring 10.3 meters (34 ft) long, the genus had a streamlined body with paddle-like limbs or flippers, a short tail, and a small, slender, triangular head. With a neck around 7.1 meters (23 ft) long, Elasmosaurus was one of the longest-necked animals to have lived, with the largest number of neck vertebrae known, 72. It probably ate small fish and marine invertebrates, seizing them with long teeth. Elasmosaurus is known from the Pierre Sha...

merlon: Word of the day for July 28, 2020

merlon , n : (architecture, military, historical) Any of the upright projections between the embrasures of a battlement, originally for archers to shield behind while shooting arrows over the embrasures, or through loopholes in the merlons.

Picture of the day for July 28, 2020

Image
A male Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo), Crockford Stream, Hampshire. Learn more .

Picture of the day for July 28, 2020

Image
Wikipedia picture of the day on July 28, 2020: A male Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo), Crockford Stream, Hampshire https://ift.tt/32Z4ajL

EPA! EPA! Significant Cleanup Progress at Colorado Smelter Superfund Site Accelerated by Trump Administration Commitment to Superfund Program

Significant Cleanup Progress at Colorado Smelter Superfund Site Accelerated by Trump Administration Commitment to Superfund Program Headquarters, Office of the Administrator (AO) DENVER (July 27, 2020) – Today, U.S. Published July 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Announces Over $12 Million in Grants to Improve Great Lakes Fisheries and Michigan Water Quality

EPA Announces Over $12 Million in Grants to Improve Great Lakes Fisheries and Michigan Water Quality Region 05 TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (July 27, 2020) — Today U.S. Published July 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! U.S. EPA settles with Pacific Seafood for wastewater violations in Eureka, California

U.S. EPA settles with Pacific Seafood for wastewater violations in Eureka, California Region 09 EUREKA, Calif. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an agreement with Pacific Seafood-Eureka, LLC over violations of the federal Clean Water Act. Published July 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Requests Applications for $6 Million Grant to Monitor Contaminants in Great Lakes Fish

EPA Requests Applications for $6 Million Grant to Monitor Contaminants in Great Lakes Fish Region 05 CHICAGO (July 27, 2020) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications under a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant program focused on monitoring contaminants in Great Lakes fish. Published July 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA Proposes Removing the Scrap Processing Co. Superfund Site in Medford from Superfund List

EPA Proposes Removing the Scrap Processing Co. Superfund Site in Medford from Superfund List Region 05 For Immediate Release No. 20-OPA-062 EPA Proposes Removing the Scrap Processing Co. Superfund Site in Medford from Superfund List Published July 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

EPA! EPA! EPA at 50: Transforming Communities: Cleaning Up America’s Most Hazardous Land Contamination

EPA at 50: Transforming Communities: Cleaning Up America’s Most Hazardous Land Contamination Headquarters, Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) WASHINGTON (July 27, 2020) — This week, as part of its 50th anniversary commemoration, the U.S. Published July 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Carrying a Telescope Aloft

Image
Carried by a balloon the size of a football stadium, ASTHROS will use a telescope to observe wavelengths of light that aren't visible from the ground. via NASA https://ift.tt/2DdOxKl

EPA! EPA! EPA, Federal Family, and the National Academies Collaborate on Public Workshop to Review Federal Research on PFAS

EPA, Federal Family, and the National Academies Collaborate on Public Workshop to Review Federal Research on PFAS Headquarters, Research and Development (ORD) WASHINGTON D.C (July 27, 2020) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Published July 26, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Another Monday!

Now school

U.S. Department of Labor Marks Americans with Disabilities Act’s 30th Anniversary; Will Hold Commemorative Event in October

Image
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark civil rights legislation that protects access and opportunity for people with disabilities across community life, including employment. “The Americans with Disabilities Act ushered in a new era of equality and inclusion for Americans with disabilities,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “This landmark law informs and motivates the Department’s efforts as we work to provide all Americans with opportunities for fulfilling employment.” The Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) helps advance the ADA by developing and influencing policies and practices that increase both the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The agency provides technical assistance to individuals and employers on the ADA’s employment provisions. The ODEP-supported Job Accommodation Network is a leading source fo...

ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Image
WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor took a range of actions to aid American workers and employers as our nation combats the coronavirus pandemic. Reopening America’s Economy: U.S. Department of Labor Kicks off National Childcare Reopening Tour in Denver, Colorado – Director Laurie Todd-Smith of the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau traveled to Denver, Colorado, with Senator Cory Gardner and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump underscoring the importance of childcare as the nation’s economy safely reopens. Keeping America’s Workplaces Safe and Healthy: U.S. Department of Labor Cites Ohio Nursing Facilities for Failing to Fully Implement Respiratory Programs to Protect Employees from Coronavirus – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a healthcare company for violating respiratory protection standards following an inspection initiated after the company reported the coronavirus-related hospitalization of seven employees.  Defend...
Image
Normally, Steamboat Point looks cool -- but not this cool. Every day, the iconic peak of the Bighorn Mountains is an interesting sight, in particular from US Highway 14 in Wyoming. On some rare days, the rocky vertical ridges look even more incredible when seen in front of a distant lightning storm. Earlier this month, though, something even more unusual happened -- the naked-eye Comet NEOWISE rose above it in the middle of the night. Just as a distant lightning storm was occurring in the background. Recognizing a rare opportunity, a determined astrophotographer spent a sleepless night capturing over 1400 images of this unusual triple conjunction. The featured image is among the best of them, with the foreground lit by the Moon off to the right. Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) is now headed back to the outer Solar System, destined to return only in about 6700 years. via NASA https://ift.tt/3f2kYZy

Wikipedia article of the day for July 27, 2020

Image
The Wikipedia article of the day for July 27, 2020 is Osbert Lancaster . Osbert Lancaster (4 August 1908 – 27 July 1986) was an English cartoonist, architectural historian and stage designer. He became known in the 1930s for his books on architecture, aiming to amuse the general reader while demystifying the subject. Several of the terms he coined as labels for architectural styles such as "Pont Street Dutch" have gained common usage, and his books have continued to be regarded as important works of reference on the subject. In the Daily Express from 1938 to 1981 he drew the "pocket cartoons", a form he introduced to Britain. They featured a cast of regular characters, led by his best-known creation, Maudie Littlehampton, through whom he expressed his views on the fashions, fads and political events of the day. In 1951 he was commissioned to create costumes and scenery for a new ballet, Pineapple Poll. Between then and the early 1970s he designed new productions f...

woe betide: Word of the day for July 27, 2020

woe betide , v : (transitive, idiomatic, humorous or literary) Used to warn someone that trouble will occur if that person does something: bad things will happen to.

Picture of the day for July 27, 2020

Image
Monastery of La Monjía, a fortified monastery located in Fuentetoba, municipality of Golmayo, near the Pico Frentes mountain, Province of Soria, Spain. The Romanesque church was erected by Benedictines in the 11th century but the fortification was added in the 16th century by the Counts of Castejón.. Learn more .

Picture of the day for July 27, 2020

Image
Wikipedia picture of the day on July 27, 2020: Monastery of La Monjía, a fortified monastery located in Fuentetoba, municipality of Golmayo, near the Pico Frentes mountain, Province of Soria, Spain. The Romanesque church was erected by Benedictines in the 11th century but the fortification was added in the 16th century by the Counts of Castejón. https://ift.tt/2OUm13g
Image
What would it look like to fly through the distant universe? To find out, a team of astronomers estimated the relative distances to over 5,000 galaxies in one of the most distant fields of galaxies ever imaged: the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF). Because it takes light a long time to cross the universe, most galaxies visible in the featured video are seen when the universe was only a fraction of its current age, were still forming, and have unusual shapes when compared to modern galaxies. No mature looking spiral galaxies such as our Milky Way or the Andromeda galaxy yet exist. Toward the end of the video the virtual observer flies past the farthest galaxies in the HUDF field, recorded to have a redshift past 8. This early class of low luminosity galaxies likely contained energetic stars emitting light that transformed much of the remaining normal matter in the universe from a cold gas to a hot ionized plasma. via NASA https://ift.tt/3fZMmc8

Wikipedia article of the day for July 26, 2020

Image
The Wikipedia article of the day for July 26, 2020 is Carlos Castillo Armas . Carlos Castillo Armas (November 4, 1914 – July 26, 1957) was a military officer and the 28th president of Guatemala. He came to power in a 1954 coup d'état backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency that overthrew the democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz, and consolidated his position in an October 1954 election in which he was the only candidate. A member of the right-wing National Liberation Movement party, he was also the first of a series of authoritarian rulers in Guatemala who were close allies of the United States. Under Castillo Armas, the reforms of the Guatemalan Revolution were largely undone. Land was confiscated from small farmers and returned to large landowners, and thousands of people were arrested, tortured, or killed under suspicion of being communists. In 1957 Castillo Armas was assassinated by a presidential guard. His policies sparked a series of leftist i...

lexicography: Word of the day for July 26, 2020

lexicography , n : The art or craft of compiling, writing, and editing dictionaries. (linguistics) The scholarly discipline of analysing and describing the semantic, syntagmatic and paradigmatic relationships within the lexicon (vocabulary) of a language and developing theories of dictionary components and structures linking the data in dictionaries. Scottish lexicographer and philologist Sir James Murray, the main editor of the Oxford English Dictionary from 1879 until his death, died on this day 105 years ago in 1915.

Picture of the day for July 26, 2020

Image
Sunset skyline in Umm al-Fahm, Israel. Mosque of Omar (Umm Al-Fahm) can be seen on the right, and Mosque of Abdullah ibn Masud next to it.. Learn more .

Picture of the day for July 26, 2020

Image
Wikipedia picture of the day on July 26, 2020: Sunset skyline in Umm al-Fahm, Israel. Mosque of Omar (Umm Al-Fahm) can be seen on the right, and Mosque of Abdullah ibn Masud next to it. https://ift.tt/3g2Ug4f

U.S. Department of Labor Kicks off National Childcare Reopening Tour in Denver, Colorado

Image
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Director of the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau Laurie Todd-Smith traveled to Denver, Colorado, with Senator Cory Gardner and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump underscoring the importance of childcare as the nation’s economy safely reopens. Advisor Trump, Senator Gardner and Director Todd-Smith toured Bright Beginnings Childcare & Preschool to learn more about new measures being taken to ensure the safety of staff and children. Following, Director Todd-Smith led a roundtable discussion on the important role childcare centers play as part of the nation’s economic reopening. “For many Americans who have faced unemployment because of the pandemic, getting back to work means having access to child care,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “Ivanka Trump’s visit to Colorado highlights this issue and the importance to working families of re-opening child care centers and schools.” “As we battle the coronavirus and safely reopen the economy, wo...

Tianwen 1 Mission to Mars

Image
On July 23, this Long March 5 heavy-lift rocket rose into a blue morning sky from China's Hainan Island Wenchang Satellite Launch Center. The rocket carried an orbiter, lander, and rover to ask Heavenly Questions on the ambitious Tianwen-1 mission to Mars. In fact Tianwen-1 was the second of three missions scheduled for a July departure to the Red Planet. The United Arab Emirates launched its Amal (Hope) Mars probe on July 19. NASA's launch of its Mars Perseverance Rover from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA is scheduled for July 30. That is the last planned Mars launch for 2020 though. The minimum-energy launch window for an expedition to Mars is coming to a close in 2020 and will reopen in 2022. via NASA https://ift.tt/32RKcHG

EPA! EPA! EPA Administrator Wheeler Highlights Brownfields Success in Montana with Senator Daines

EPA Administrator Wheeler Highlights Brownfields Success in Montana with Senator Daines Headquarters, Office of the Administrator (AO) Kalispell, Mont. (July 24, 2020) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler continued his swing through the West with a series of events in Kalispell, Mont. focusing on EPA’s Brownfields program with U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT). Published July 23, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Wikipedia article of the day for July 25, 2020

Image
The Wikipedia article of the day for July 25, 2020 is Operation Cobra . Operation Cobra was an offensive launched by the First United States Army under Omar Bradley against the German 7th Army commanded by Paul Hausser in the Cotentin Peninsula during the Normandy campaign of World War II. The attack commenced on 25 July 1944, having been delayed several times by poor weather. Supporting offensives had drawn the bulk of German armored reserves toward the British and Canadian sectors, and the lack of men and materiel available to the Germans meant they were unable to form successive lines of defense. After a slow start the offensive gathered momentum and by 27 July most organized resistance had been overcome and the Americans advanced rapidly. The German response was ineffectual and the entire Normandy front soon collapsed. Operation Cobra, together with concurrent offensives by the British Second Army and the Canadian First Army, was decisive in securing an Allied victory in the ...

cutting: Word of the day for July 25, 2020

cutting , n : (countable, uncountable) The action of the verb to cut. (countable) A section removed from a larger whole. (countable) A newspaper clipping. (countable, horticulture) A leaf, stem, branch, or root removed from a plant and cultivated to grow a new plant. (countable) An abridged selection of written work, often intended for performance. (countable, Britain) An open passage at a level lower than the surrounding terrain, dug for a canal, railway, or road to go through. (uncountable, cinematography, sound engineering) The editing of film or other recordings. (uncountable, machining) The process of bringing metals to a desired shape by chipping away the unwanted material. (uncountable, psychology) The act of cutting one's own skin as a symptom of a personality disorder; self-harm. The English pop rock band Cutting Crew released its debut single “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” in the United Kingdom on this day in 1986.

Picture of the day for July 25, 2020

Image
Książ is the largest castle in the Silesia region, located in northern Wałbrzych in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland.. Learn more .

Picture of the day for July 25, 2020

Image
Wikipedia picture of the day on July 25, 2020: Książ is the largest castle in the Silesia region, located in northern Wałbrzych in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. https://ift.tt/2CBGRSz

EPA! EPA! EPA: Managing Waste for Half-a-Century

EPA: Managing Waste for Half-a-Century Region 03 Agency Works with State, Tribal and Industry Partners to Prevent and Clean up Pollution Releases Published July 23, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

NASA to Provide Coverage of Astronauts’ Return from Space Station on SpaceX Commercial Crew Test Flight

NASA will provide live coverage of activities leading up to, during, and following the return of the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight with the agency’s astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley from the International Space Station. July 24, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/32TiDO3 via IFTTT

NASA Awards Rapid IV Contracts for Spacecraft Systems and Services

NASA has awarded contracts to five aerospace firms for the Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition IV spacecraft and related services. Each contractor has one or more core spacecraft offerings available under their contract. July 24, 2020 from NASA https://ift.tt/39qB8dZ via IFTTT

EPA! EPA! ICYMI: With Wyoming support, EPA chief signs agreement to boost U.S. uranium

ICYMI: With Wyoming support, EPA chief signs agreement to boost U.S. uranium Headquarters, Air and Radiation (OAR) By Tom Coulter, Wyoming Tribune Eagle Jul 23, 2020 Published July 23, 2020 at 09:00PM Read more

Apollo 11 Aboard the USS Hornet

Image
This image, taken on July 24, 1969, shows the Apollo 11 command codule and the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) are photographed aboard the USS Hornet via NASA https://ift.tt/3gahXrL

MAGIC NEOWISE

Image
The multi-mirror, 17 meter-diameter MAGIC telescopes reflect this starry night sky from the Roque de los Muchachos European Northern Observatory on the Canary Island of La Palma. MAGIC stands for Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov and the telescopes can see the brief flashes of optical light produced in particle air showers as high-energy gamma rays impact the Earth's upper atmosphere. On July 20, two of the three telescopes in view were looking for gamma rays from the center of our Milky Way galaxy. In reflection they show the bright stars of Sagittarius and Scorpius near the galactic center to the southeast. Beyond the segmented-mirror arrays, above the northwest horizon and below the Big Dipper is Comet NEOWISE. NEOWISE stands for Near Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. That's the Earth-orbiting satellite used to discover the comet designated C/2020 F3, but you knew that. via NASA https://ift.tt/2CXVoro