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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Last Panorama of the Spirit Rover on Mars


Credit: Mars Exploration Rover Mission, NASA, JPL, Cornell; Image Processing: Kenneth Kremer, Marco Di Lorenzo


Explanation: This is the last thing that the Spirit rover on Mars ever saw. Operating years beyond original expectations, Spirit eventually got mired in martian dirt and then ran out of power when investigating the unusual Home Plate surface feature on Mars. Visible in the above panorama are numerous rocks and slopes of the surrounding Columbia Hills of Mars. The strange hill with the light colored top, visible near the top center of the image, has been dubbed von Braun and was a future destination when Spirit got bogged down. A leading hypothesis holds that von Braun is related to martian volcanism. Last week, NASA stopped trying to contact Spirit after numerous attempts. Half a world away, Spirit's sister rover Opportunity continues to roll toward Endeavour Crater, which could become the largest crater yet visited by an earthling-created robot.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Twinkle Twinkle so many stars ...

At Hatu peak there were many a stars but not twinkling, till horizon. Perfect nights, good seeing, dry, moderate wind & bearable temperature. We observed a peculiar phenomena at the heights of Hatu, Before sunset there would be few cumulus clouds around, threatening the night, kept us wondering if we should open the telescopes. We would look up after a while and the clouds would be gone completely and the entire sky would be clear. Then it would start dewing, soaking everything. Quite suddenly the dew would also disappear after an hour or so, never to appear back again for the entire night.

The second night at Hatu we clicked a 2.5 hour polar trail photo using a 8mm fish eye lens and a Canon 450D. The camera captured stars right till the horizon and the earthly lights in the valley below. The subs were combined into a trail using Images Plus software, and then we did something special, blended in a single photo from the middle of the trail showing the Milky Way ....

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Friday, May 27, 2011

Chuck Norris



read bellow more info...


The principals of Chun Kuk Do!


I will develop myself to the maximum of my potential in all ways.
I will forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements.
I will continually work at developing love, happiness and loyalty in my family.
I will look for the good in all people and make them feel worthwhile.
If I have nothing good to say about a person, I will say nothing.
I will always be as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
I will maintain an attitude of open-mindedness.
I will maintain respect for those in authority and demonstrate this respect at all times.
I will always remain loyal to my God, my country, family and my friends.
I will remain highly goal-oriented throughout my life because that positive attitude helps my family, my country and myself.

ALSO!!!

-Chuck Norris once urinated in a semi truck’s gas tank as a joke….that truck is now known as Optimus Prime.
-There is no ‘Ctrl’ button on Chuck Norris’ computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.
-Chuck Norris is the only man to punch a cyclops between the eyes
-Chuck Norris counted to infinity – twice.
-Chuck Norris doesn’t mow his lawn, he stares at it and dares it to grow.
-When it’s time for people to die, the Grim Reaper shows up. When its time for the Grim Reaper to die, Chuck Norris shows up.
-Chuck Norris and Superman once fought each other on a bet. The loser had to start wearing his underwear on the outside of his pants.
-Chuck Norris can touch MC Hammer
-Death once had a near-Chuck Norris experience
-Chuck Norris kicked the world once, it hasn’t stopped spinning.
-Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch. HE decides what time it is.
-When Chuck Norris stares at the Sun, the Sun goes blind.
-They once made a Chuck Norris toilet paper, but there was a problem: It wouldn’t take shit from anybody.
-There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of animals Chuck Norris allows to live.
-Chuck Norris actually died 10 years ago, death is too scared to tell him
-Chuck Norris can divide by zero
-Chuck Norris once roudhoused kicked Hulk in the face. Now he hides in the forest and changed his name to Shrek
-When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.
-Usually when kids go to sleep they sleep with a teddy bear…Chuck Norris sleeps with an actual bear
-Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
-Chuck Norris knows the last digit of pi.
-Chuck Norris once urinated in a semi truck’s gas tank as a joke….that truck is now known as Optimus Prime.
-There is no ‘Ctrl’ button on Chuck Norris’ computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.
-Chuck Norris is the only man to punch a cyclops between the eyes
-Chuck Norris counted to infinity – twice.
-Chuck Norris doesn’t mow his lawn, he stares at it and dares it to grow.
-When it’s time for people to die, the Grim Reaper shows up. When its time for the Grim Reaper to die, Chuck Norris shows up.
-Chuck Norris and Superman once fought each other on a bet. The loser had to start wearing his underwear on the outside of his pants.
-Chuck Norris can touch MC Hammer
-Death once had a near-Chuck Norris experience
-Chuck Norris kicked the world once, it hasn’t stopped spinning.
-Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch. HE decides what time it is.
-When Chuck Norris stares at the Sun, the Sun goes blind.
-They once made a Chuck Norris toilet paper, but there was a problem: It wouldn’t take shit from anybody.
-There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of animals Chuck Norris allows to live.
-Chuck Norris actually died 10 years ago, death is too scared to tell him
-Chuck Norris can divide by zero
-Chuck Norris once roudhoused kicked Hulk in the face. Now he hides in the forest and changed his name to Shrek
-When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.
-Usually when kids go to sleep they sleep with a teddy bear…Chuck Norris sleeps with an actual bear
-Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
-Chuck Norris knows the last digit of pi.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Another Icelandic eruption: Grimsvotn volcano

Barely a year after a similar eruption in Iceland forced the biggest closure of European airspace since World War II, the eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano, under the Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland on May 21, 2011 has caused hundreds of travel delays. The ash cloud forced U.S. President Barack Obama to shorten a visit to Ireland and has raised some fears of a repeat of last year's huge travel disruptions across Europe when emissions from Eyjafjalljokull stranded millions of passengers. Although this disruption is said to be stronger than that of Eyiafjalljokull, it is not expected to have the same impact.
1. A plane flies past a smoke plume resulting from the eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano, under the Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland, May 21, 2011. Airlines began canceling flights to Britain because of the ash cloud from the volcano reaching its airspace, although experts expected no repeat of travel chaos from the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull a year ago. (Olafur Sigurjonsson/Reuters)
2. An image released by the Nasa Earth Observatory, May 24, 2011, captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite at 13:00 UTC, May 22, 2011 shows the ash column billowing from the Grimsvoetn volcano. European air traffic controllers said that 252 flights had been cancelled as a volcanic ash cloud covered Scotland and Northern Ireland. (HO/AFP/Getty Images)
3. U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama board Air Force One at the airport in Dublin, May 23, 2011 en route to London. Obama was forced to leave Ireland a day ahead of schedule to fly to London as a cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano drifted towards Britain. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)
4. A cloud of smoke and ash is seen over the Grimsvoetn volcano in Iceland, May 21, 2011. The cloud rising up from Grimsvoetn as a result of the eruption was seen for the first time around 1900 GMT and in less than an hour it had reached an altitude of 11 kilometres (6.8 miles), according to the Icelandic Meteorological Institute. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
5. The road near the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur, May 24, 2011. People living next to the glacier where the Grimsvotn volcano burst into life were most affected, with ash shutting out the daylight and smothering buildings and vehicles. The outburst is the volcano's most powerful since 1873 and stronger than the Eyjafjallajokull volcano which caused trouble last year. Scientists say this type of ash less easily dispersed but winds have so far been more favorable. (Ingolfur Juliusson/Reuters)
6. Smoke plumes rise from the Grimsvotn volcano, which lies under the Vatnajokull glacier, about 120 miles, (200 kilometers) east of the capital, Rejkjavik. The volcano began erupting May 21, 2011 for the first time since 2004. Iceland closed its main international airport and canceled domestic flights as the powerful volcanic eruption sent a plume of ash, smoke and steam 12 miles (20 kilometers) into the air. (Jon Gustafsson/Associated Press)
7. Anna Hardadottir, a farmer from Horgsland, leads a horse, through the ash pouring out of the erupting Grimsvoetn volcano, May 22, 2011. Ash deposits were sprinkled over the capital Reykjavik, some 400 kilometres (250 miles) to the west of the volcano, which has spewed an ash cloud about 20 kilometres into the sky. Less than 24 hours after the eruption began late May 21, experts and authorities in Iceland said the volcanic activity had begun to decline. (Vilhelm Gunnarsson/AFP/Getty Images)
8. Sheep farmers try to round up a flock as they walk through a cloud of ash pouring out of the erupting Grimsvoetn volcano in Mulakot, May 22, 2011. (Vilhelm Gunnarsson/AFP/Getty Images)
9. A dead lamb lies covered in ash near Kirkjubaearklaustur 260 km (162 miles) from ReykjavI`k, Iceland, May 24 2011. Experts say that particles in the ash could stall jet engines and sandblast planes' windows. The ash cloud forced US President Barack Obama to shorten a visit to Ireland and has raised fears of a repeat of huge travel disruptions in Europe last year when emissions from another of Iceland's volcanos, Eyjafjalljokull, stranded millions of passengers.(Brynjar Gauti/Associated Press)
10. A man clears the windshield of his car during daylight hours in Kirkjbaejarklaustur, near the Grimsvoetn volcano, May 23, 2011. Activity at Iceland's erupting volcano has slowed significantly and its flight-halting ash plume has dropped to a quarter of its peak. (Vilheldm Gunnarsson/AFP/Getty Images)
11. A man walks over a field in the settlement of Vik near the Grimsvoetn volcano, May 23, 2011. (Thorvaldur Kristmundsson/AFP/Getty Images)
12. A member of a rescue team checks on a farmer near Kirkjubaearklaustur, approx. 260 km from Reykjavik, Iceland, May 23, 2011. A dense cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano was being blown toward Scotland forcing two airlines to cancel their flights. (Brynjar Gauti/Associated Press )
13. Ash covers the surface of the ground outside a gas station in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, May 22, 2011. Iceland's most active volcano erupted hurling a plume of ash and smoke far into the sky, which aviation officials were closely monitoring after another volcano shut European airspace for days last year. Authorities banned flights close to the Grimsvotn volcano. (Ingolfur Juliusson/Reuters)
14. Farmer and hotel owner Gisli Kjartanson rests at the bar in his empty hotel, Geirland, near Kirkjubaejarklaustur, May 23, 2011. People living next to the glacier where the Grimsvotn volcano burst into life were most affected, with ash shutting out the daylight and smothering buildings and vehicles. The outburst is the volcano's most powerful since 1873 and stronger than the Eyjafjallajokull volcano which caused havoc last year. (Ingolfur Juliusson/Reuters)
15. A passenger looks at the flight information boards at Dublin International airport in Ireland, May 24, 2011. Airlines grounded hundreds of flights after a plume of ash from a volcano in Iceland blanketed Britain and touched Scandinavia in a fresh travel nightmare for thousands of passengers. (Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images)
16. A departure board shows canceled flights as the airport remains open with limited flights at Edinburgh Airport in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 24, 2011. A dense ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano blew toward Scotland, causing airlines to cancel flights and raising fears of a repeat of last year's huge travel disruptions in Europe that stranded millions of passengers. (Scott Heppell/Associated Press)
17. A deserted check-in area at Keflavik airport, Keflavik, Iceland, May 22, 2011, as Iceland closed its main international airport and canceled domestic flights. The eruption was far larger than one a year ago that caused international travel chaos, but scientists said it was unlikely to have the same widespread effect. (Brynjar Gauti/Associated Press)
18. Airline passengers sleep as they wait for flights at Edinburgh airport in Scotland, May 24, 2011. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
19. Airline passengers wait for flights at Edinburgh airport in Scotland, May 24, 2011. Airlines halted hundreds of flights after a plume of ash from an erupting volcano in Iceland blew over Britain, even forcing US President Barack Obama to revise his travel plans. Barely a year after a similar eruption in Iceland forced the biggest closure of European airspace since World War II. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
20. Passengers sleep on the floor in the main terminal at Edinburgh Airport, in Scotland, May 24, 2011. (David Moir/Reuters)
21. A passenger waits in the main terminal at Edinburgh Airport, in Scotland, May 24, 2011. Ash from an Icelandic volcano forced the cancellation of dozens of flights to and from Scotland but Ireland's Ryanair said it would protest against "unnecessary" restrictions. (David Moir/Reuters)
22. A woman is stranded with her luggage in the main terminal at Edinburgh Airport in Scotland, May 24, 2011. (David Moir/Reuters)
23. A passenger sits by the check in desk after flights were canceled at Edinburgh Airport in Edinburgh, May 24, 2011. (Scott HeppellAssociated Press)
24. An empty flight Check-In area at Aberdeen Airport in Scotland, May 24, 2011, a result of a plume of ash from an erupting Icelandic volcano headed for Britain. (Scott Campbell/AFP/Getty Images)

Saturday, May 21, 2011

The planet of the apes



A brief, interesting clip from National Geographic's "Ape Genius" documentary, demonstrating problem solving skills in chimpanzees, by using water as a flotation aid to retrieve a treat from a narrow tube.

This experiment was conducted at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Narcosub: 'Drug Submarine' seized in Colombia

A narcotics trafficking submarine has been discovered by authorities in Colombia. It's believed the vessel is able to travel from Colombia to the coasts of Mexico. The submarine was found in a river in the state of Cauca, about 400 kilometres southwest of the capital Bogota. Authorities found weapons nearby, but said no one was arrested and no drugs were found when they made the discovery.