The breath-taking images on the Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist
This image presents all the planets of our Solar System, excluding Earth, showcasing their unique characteristics. From the gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, which dominate with their immense size and swirling storms, to Mars, the Red Planet, with the largest volcano in the Solar System.
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Reuters
29 minutes ago
- Reuters
More than 2,000 senior employees expected to depart from NASA, Politico reports
July 9 (Reuters) - Around 2,145 senior-ranking employees at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration are set to leave under a push to shed staff, Politico reported on Wednesday citing documents obtained by the news outlet. Most employees leaving are in GS-13 to GS-15 positions, senior-level government ranks, the report said, adding that the agency has offered staff early retirement, buyouts and deferred resignations. "NASA remains committed to our mission as we work within a more prioritized budget", the agency's spokesperson Bethany Stevens told Reuters in an emailed statement. Under President Donald Trump's administration, in recent months the U.S. space industry and NASA's workforce of 18,000 have been whipsawed by looming layoffs and proposed budget cuts that would cancel dozens of science programs, while the U.S. space agency remains without a confirmed administrator. Trump's nominee for NASA administrator, Musk ally and billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman, appeared to be an early casualty of Musk's rift with the president when the White House abruptly removed him from consideration last month, denying Musk his pick to lead the space agency.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Dangerous US volcano 'is still active' as scientists reveal troubling source behind hundreds of earthquakes
More than 400 earthquakes rattled Washington's Mount Rainier over just 12 hours on Tuesday, sparking fears that the catastrophic volcano could soon erupt. The US Geological Survey (USGS) issued an update at 1:00pm PT, reminding the public that Rainier is far from extinct, but 'is still active.' This huge, stratovolcano looms over nearly 90,000 people living in cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Yakima in Washington as well as Portland, Oregon. Even though Rainier has not produced a significant eruption in more than 1,000 years, this weeks swarm of earthquakes caught the attention of the USGS as such events are often associated with volcanic unrest. A USGS geophysicist clarified that the current tremors at Rainier are not being driven by rising magma, but are likely the result of hot fluids. Alex Iezzi explained that hot water is probably circulating through pre-existing fractures in the rock beneath the surface, which can generate small, frequent earthquakes as the pressurized fluids cause the surrounding rock to shift and crack. However, Rainier is still closely monitored, as changes in these fluid-driven systems can sometimes precede more serious volcanic activity. A network of webcams, seismometers, GPS stations and infrasound sensors at the volcano are watching it around the clock, looking for any changes that signal an eruption. Volcanologists have said that it is only a matter of time until Rainier, arguably the most dangerous volcano in the US, unleashes on the Pacific Northwest. 'Mount Rainier keeps me up at night because it poses such a great threat to the surrounding communities,' Jess Phoenix, a volcanologist and ambassador for the Union of Concerned Scientists told CNN. But for now, the USGS has found 'no indication that the level of earthquake activity is cause for concern, and the alert level and color code for Mount Rainier remain at GREEN / NORMAL.' Tuesday's earthquakes were very small, measuring up to a 1.6 magnitude. 'Earthquakes are too small to be felt at the surface and will likely continue for several days. There would be no damage caused by such small events,' the USGS said. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, which monitors seismic activity in the area, detected 25 earthquakes as of 11:20am PT, with a magnitude 2.3 as the strongest. However, this is the largest swarm of earthquakes since 2009 that saw over 1,000 tremors. The volcano typically experiences a rate of about nine earthquakes per month and swarms every one to two years. 'Earthquakes are one of several parameters we monitor to indicate what a volcano is doing,' said the USGS. 'Right now, this swarm is still within what we consider normal background levels of activity at Mount Rainier.' The USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) added: 'Instruments do not show any detectable ground deformation at the volcano, and no anomalous signals have been seen on the infrasound monitoring stations.' When this volcano eventually blows, it won't be lava flows or choking clouds of ash that threaten surrounding cities, but the lahars: violent, fast-moving mudflows that can tear across entire communities in a matter of minutes. Large lahars can crush, abrade, bury, or carry away almost anything in their paths, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). 'Tacoma and South Seattle are built on 100-foot-thick ancient mudflows from eruptions of Mount Rainier,' Phoenix said. This is a strong indication that these populous cities lie within the path of potential lahars generated by a future eruption. Volcanic eruptions usually cause lahars by rapidly melting snow and ice that covers the volcano's slopes, which then destabilizes loose dirt, rock and volcanic debris and causes it to flow rapidly downward. But it doesn't always take an eruption to trigger a lahar, according to the Seismological Society of America. Rarely, these powerful mudslides can form as the result of gradual weakening of the volcano's slopes due to past eruptions, or heavy rainfall after an eruption. The deadliest lahar in recent history resulted from a 1985 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz stratovolcano in Tolima, Columbia. Within hours of the eruption, a torrent of mud, melted snow and rock inundated the town of Armero and killed an estimated 25,000 people. This event, now known as the Armero tragedy, was the costliest volcanic disaster in history, according to The International Disaster Database. The total economic impact was estimated at $1 billion. The 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens, located in Washington just 50 miles from Mount Rainier, also produced a dangerous lahar that destroyed more than 200 homes, over 185 miles of roads and contributed to the total death toll of 57 people.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
'Moon Illusion' will appear in the night sky TOMORROW... here's how to see the visual phenomenon
Skywatchers are in for a treat when the summer's first full moon creates an illusion in the night sky. Although the moon reaches its full phase on Thursday at 4:36pm ET, it will appear most dramatic as it rises above the horizon after sunset, glowing with a striking orange hue and seeming larger than usual. This is known as the 'Moon Illusion,' a rare visual phenomenon that plays a trick on the mind. As the moon hovers near the horizon, the human brain compares it to nearby objects like trees, buildings, or mountains, making it appear far bigger than when it's high overhead in the empty sky. To experience the moon illusion for yourself, start by looking at the full moon, normally when it's near the horizon. Then, try viewing it through a cardboard tube to block out surrounding objects, which helps isolate the moon and reduces the illusion. You can also look at the moon upside down by bending over and peering through your legs, or, if you have access to one, leaning backward while seated on a swing. NASA says the moon typically looks orange or red near the horizon because Earth's thick atmosphere scatters blue light, letting the warmer colors through, the same reason sunsets look red. Thursday also marks as the moon's farthest distance from the sun in 2025, as it comes just days after Earth hit aphelion, the point in its orbit farthest from the sun. On average, the moon is about 92.9 million miles from the sun. But during the Buck Moon, it will be roughly 94.5 million miles away. In summer, the sun takes a high path across the sky during the day. The moon, on the other hand, takes the opposite path at night. So instead of being high overhead, it moves in a lower arc closer to the horizon. Because it stays low in the sky all night, you can see it for longer and from more places, even if you're in a city or surrounded by buildings or trees. So when people say this full moon gives some of the best views of the year, they're talking about how easy and striking it is to watch, just because of where it travels in the sky. The position of this moon will make it more special, as it will be unusually low in the sky at night. This is because a full moon always appears directly opposite to the sun. Since the sun is still riding after the June's summer solstice, which is the longest day time of the year, the moon will be hugging the horizon. The moon's unusual low path is a direct result of its 18.6-year lunar cycle, known as a lunistice, a point when the moon's orbit tilts to its greatest angle relative to Earth's equator. This tilt means the moon rises and sets farther north or south on the horizon than usual, following a shallower or higher arc depending on the season. NASA explains this occurs because the moon's tilted orbit interacts with Earth's own tilted axis and orbit around the sun, causing long-term shifts in the moon's apparent trajectory. The name 'Buck Moon' comes from a seasonal behavior in North America. July is when male deer, which is known as Buck, fully grows their new antlers. Other Indigenous groups refer to it as the Thunder Moon, for the seasonal summer storms, or Salmon Moon and Raspberry Moon, tied to harvesting. European names include the Hay Moon, Mead Moon, and Herb Moon, linked to midsummer farming and festivals. While the name doesn't describe the moon's color, just like the previous month Strawberry Moon, the Buck Moon is known for its visual impact, especially when viewed from open fields, hilltops, or coastal areas with a clear southeast horizon. No telescope or binoculars are necessary, any star-gazer can notice the size and color difference compared to a typical high-riding moon. This moon's low track and striking appearance are part of a long-term lunar rhythm.
