Matt Ginnow

Edwin Hubble - Welcome

Edwin Powell Hubble (November 20, 1889 – September 28, 1953)[1] was an American astronomer. He played a crucial role in establishing the fields of extragalactic astronomy and observational cosmology.[2][3] Hubble proved that many objects previously thought to be clouds of dust and gas and classified as “nebulae” were actually galaxies beyond the Milky Way.[4] He … Continue reading "Edwin Hubble"

Matthew Ginnow

solar_flare by Matt Ginnow

Saguaros reach their arms to the sky in this starlight silhouette at the Sonoran Desert National Monument in Arizona.

Just south of Phoenix, a captivating desert landscape protects these majestic cacti, which can take 100 years to start growing arms. If you’re in the area, make a day trip and be sure to stay after the sun goes down — the night sky viewing is some of the best in the United States.

Photo by Bob Wick, BLM. Photo description: Tall Saguaro cactus reach upwards towards the night sky. The sky is dark and filled with thousands of stars. 

Cougars, puma, mountain lion, catamount, and ghost cat - they go by many names. These silent stalkers of the night are rarely seen and move like ghosts through the habitats they range.   The National Park Service has been studying how mountain lions survive in an urbanized environment like the Santa Monica Mountains National Park. Remote cameras like this one, help scientists better understand the cougars movements, population, and behavior. Those in the vicinity of a ghost cat may feel a presence, a sense that they’re being watched. It’s entirely possible that even if you haven’t seen one of them, they’ve seen you.

It’s hard to believe that our house cats are distant relatives to ghost cats. In honor of National Cat Day, we wanted to share some cat facts, feline adventures, and ways to recreate responsibly with your fluffball. https://www.doi.gov/blog/wild-cats-adventure-felines  Photo by NPS. Photo description: A mountain lion in black and white caught on a trail camera.

CrocFlix: Are you still watching?

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This American crocodile at Everglades National Park has either been streaming for far too long, or it is thermoregulating its body and head temperature by mouth “gaping.” We think it’s option 2.

Different species of reptiles will sometimes sit motionless with their mouth open. It’s not considered aggressive behavior, but thought to be a way to regulate their temperature.  

Although they look similar, alligators are more numerous in Florida than crocodiles. Gators are darker, have a broader snout, and are typically found in freshwater habitats. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are rare and secretive creatures that inhabit coastal, brackish, and salt-water habitats and are typically lighter colored.  

One of the best ways to view American crocs is to visit the Flamingo section of Everglades National Park. This is where Robert Kramer recently stopped by and they were lucky enough to capture this toothy grin from a safe distance away with a zoom lens on their camera.  

Photo by Robert Kramer. Photo description: A large crocodile has their mouth open showing all of their teeth and mouth

Perseverance

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Matthew Ginnow

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Here’s What You Need to Know About Near-Earth Objects

Our solar system is littered with asteroids and comets, and sometimes they get a little close to Earth. But no need to worry! This happens all the time. When an asteroid or comet could come close to our planet, it’s known as a near-Earth object – aka NEO.

But how close is “close”?

A near-Earth object is defined as an object that could pass by our Earth within 30 million miles. We begin to keep close watch on objects that could pass within 5 million miles of our planet.

To put that into perspective, our Moon is only 238,900 miles away.

However unlikely an impact is, we want to know about all near-Earth objects. Our Planetary Defense Coordination Office maintains watch for asteroids and comets coming close to Earth. Along with our partners, we discover, catalog and characterize these bodies.

But what if one of these objects posed a threat?

We want to be prepared. That is why we are working on several deflection techniques and technologies to help protect our planet.

So next time that you hear of an asteroid passing “close” to Earth, know that it’s just one of many that we are tracking.

Here are 10 more things you should know about Planetary Defense.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com