The New World Atlas of Artificial Sky Brightness

How far are you from a naturally dark night sky? In increasing steps, this world map (medium | large) shows the effect of artificial night sky brightness on the visual appearance of the night sky. The brightness was modeled using high resolution satellite data and fit to thousands of night sky brightness measurements in recent work. Color-coded levels are compared to the natural sky brightness level for your location. For example, artificial sky brightness levels in yellow alter the natural appearance of the night sky. In red they hide the Milky Way in an artificial luminous fog. The results indicate that the historically common appearance of our galaxy at night is now lost for more than one-third of humanity. That includes 60% of Europeans and almost 80% of North Americans, along with inhabitants of other densely populated, light-polluted regions of planet Earth. via NASA http://ift.tt/2970a3C

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From Alpha to Omega in Crete

This beautiful telephoto composition spans light-years in a natural night skyscape from the island of Crete. Looking south, exposures both track the stars and record a fixed foreground in three merged panels that cover a 10×12 degree wide field of view. The May 15 waxing gibbous moonlight illuminates the church and mountainous terrain. A mere 18 thousand light-years away, huge globular star cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) shining above gives a good visual impression of its appearance in binoculars on that starry night. Active galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) is near the top of the frame, some 11 million light-years distant. Also found toward the expansive southern constellation Centaurus and about the size of our own Milky Way is edge on spiral galaxy NGC 4945. About 13 million light-years distant it’s only a little farther along, and just above the horizon at the right. via NASA http://ift.tt/293kSAl

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Can You Hear Them Now? New Buoy Listens for Singing Whales by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scientists have deployed a buoy 22 miles off the coast of New York’s Fire Island to monitor several species of great whales in “near real-time.” The high-tech acoustic device will eavesdrop on the songs of the whales to better understand and…

Published: June 28, 2016 at 10:01AM

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With Eye on China, Indonesian Parliament Approves Higher Defense Spending by REUTERS

By REUTERS

Indonesian lawmakers on Tuesday approved higher defense spending this year to fund, among other things, major upgrades to military facilities in the Natuna Islands, whose nearby waters Beijing says are subject to “over-lapping claims”.

Published: June 28, 2016 at 02:17AM

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Fishing Boat, Yacht Collide Off Rhode Island by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Authorities are investigating after a 100-foot fishing excursion boat and a 70-foot yacht collided on Block Island Sound off Rhode Island.

Published: June 28, 2016 at 02:05AM

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Anticrepuscular Rays over Colorado II

What’s happening over the horizon? Although the scene may appear somehow supernatural, nothing more unusual is occurring than a setting Sun and some well placed clouds. Pictured above are anticrepuscular rays. To understand them, start by picturing common crepuscular rays that are seen any time that sunlight pours though scattered clouds. Now although sunlight indeed travels along straight lines, the projections of these lines onto the spherical sky are great circles. Therefore, the crepuscular rays from a setting (or rising) sun will appear to re-converge on the other side of the sky. At the anti-solar point 180 degrees around from the Sun, they are referred to as anticrepuscular rays. Featured here is a particularly striking display of anticrepuscular rays photographed earlier this month in Westminster, Colorado, USA. via NASA http://ift.tt/28Z5h9z

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South China Sea Reefs ‘Decimated’ as Giant Clams Harvested in Bulk by REUTERS

By REUTERS

Ornaments made from the shells of endangered giant clams, renowned in China for having auspicious powers and the luster of ivory, have become coveted luxuries, a trend which has wreaked havoc on the ecosystem of the South China Sea.

Published: June 27, 2016 at 03:15PM

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Appeals Court: Washington Must Fix Salmon-Blocking Culverts by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

In a case that could have big implications for dams and other development in the Northwest, a federal appeals court panel said Monday that Native American tribes have a right not only to fish for salmon, but for there to be salmon to catch — a…

Published: June 27, 2016 at 11:41AM

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Business Highlights by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: June 27, 2016 at 02:18PM

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Keepers of the Flame: Taiwan Keeps the Art of Fire Fishing Alive by REUTERS

By REUTERS

Under the darkness of the night sky, a small group of Taiwan fishermen set sail off the northeast coast, light a fire on the end of a bamboo stick using chemicals and wait for the fish to come.

Published: June 27, 2016 at 02:21AM

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Learning to Fly-Fish, in Chile by RICHARD HOLLEDGE

By RICHARD HOLLEDGE

It had long been my ambition to learn the skill, but I hadn’t thought about traveling 8,000 miles to do it.

Published: June 26, 2016 at 08:00PM

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Fire Crews Making Inroads Against Deadly California Wildfire by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fire crews are making inroads against a raging wildfire in central California that has claimed two lives and destroyed 200 homes.

Published: June 27, 2016 at 12:27AM

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Jupiters Clouds from New Horizons

The New Horizons spacecraft took some stunning images of Jupiter on its way out to Pluto. Famous for its Great Red Spot, Jupiter is also known for its regular, equatorial cloud bands, visible through even modest sized telescopes. The featured image, horizontally compressed, was taken in 2007 near Jupiter’s terminator and shows the Jovian giant’s wide diversity of cloud patterns. On the far left are clouds closest to Jupiter’s South Pole. Here turbulent whirlpools and swirls are seen in a dark region, dubbed a belt, that rings the planet. Even light colored regions, called zones, show tremendous structure, complete with complex wave patterns. The energy that drives these waves surely comes from below. New Horizons is the fastest space probe ever launched, has successfully complete its main flyby of Pluto in 2015, and is now heading further out and on track to flyby Kuiper belt object 2014 MU69 in 2019. In the near term, many space enthusiasts excitedly await Juno’s arrival at Jupiter next Monday. via NASA http://ift.tt/291jPFi

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Oil Militants Call for Referendum on Breaking Up Nigeria by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oil militants who have slashed Nigeria’s petroleum production with attacks on pipelines called Sunday for a referendum on breaking up the Nigerian federation.

Published: June 26, 2016 at 11:25AM

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3 Killed as Boat Capsizes Off Catalina Island by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A boat that may have been hit by a wave capsized off the backside of Santa Catalina Island, killing three men, authorities said.

Published: June 25, 2016 at 09:33PM

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Death Toll May Rise in Destructive California Wildfire by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lighter winds are helping firefighters make gains on a voracious and deadly wildfire in central California that has burned 150 homes and claimed two lives.

Published: June 25, 2016 at 09:03PM

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Strawberry to Honey Moonrise

Near the horizon the Full Moon often seems to loom large, swollen in appearance by the famous Moon illusion. But timelapse images demonstrate that the Moon’s apparent size doesn’t really change as it climbs toward the zenith. Its color does, though. Recording a frame every 10 seconds, this image shows how dramatic that color change can be. The composite follows a solstice Full Moon climbing above a rugged horizon over northwestern Indiana. A shrinking line-of-sight through planet Earth’s dense and dusty atmosphere shifted the moonlight from strawberry red through honey-colored and paler yellowish hues. That change seems appropriate for a northern June Full Moon also known as the Strawberry or Honey Moon. via NASA http://ift.tt/28TXGWX

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