The thing about black holes, their main defining feature, is that they’re black; and the thing about space, the basic space color, is it’s black. This makes lone black holes very hard to see!
Today In History
‘Dr.Mae Carol Jemison became the first black woman astronaut on this date June 5, 1987.’
OK, so now it’s “Two Days Ago In History,” but this is still awesome.
It is strange to talk and feel the weight of my lips and tongue!
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| — | Astronaut Chris Hadfield on his return to gravity. If you’re not following him on Twitter, seriously, you’re missing out. |
Col. Chris Hadfield: “Safely home - back on Earth, happily readapting to the heavy pull of gravity. Wonderful to smell and feel Spring.”
Read about Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield’s return to Earth following historic five-month mission here: http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/media/news_releases/2013/0513.asp
Photo credits: Mikhail Metzel/AFP/Getty Images/Guardian/space-pics/NASA
Just awesome. Just plain awesome.
Boys in a Glasgow back court show off their Christmas presents, which include astronaut suits and Space Hoppers. 1970
Outer space, a new frontier, was sufficiently vast and mysterious to allow designers and toy manufacturers near-complete freedom of imagination and creation. One rather enigmatic but popular product was Mettoy’s Space Hopper. These bright orange vinyl bouncing balls, two feet in diameter, with kangaroolike faces and handles that resembled horns, are said to have been inspired by children bouncing on fishing buoys in Norway.
Learn more at MoMA.org/centuryofthechild
Dreams of Space
A design and space science grand slam, behold these 1965 Looking Into Science textbook supplements. Originating in California, they are a memory of a time perhaps more creative and ambitious, in science and in art.
But as any reader of this or the many other blogs who feature science art knows, the talent evident in today’s works signal that there’s a wave of change coming. Sometimes, the best way to inspire the mind is to inspire the soul, for they never truly act alone.
If you love these, then immerse yourself in Dreams of Space, a blog dedicated solely to nonfiction children’s space flight books from 1945-1975. Especially be sure to check out this Czech pop-up book.
What is an Analemma?
An analemma is the figure “8″ loop that results when one observes the position of the sun at the same time during the day over the course of a year. Due to the earth’s tilt about its axis (23.45°) and its elliptical orbit about the sun, the location of the sun is not constant from day to day when observed at the same time on each day over the course of a full year. Furthermore, this loop will be inclined at different angles depending on one’s geographical latitude.
via itfeelsfeynman
Solar System Sampler
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, girls in the UK and the US used needle and thread to embroider images and text onto pieces of fabric that were called “samplers.” Samplers, which could be quite intricate, were meant to promote basic literacy and to teach patience and carefulness.
Unlike many samplers, which featured botanical, Biblical, or domestic themes, this unusual pre-printed fabric from 1811 depicts a surprisingly scientific subject: the arrangement of the solar system. (via Slate)
P.S.
The Great Comet of 1811, formally designated C/1811 F1, is a comet that was visible to the naked eye for around 260 days, a record it held until the appearance of Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997. In October 1811, at its brightest, it displayed an apparent magnitude of 0, with an easily visible coma. (via Wikipedia,)
More fuel for our science embroidery obsession.
wnyc:
“Planet Universe” I make planets out of rusty fire hydrants.
-Jody, BL Show-
Do you think this guy knows the frying pan guy?
