APOD - Cygnus Without Stars

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2020 November 30

Cygnus Without Stars
Image Credit & Copyright: Bowen James Cameron

Explanation: The sky is filled with faintly glowing gas, though it can take a sensitive camera and telescope to see it. For example, this twelve-degree-wide view of the northern part of the constellation Cygnus reveals a complex array of cosmic clouds of gas along the plane of our Milky Way galaxy. The featured mosaic of telescopic images was recorded through two filters: an H-alpha filter that transmits only visible red light from glowing hydrogen atoms, and a blue filter that transmits primarily light emitted by the slight amount of energized oxygen. Therefore, in this 18-hour exposure image, blue areas are hotter than red. Further digital processing has removed the myriad of point-like Milky Way stars from the scene. Recognizable bright nebulas include NGC 7000 (North America Nebula), and IC 5070 (Pelican Nebula) on the left with IC 1318 (Butterfly Nebula) and NGC 6888 (Crescent Nebula) on the right -- but others can be found throughout the wide field.

Tomorrow's picture: star forming cluster

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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More Good News For Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate

Biotech company Moderna has new data reinforcing that its COVID-19 inoculation is safe and effective. The company is submitting an application to the FDA Monday requesting emergency use authorization.

More Good News For Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Biotech company Moderna has new data reinforcing that its COVID-19 inoculation is safe and effective. The company is submitting an application to the FDA Monday requesting emergency use authorization. Read More You received this message because you're subscribed to Breaking News Alerts emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy

APOD - Verona Rupes: Tallest Known Cliff in the Solar System

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2020 November 29

Verona Rupes: Tallest Known Cliff in the Solar System
Image Credit: Voyager 2, NASA

Explanation: Could you survive a jump off the tallest cliff in the Solar System? Quite possibly. Verona Rupes on Uranus' moon Miranda is estimated to be 20 kilometers deep -- ten times the depth of the Earth's Grand Canyon. Given Miranda's low gravity, it would take about 12 minutes for a thrill-seeking adventurer to fall from the top, reaching the bottom at the speed of a racecar -- about 200 kilometers per hour. Even so, the fall might be survivable given proper airbag protection. The featured image of Verona Rupes was captured by the passing Voyager 2 robotic spacecraft in 1986. How the giant cliff was created remains unknown, but is possibly related to a large impact or tectonic surface motion.

Tomorrow's picture: a starless space swan

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

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These Seniors Are Thriving Amid The Pandemic

How Risky Are Small Gatherings?

Shots Lesley McClurg/KQED These Seniors Can’t Be Stopped By A Pandemic Despite age and multiple health problems, many seniors are coping better than their younger cohorts with the isolation of COVID-19, recent studies suggest. Maybe it’s because they’ve faced adversity before. Diane Evans, a 74-year old resident of a senior center in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, suffers from depression and other health issues. These days, she is largely alone in her room, deprived of the communal meals and classes that were the norm before the pandemic. But she’s taking it in stride. "If adverse situations beat you down, there wouldn't be an African American in this country," says Evans. "You do what you have to do to survive." And what Evans does is use technology. She has Zoom calls with her family nearly every day and streams the radio and Hulu on her phone. She’s learned how to text. Technology is not a panacea, but it does seem to be helping to address the loneliness, experts say. Read on to find out how other seniors are finding ways to cope with life during COVID. BONUS: How to deal with uncertainty, from those who’ve been there. Newsletter continues after sponsor message mathisworks/Getty Images How Much Are Small Gatherings Driving The Surge? For weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, public health messages emphasized the dangers of small social gatherings. There's no question that with the high level of coronavirus cases throughout the country, it's risky to spend time indoors with anyone outside your household.  But hanging out with a friends may not be a major driver of infections, argues Ellie Murray, an epidemiologist at Boston University's School of Public Health. To truly turn around the current surge in cases she says governments need to do more than just order people not to see friends and family. In fact, places like meatpacking plants and warehouses, institutional settings like prisons and retirement communities, and businesses like restaurants and bars, are bigger culprits. Read more about what makes some gatherings riskier and what's driving the spread. BONUS: How families stayed connected this Thanksgiving. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Why Scotland Is Making Period Products Free Half the population has to manage monthly menstruation for about half of their lives. And biology doesn’t care whether you’re poor or you just ran out of the house without tampons. Soon, products like tampons and pads will be provided free of charge -- at least in Scotland.  A new law requires local authorities to ensure that period products are generally obtainable free of charge, including at schools and colleges, and designated public places.  The law comes after years of effort, including those of Celtic soccer fans who pushed for free products to be available in stadium lavatories. In a world where womens’ periods are rarely a topic of public conversation, the two-hour debate in the Scottish parliament was remarkable, notes NPR’s Laurel Wamsley. "That's right, Scotland has become the first country in the world to make period products free for all," the country's official account tweeted. "Because in Scotland, we believe it's fundamental to dignity, equality and human rights." Read on to find out why Scotland takes pride in this first. More of this week's health stories from NPR Why a COVID-19 vaccine for kids is still far away. How one family fought a $19,000 bill for a bike accident. How do we stop the coronavirus surge? Here's what experts say will help. A community garden that helps fight racial inequities. We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth. Your guest Shots editor, April Fulton   Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy

How Might Joe Biden Do On Day 1? Remembering Diego Maradona; Protecting Spotted Owls

Plus, how tall is Mount Everest? That's hard to say.

by Jill Hudson Beth LaBerge/KQED Here are the stories and podcasts you may have missed last week.  Even before the coronavirus hit, mental health issues were on the rise in children ages 6 to 17. Now therapists say these problems may be increasing among kids. And while it may only be weeks until a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use in the U.S., the first ones to hit the market won’t be approved for children. On Saturday, Pope Francis made 72-year-old Wilton Gregory the first Black American cardinal in the history of Catholicism. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Politics Update Scott Olson/Getty Images Why does it take so long to change U.S. presidents? NPR’s Ron Elving takes a look at the history of presidential inaugurations. The Trump legal team suffered another loss in its continuing attempts to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential election last week. What might President-elect Joe Biden do on Day 1 of his presidency? And what TV shows have we been missing while we were spending all our time watching the news. (The NPR Politics Podcast) The day before Thanksgiving, Biden and President Trump offered a jarring contrast to their messaging and leadership styles minutes apart.  The Army Corps of Engineers denied a permit for Alaska’s controversial Pebble Mine project. Fishermen and tribes have been fighting the mine proposal for a decade, fearing an open-pit copper and gold mine would harm the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery. The Picture Show Alessandra Tarantino/AP When soccer icon Diego Maradona died suddenly at age 60 last week, millions of fans around the globe mourned his passing. A few of NPR's Latino staffers also shared their memories of the Argentine legend. Cajun life is all about getting together to be with people to celebrate what you love: music, food and camaraderie. But the pandemic has shut that life down.  Are you thinking of rebuilding your home after a wildfire? Most states don't require fire-resistant materials. Podcasts of the Week Tom Gallagher/AP Here’s the story of how the Endangered Species Act went from unanimous passage under a Republican president to becoming a deeply partisan wedge. The act was passed to protect big, beloved animals such as bald eagles and blue whales; no one thought it would apply to a motley, reclusive owl. (Throughline) James Beard Award-winning chef David Chang spoke to Terry Gross about cooking, fatherhood and his new book, Eat a Peach: A Memoir. (Fresh Air) What began as a Thanksgiving tradition five years ago for NPR host Ari Shapiro is now a recurring segment on All Things Considered. This episode of “Play It Forward” features interviews with John Mayer, Leikeli47, the Indigo Girls and Kae Tempest. (Consider This From NPR) Take a challenge to find facts from fiction about cats. (Wow In the World)   Prakash Mathema/AFP via Getty Images Scientists say Mount Everest is getting taller, over time, because of plate tectonics. Turns out the science involved in remeasuring Everest is ridiculously complicated. Click here to listen to the Short Wave podcast or read the story. Sam Sanders spoke to author James McBride about his latest book, Deacon King Kong, which tells the story of how one man's decision brings together the different racial communities of 1960s Brooklyn to solve a larger issue. (It’s Been a Minute With Sam Sanders) Remember the great toilet paper, flour and egg shortages that we saw at the beginning of the pandemic? It wasn't caused by the virus or by a disruption to manufacturing. It was caused by a story: one that we told ourselves. (The Indicator From Planet Money) When Disney released The Emperor's New Groove 20 years ago, the animated movie was a box-office disappointment. But now, some say it’s a beloved classic. (Pop Culture Happy Hour) Other Good Listens Flo Ngala/Busta Rhymes Music icon Busta Rhymes spoke with NPR's Audie Cornish about music making as a daily habit and the growing pains between each generation of hip-hop. Click here to listen or read the story. NPR's Audie Cornish talked to American author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates about the HBO adaptation of his book Between the World and Me and what it means in 2020. NPR's Scott Simon reflects on what a 100-year-old poem by William Butler Yeats means today. Click here to listen or read the story. Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy

APOD - NGC 6822: Barnard's Galaxy

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2020 November 28

NGC 6822: Barnard's Galaxy
Image Credit & Copyright: Data - Martin Pugh, Processing - Mark Hanson

Explanation: Grand spiral galaxies often seem to get all the glory, flaunting their young, bright, blue star clusters in beautiful, symmetric spiral arms. But small galaxies form stars too, like nearby NGC 6822, also known as Barnard's Galaxy. Beyond the rich starfields in the constellation Sagittarius, NGC 6822 is a mere 1.5 million light-years away, a member of our Local Group of galaxies. A dwarf irregular galaxy similar to the Small Magellanic Cloud, NGC 6822 is about 7,000 light-years across. Brighter foreground stars in our Milky Way have a spiky appearance. Behind them, Barnard's Galaxy is seen to be filled with young blue stars and mottled with the telltale pinkish hydrogen glow of star forming regions in this deep color composite image.

Tomorrow's picture: falling off a cliff

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

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Grateful For Good Music

Here's what we're thankful for this year.

by Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Thanksgiving looks a little different for many of us this year — but, even in the midst of such upheaval, we’re grateful for a moment to pause and reflect.  We started a new tradition in last year’s Thanksgiving weekend newsletter, turning over our weekly email to our team and asking them to tell us about the music and musicians they’re especially grateful for, and we’re continuing that this year. We hope you and your loved ones are safe, healthy and able to share gratitude with each other this week. Watching The Last Waltz, Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Newsletter continues after sponsor message Bob Boilen, All Songs Considered: I’m grateful for those working hard to keep our music venues alive while we all do our best to deal with this pandemic. I’m thankful for all those who reach out to musicians to show their support, buying their records and merchandise to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. Suraya Mohamed, producer: I am grateful that I can turn off the news and listen to so many different kinds of music that heal my soul. Otis Hart, senior manager: I'm grateful for Discogs.com, the online discography that aspires to catalog the entirety of recorded music. When I became obsessed with carving out my own musical canon during the multiple nadirs of quarantine, Discogs was my go-to reference for the peaks of the past 40 years. Lyndsey McKenna, assistant editor: Though I write and edit the newsletter each week, much of my work for NPR Music happens behind the scenes. This year, I’m especially grateful for our team’s editors – especially resident viking Lars Gotrich and my newsletter teammate Marissa Lorusso – who have continued to find innovative ways to elevate artists; thanks to their guidance, I was able to interview one of this year’s breakout artists, Bartees Strange, and review Ruston Kelly’s deeply moving record Shape & Destroy. Tom Huizenga, NPR Classical: In the year marking the 250th anniversary of his birth, I’m grateful for Beethoven. It’s tempting to want to knock the iconic composer off his pedestal, but his music – shot through with beauty, violence and prayerful transcendence – still holds enough mystery and amazement to easily last another two-and-a-half centuries. LaTesha Harris, editorial intern: I'm really grateful for Flo Milli. She doesn't waste words – probably because she's a Capricorn – so her pen is outstanding. Witty bars, flow stay switching up and her style and visuals are unmatched. I consider her 2020's breakout rapper. It might be a stretch to call her this generation's Shakespeare right now, but with another solid mixtape… all my warm wishes to the Bard of Alabama. Marissa Lorusso, NPR Music & Events: I’m grateful for once-a-month Bandcamp Fridays, during which the platform has been waiving its revenue share to give more money directly to artists. It’s been a nice monthly appointment to seek out new musicians (plus old faves) and support them directly. Ann Powers, critic and correspondent: I’m grateful for books. Sheltering in place has created a space in my life for more reading, and the music-writing universe has answered my need with an extraordinary array of new books by Black women scholars, published recently or soon forthcoming: Maureen Mahon, Kimberly Mack, Daphne Brooks, Danyel Smith, Shana Redmond and Regina Bradley are, with their work, helping me rethink the whole history of American music. And novels raise the parallel universe where I can have adventures and close encounters — favorite novels this year include Tana French’s The Searcher, What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez, Women Talking by Miriam Toews and (a memoir with a novel’s momentum) The Yellow House by Sarah Broom. Stephen Thompson, NPR Music & Pop Culture Happy Hour: In a year of profound isolation and loss, I’m so thankful for the many creative ways music can be made in solitude — and hopeful for a future in which live music can once again be safely played and enjoyed. I’m grateful for everyone who’s found ways to support struggling live-music venues and others who traditionally rely on big, joyous crowds for their livelihoods. And I’m reminding myself, constantly, to never again take for granted the communal thrill of clapping and hooting in recognition of a song perfectly played. NPR P.S. At its core, soul music really just needs a voice and a human story – for proof, check out Don Bryant’s recent Tiny Desk (home) concert. Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy