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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
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Photographer captures ghostly ripples over Colorado night sky 'it is rare to see it directly overhead and moving like that' (photo)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Beneath the star-drenched skies of Colorado on May 26, as the Milky Way arched into view, photographer Aaron Watson pointed his lens upward — and captured something extraordinary unfolding in the night. "I have seen airglow a lot, but it is rare to see it directly overhead and moving like that," Watson told in an email. Watson's timelapse, captured around 3:30 a.m. local time and spanning about 30 minutes, reveals watery green ripples of airglow sweeping across the sky. "It was, for the most part, invisible to the naked eye," Watson said. Airglow is a natural light emission created when sunlight interacts with molecules in Earth's upper atmosphere, causing them to release energy as a faint glow. There are three types of airglow: dayglow, twilightglow and nightglow, according to Lancaster University's Aurora Watch UK. Dayglow and twilightglow are driven by the same process — sunlight charging atmospheric molecules — but twilight glow becomes briefly visible to the naked eye as daylight fades. These glowing emissions are about a billion times fainter than sunlight, which is why they're washed out during the day. Watson captured nightglow, the most visible type of airglow, created by a process called chemiluminescence. During the day, sunlight deposits energy into our atmosphere, charging up oxygen molecules (O₂) high above Earth. Around 62 miles (100 kilometers) up, some of the energy splits these molecules into individual oxygen atoms. These atoms hang onto that sun-deposited energy for hours because they can't easily release it. Eventually, the oxygen atoms find partners and recombine to form O₂ again. When they do, they release the stored energy as light, including that striking green glow captured in Watson's timelapse. The mesmerizing wave-like patterns seen in Watson's timelapse are the result of nearby thunderstorms producing gravity waves in the upper atmosphere. These waves ripple through the airglow, creating visible, wavelike patterns across the night sky. RELATED STORIES —Not 'Little Red Dots' or roaring quasars: James Webb telescope uncovers new kind of 'hidden' black hole never seen before —Hold the syrup: Weirdly perfect 'pancakes' on Venus may prove the planet is buckling —World's first color images of black holes are on their way "North is down in this image set, so the ripples were flowing from south to north, as if flowing out from above the storms to the south." Watson wrote in a post on his website. You can see more of Watson's impressive photography on his website Skies Alive. If this article has inspired you to get into astrophotography, our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can help you get ready to capture the next stunning skywatching event. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Venus, Saturn and the moon dazzle at dawn in 'romantic' photo from Chew Valley Lake (photo)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Astrophotographer Josh Dury captured a stunning celestial scene early Friday morning (May 23), as the planets Venus and Saturn aligned with the thin waning crescent moon above the still waters of Chew Valley Lake, Somerset, U.K. The image was taken at 4 a.m. BST (11 p.m. EDT / 03:00 GMT) and showcases a fleeting "celestial triangle" that appeared just before sunrise. "The planets Saturn, Venus and the waning crescent moon formed a beautiful cosmic display," Dury told in an email. This cosmic meetup unfolded in the quiet moments before dawn, with Venus shining brightly just below the moon and Saturn positioned higher in the sky. The peaceful lake and early morning mist offered the perfect foreground. "For this scene, I had drawn attention to a simple, natural composition," Dury said. "Picture the scene at dawn break; rolling mist over the Great Lake, the sound of a distant cuckoo fills the air and water so still — it was like a mirror. All together, making for an overly romantic scene that lasted only for a matter of minutes before the light of dawn emerged." Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 Dury used a Sony A7S II camera with a Sigma 85mm F/1.4 Art lens mounted on a Benro Tortoise Tripod to capture the shot. If you missed this early morning display, don't worry: You still have a chance to catch a similar view early Saturday (May 24), when the crescent moon shifts to Venus' left, with Saturn positioned higher to the right. If you're looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the night sky, our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals now can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can help you get ready to capture the next stunning skywatching event. Editor's Note: If you snap an awesome astrophoto and would like to share it with readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What Makes May's Flower Moon Extra Special
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." All eyes on the sky on Monday, May 12! The start of the week will be studded with the month's full moon, AKA May's flower moon—TikTok's current obsession. With nearly 17 million posts on the subject (admittedly with some geared toward the 2023 movie, Killers of the Flower Moon), the flower moon is expected to be a beautiful spectacle that star-lovers won't want to miss. The flower moon, named after the beautiful blooms that emerge during the month of May, will reach peak illumination at 12:56 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, so if you look closely, you'll be able to see it midday, not only at night. That said, according to the flower moon will look its brightest and most beautiful just after dusk. It might even appear slightly orange or yellow while emerging from the horizon, further nodding to the brilliant flowers that dot the Northern Hemisphere this time of year. (Though, according to NASA, this can happen with every full moon as it peeks over.) This occurs because, just after dusk, the moon hasn't reached its full height, so light reflected off its surface has to travel through more of Earth's atmosphere, which scatters bluer wavelengths of light, making the longer, redder ones look more prominent. Visuals aside, May's flower moon is expected to be energetically transformative. Actress and manifestation influencer, Soma Chhaya, says that May's flower moon is 'one of the most powerful money manifestation portals of the entire year,' noting that it brings in growth and wealth. 'You will get to see every single seed that you planted finally bloom,' she says. Other common themes surrounding the flower moon on TikTok include new beginnings and general success. These themes are reflected in all of the other common Native American names for May's full moon, including the Budding Moon, Egg Laying Moon, and Planting Moon. The best time to witness the full flower moon will depend on where you live. You can use a moonrise calculator or a stargazing app, such as Night Sky or SkySafari, to find out. As for location, opt for an elevated space with a clear view of the eastern horizon. Happy moon-watching and manifesting! You Might Also Like 70 Impressive Tiny Houses That Maximize Function and Style 30+ Paint Colors That Will Instantly Transform Your Kitchen
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
When is the next full moon? The 2025 'Flower Moon' is set to bloom. Here's the best time to see it
It's almost time for the Flower Moon to bloom. May's full moon is just a few short days away and while it would be a beautiful view for people across Tennessee, the weather might obscure the view for many in the Volunteer State. Even if the weather works out, this month casual stargazers won't be able see it reach its peak but the moon will still appear full the night before and after its peak on May 12, according to Here's when stargazers can catch the celestial event and just how May's full moon has become known as the Flower Moon. The May full moon is May 12, at 12:56 p.m. ET/11:56 a.m. CT, according to This month's full moon is known as the flower moon. You've heard the adage, April showers bring May flowers, well that gives you the answer to May's full moon being the Flower Moon. The Flower Moon heralds the peak of spring and the season of rebirth and renewal. While the peak of the full moon is during the day, stargazers will still be able to see the nearly full moon the night of May 11 and in the evening of May 12. And if you are looking for the best view, you'll have to get away from the city lights. An open area with little to no light pollution will offer you the best view as the moon rises just above the horizon. May's full moon could be obstructed for many people across Tennessee due to a band of rainstorms making its way across the state. The National Weather Service predicts a chance of rain across Tennessee starting on May 11 and continuing through May 13, with some thunderstorms mixed in for Middle Tennessee. Each full moon has its own name. Here in North America, we take the names for the full moons from Indigenous peoples usually from different areas of North America. In the 1930s the Maine Farmers' Almanac began publishing names used among the Algonquin tribes from New England on west to Lake Superior. Here's a look at when other full moons are expected to happen in 2025, according to the Farmer's Almanac: May: Flower Moon June: Strawberry Moon July: Buck Moon August: Sturgeon Moon This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: May's 'Flower Moon' is the next full moon. Here's when it will peak
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Amateur astronomer reveals a colorful portrait of Earth's closest star-forming neighbor (photo)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Astrophotographer Greg Meyer captured a breathtaking view of the Rho Ophiuchi stellar nursery and Messier 4 globular cluster while attending a stargazing event in Texas last month. Meyer used a thermoelectrically cooled monochrome astronomy camera mounted on a compact Radian Raptor 61mm telescope to snap 177 separate three- to five-minute exposures of the vast interstellar cloud. All told, it took a grand total of 14 hours and 45 minutes to image Rho Ophiuchi with a series of red, green, blue and luminance filters during the 2025 Texas Star Party stargazing event, which took place from April 20 to April 27. The resulting data was then expertly processed using the astrophotography software PixInsight, alongside Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to create a rich interstellar vista of swirling gas clouds, and dark, dusty filaments. TOP TELESCOPE PICK: Want to explore wonders of the solar system and the stars beyond for yourself? The Celestron NexStar 4SE is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of celestial objects. For a more in-depth look, see our Celestron NexStar 4SE review. "A favorite among astrophotographers, I wanted to try it from a dark sky area, and I was at the Texas Star Party in April 2025," said Meyer in an email to discussing his observation of Rho Ophiuchi. "This object was rising after midnight with the Milky Way, so [I] was able to get some good data with my portable rig for several clear nights." The Rho Ophiuchi nebula system is the closest star-forming region to Earth, and as such has come under the scrutiny of both the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope in recent years. Brightest among the stars captured in Meyer's colorful portrait is the aging red giant Antares, which can be found illuminating the right hand side of the cosmic vista. Above Antares near the top of the frame is the famous Messier 4 globular cluster, which is estimated to be home to some 100,000 stellar bodies, according to NASA. Another dense city of stars designated NGC 6144 can be spotted to the upper left of Antares, while the bright stellar trio of Rho Ophiuchi B, C and D appear to illuminate the surrounding cloud structure at the top left of the image. Related stories: — Rho Ophiuchi: A colorful cosmic cloud in photos — Night sky, May 2025: What you can see tonight [maps] — Antares: Red star at the end of its life As is almost always the case when dealing with deep sky objects, the different elements comprising Meyer's scene are nowhere near as close to one another as they appear. For example, NASA estimates that Rho Ophiuchi is located some 390 light-years from Earth, while Antares — which appears to be totally enveloped in the nebulous structure — is roughly 550 light-years away. Messier 4, meanwhile, is even more remote, sitting some 5,500 light-years from our planet. Editor's Note: If you are interested in sharing your astrophotography with the readers at please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
