Study confirms we do get by with a little help from our friends

by EarthSky
Blogs » Human World
7 mins ago

Photo credit: Jolante

Keeping friends close has real physiological and psychological benefits, according to a January 2012 study in the journal Developmental Psychology.

The presence of a best friend directly and immediately benefits children going through negative experiences, says the report. Feelings of self-worth and levels of cortisol, a hormone produced naturally by the adrenal gland in direct response to stress, are largely dependent on the social context of a negative experience.

Read the full article

January 2012 guide to the five visible planets

by Bruce McClure
Tonight » Astronomy Essentials
1 hour ago

Jupiter's Great Red Spot, seen by Voyager spacecraft

Venus and Jupiter are the sky’s two most brilliant planets. In late January 2012, they are the first “stars” to pop out at evening dusk, and they are near the waxing crescent moon in the sky. These evenings views of the moon, Venus and Jupiter – around January 25-31 – aren’t to be missed. But don’t forget the other planets! The other planet that will “wow” you in early 2012 is Mars. It is now gearing up for its opposition to the sun in early March 2012. In other words, in the coming months Mars will become extremely noticeable in our sky – more noticeable than it’s been for two years.

Read the full article

What makes Venus the brightest planet?

by EarthSky
FAQs » Space
2 hours ago

Have you been watching Venus in the evening sky? It’s beautiful – especially when it’s near the moon.

Moon between Venus and Jupiter on January 27

Moon still between Venus and Jupiter on January 28

Venus is so much brighter than any other planet viewed in the sky. Why is it so bright?

Photo credit: James Jordan

Read the full article

Tropical Cyclone Iggy triggered Indonesian tornadoes

by Matt Daniel
Blogs » Earth
4 hours ago

An area of developing low pressure, which eventually developed into Tropical Cyclone Iggy, triggered tornadoes across the islands of Java and Bali in Indonesia. The tornadoes damaged nearly 1,000 houses, with almost 500 homes damaged in the Seribu Islands alone. Seven people were killed by these tornadoes, with nearly 51 people injured. Three people were killed by falling trees in Purbalingga, two in Bali, one in South Jakarta, and one in Wonosobo. Tornadoes from tropical cyclones are not uncommon.

Tropical Cyclone Iggy pushing southeast near northwestern Australia. Image Credit: CIMSS

Read the full article

Moon between Venus and Jupiter on January 27

by Bruce McClure
Tonight
11 hours ago

The moon shines between two brilliant planets this evening – Venus and Jupiter. Venus, the sky’s brightest planet, blazes below tonight’s waxing crescent moon. Jupiter, the second brightest planet, shines above it. For the fun of it, we also point out the planets Uranus and Neptune, even though we aren’t able to see these distant, faint worlds with the unaided eye.

Read the full article

What is earthshine?

by EarthSky
FAQs » Space
22 hours ago

Moon with earthshine and planet Venus. Photo credit: fdecomite

When you look at a crescent moon shortly after sunset or before sunrise, you can sometimes see not only the bright crescent of the moon, but also the rest of the moon as a dark disc. That pale glow on the unlit part of a crescent moon is light reflected from Earth. It’s called “earthshine.”

See it tonight and in upcoming evenings … and keep an eye out for Venus.

Moon and Venus closest for month on January 26, 2012

Read the full article

Last transit of Venus in 21st century will happen in June 2012

by Bruce McClure
Tonight » Astronomy Essentials
1 day ago

Transit of Venus June 8, 2004. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Have you been watching Venus in the evening sky? It’s beautiful – especially on January 26, 2012, when it’s near the moon. Here’s something fun to think about as you gaze at Venus. By June 2012, as Venus leaves the evening sky to enter the morning sky, this brightest of planets will pass right in front of the sun , to stage one of the rarest of predictable astronomical phenomena: a transit of Venus across the sun’s face. This upcoming transit of Venus will be the last one for the 21st century. It will take place across a period of 7 hours on June 5-6, 2012. During the transit, Venus will appear in silhouette as a small, dark dot moving in front of the solar disk. This exceedingly rare astronomical event – a transit of Venus – won’t happen again until December 11, 2117.

Read the full article

Amelia Wolf: Is US Southwest a good place to grow biofuels?

by Jorge Salazar
Interviews » Energy
1 day ago
Scientist are studying potential for biofuel production in Southwestern U.S. Image Credit: ka2rina

Utah lavender farm. Will we someday grow crops for biofuels in this part of the U.S.? Image Credit: ka2rina

Biofuel production in the dry southwestern United States might have potential to add to the country’s existing biofuels portfolio, according to a USGS study.

Researcher Amelia Wolff told EarthSky:

The most important thing to think about when considering the future of biofuels is that there are tradeoffs with growing biofuels in any part of the country.

Read the full article

Cyclone Funso not fun for Mozambique coast

by Matt Daniel
Blogs » Earth
1 day ago

Cyclone Funso as a major cyclone (hurricane). Image Credit: NASA

Cyclone Funso, the 5th named storm for the 2012 Indian Cyclone season, formed in the Mozambique Channel in between Mozambique and Madagascar. The overall steering currents were weak, and that fact allowed Funso to move and grow slowly through time. Funso became a major hurricane with a sustained wind of 140 miles per hour (mph) on January 25, 2012 and is now slowly drifting to the south. Funso has been responsible for providing very heavy rains across Mozambique as it has stalled over the region for a couple of days. The previous week, Tropical Depression Dando moved over the same areas providing them ample amounts of rainfall across the region. With rainfall totals over a foot in many areas, flooding has been a serious issue across Mozambique. Cyclone Funso will continue to drift to the south, and it could come close to the southern portions of Mozambique before it finally moves away from land.

Read the full article

Moon and Venus closest for month on January 26

by Bruce McClure
Tonight
1 day ago

For most of the world, the moon and the blazing planet Venus will be closest together for the month this evening, on Thursday, January 26, 2012. It’ll be hard to miss this brilliant couple in the southwest or western sky at dusk and early evening. The moon and Venus rank as the second- and third-brightest celestial objects, respectively, after the sun. They’ll set in the west at early to mid evening.

Read the full article