Stunning Celestial Spectacle: Don't Miss the Ring of Fire Eclipse Extravaganza!
Experience the awe-inspiring 'ring of fire' solar eclipse, unearth the fascinating legacy of a Viking queen, delve into the mysteries of asteroid samples, and embark on a journey through the wonders of our wild kingdom Prepare for captivating discoveries!
Eclipses have fascinated and puzzled humans for thousands of years.
Chinese astronomers, over 4,000 years ago, documented the practice of banging pans during an eclipse to frighten away a perceived dragon attempting to devour the sun. Presently, we possess the knowledge to predict lunar movements, enabling us to anticipate these mesmerizing events where the sun's radiance is momentarily obscured, casting parts of our world into darkness.
We cannot help but be captivated by the mesmerizing spectacle unfolding before us. This celestial event brings people together, as we pause to marvel in sheer wonder. Witnessing the sun, the nucleus of our solar system, gradually disappear while the moon appears to nibble on its brilliance.
After all, its not often that millions of people have a reason to come together in the celebration of wonder.
Solar update
A "ring of fire" can be seen around the moon during an annular eclipse visible from Chiayi in southern Taiwan on June 21, 2020.
Alberto Buzzola/LightRocket/Getty Images
Saturdays annular solar eclipse will create a dazzling "ring of fire" across the Americas.
The eclipse is scheduled to commence in the United States at 9:13 a.m. PT (12:13 p.m. ET) and will travel across various states, including Oregon, Texas Gulf Coast, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. It will also be observable in parts of California, Idaho, Colorado, and Arizona before concluding in the US at 12:03 p.m. CT (1:03 p.m. ET).
Once it departs from the United States, the eclipse will proceed through Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia before reaching its finale off the Atlantic coast of South America in Natal, Brazil.
Ensure that you possess certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers, and refer to our guidelines for a secure and comprehensive observation of either the annular or partial eclipse, depending on your location.
The view may be disrupted by clouds for certain individuals, and the eclipse might even impact the weather. However, there is no need to worry as NASA will provide live streams from various locations along the path of the annular eclipse.
We are family
The achievements of Viking leaders were carved on runestones and erected in Denmark more than 1,000 years ago.
Researchers have discovered two distinct sets of runestones that reference a Viking queen called Thyra. This finding implies that she held significant power and played a crucial role.
"Although runestones in Denmark were primarily erected to honor men, Thyra is commemorated on a greater number of runestones than any other individual during the Viking Age in Denmark," explained Dr. Lisbeth Imer, a senior researcher and curator at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen.
Other worlds
Rocks and dust can be seen outside of the OSIRIS-REx sample collector, but the bulk of the sample is located inside.
Erika Blumenfeld & Joseph Aebersold/NASA
The world got its first look at the rocks and dust obtained from a 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid this week, as NASA unveiled the Bennu sample retrieved by the OSIRIS-REx mission.
Although the science team has yet to open the main sample, a preliminary examination of the extra particles found in the scientific container has already provided remarkable insights.
The extraterrestrial materials, which contain water and a significant amount of carbon, indicate that asteroids may have brought the essential elements for life to Earth.
Excited about the valuable scientific findings obtained during the mission, Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator from the University of Arizona, along with the OSIRIS-REx team, will dedicate the following weeks to assess the quantity of material collected from the celestial body.
Additionally, NASA launched the Psyche mission Friday to explore a metal asteroid, which could provide our first glimpse into the iron-rich heart of a planet.
A long time ago
According to a recent study, the marble statues from ancient Greece, currently housed in museum collections, were originally adorned with vibrant colors and intricate floral patterns. Scientists at the British Museum in London, which houses numerous sculptures from the Parthenon dating back 2,500 years, have uncovered remnants of paint on figures within a frieze.
Distinct hues like "Egyptian blue" and "Parthenon purple" were revealed through noninvasive imaging techniques, breathing life into the details of mythological figures.
In Norway, the discovery of five meticulously crafted, small gold foil figures known as "gullgubber" provided valuable insight into Scandinavian life over 1,400 years ago.
Wild kingdom
Photographer Sriram Murali showcases a forest illuminated with fireflies at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve in India's Tamil Nadu.
Sriram Murali/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 competition showcased captivating images, featuring an icy ibex, a serene hippo family, and a forest adorned with luminous fireflies. Among the exceptional winners was Laurent Ballesta, a French underwater photographer and marine biologist, who clinched the top prize for the second time with his mesmerizing photograph of a horseshoe crab drifting in an ethereal manner, exuding haunting beauty.
Please note that certain images capture raw and intense moments from the natural world, which may not be suitable for those with a sensitive disposition.
Meanwhile, the tale of a solitary mountain lion has served as the inspiration behind the construction of the largest wildlife overpass in California.
Discoveries
Enlighten your friends and family with these fresh reads:
The prosthetic hand used by Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" is still a long way from becoming a reality, but doctors have made progress with a bionic prosthetic hand that is capable of experiencing certain sensations.
A team of researchers have recently uncovered twenty-four ancient earthworks hidden within the depths of the Amazon rainforest. Their findings suggest that there could potentially be an astonishing ten thousand more structures yet to be discovered.
A marine biologist who was scuba-diving near the Florida Keys discovered a captivating small snail and gave it a name that pays homage to the legendary musician Jimmy Buffett. Intrigued? Sign up here to receive the upcoming edition of Wonder Theory, curated by CNN Space and Science writers Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt, offering fascinating insights on exoplanets and archaeological findings.
