Eclipse from a Cockpit: 2015

Please click on image to expand. Image source here and here

The amount of water on Europa compared to Earth [Gif]

Europa is a part of Jupiter's four moons. It is believed that this little moon has an outer layer of water. [Image source]

International Space Station with the lights off

Please click on image to expand. With zero gravity you might be wondering why they need a floor, but they've got one. [Image source]

Space Shuttle atop a 747 arriving at Los Angeles International Airport

Please click on image to expand. It's not everyday that you see a space-shuttle piggybacking on a 747, especially over a busy street. [Image source here and here]. High res image below, if you would like  wallpaper version.

It's Officially Colder In Canada Than In Mars Today

It will be colder than @MarsCuriosity’s location in Gale Crater throughout much the northern US and Canada today pic.twitter.com/BFVTrsa58P
— Mars Weather (@MarsWxReport) January 8, 2015

An Astronaut's Guide to Optimism by Col. Chris Hadfield ~ Happy New Year 2015

The Orion Nebula and The Running Man. [Astrophotography]

Please click on image to expand. [Image Source]

Full disk, true-color image of Earth taken by Himawari-8, the Japanese weather satellite

Please click on image to expand. Just look at the sight of our glorious blur marble. Absolutely stunning picture of out home planet. [Image Source here and here - pretty heavy images]

Lunar analemma -- moon pattern as it spins

Please click on image to expand. Yesterday we posted the Sun's analemma and today we were lucky  enough to fine a lunar analemma. Analemma happens because of the earth's tilt and it's oval-shaped orbit. It takes a year to complete the above photograph. As it needs to be taken everyday and then collated into one picture. [Image Source]

The Sun's Analemma pattern photographed from earth over a 1 year period.

Please click on image to expand. This pattern as the one seenn above happens because the Earth rotates around the sun in an orbit that is oval-shaped and since the earth is titled to create the seasons. Photographing the sun over a period of a year a person will see the 'amalemma' pattern. [Image Source]

This is how the Andromeda would look if it were a little brighter

Please click on image to expand. Imagine if this were how we could see the Andromeda in the night sky. You would need to wait another 9999 years to see this Galaxy moving closer to us. [Image Source]

Closeup of Orion capsule being recovered following EFT-1 -- America's newest spacecraft

The Orion Spacecraft is the vehicle America hopes to use to get people exploring the Moon, Asteroids and Mars. The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) is a spacecraft intended to carry a crew of up to four astronauts to destinations beyond-low Earth orbit, being built and now being tested by NASA. NASA marked a major milestone Friday on its journey to Mars as the Orion spacecraft completed its first voyage to space, traveling farther than any spacecraft designed for astronauts has been in more than 40 years. Orion will open the space between Earth and Mars for exploration by astronauts. This proving ground will be invaluable for testing capabilities future human Mars missions will need. [Image source here and read more here and bonus FB pics here]

Timelapse of the Milky Way over Colorado

Please click on image for an expanded view. It is not normal for city dwellers to see the stars in heavens as it's meant to be and really is. This might be because of the infusion of city lights that have destroyed the night sky. All if takes is to go to a remote place with little or no lights -- the kind we are used to and enjoy the celestial beauty that is ours to see. The shooting stars really add the magic. [Image Source] 

Interstellar Fans, here's some High Quality Wormhole wallpapers for you

Please click on image to expand. The opening sequence of the script features the collision of a neutron star and a black hole which creates an energy burst that ends up detected by LIGO receivers, this is the first discovery of the wormhole. Twin black holes found near the Ice Planet and near the wormhole. The names of the two black holes most likely come from, The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel, a pentology of novels written in the 16th century by Francois Rabelais, featuring the adventures of two giants: Gargantua and his son Pantagruel. [Image Source]

So, we just landed on a comet

This is a first for mankind again, landing on a comet. Rosetta is a robotic space probe built and launched by the European Space Agency. The spacecraft consists of two main elements. the Rosetta space probe orbiter and the Philae robotic lander. The Philae robotic lander has landed on the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenkoand has been confirmed by the agency. They have however stated that there might be a minor glitch as the harpoons launched by it might have failed to anchor it to the surface. The pic above is of the lander as it was nearing the surface of the comet and for the time-being no more photos will be sent back -- as the craft needs to do some manuring and settle itself on the comet and all communication has been severed. [More live news here]

Here's a video of something small from space entering earth's atmosphere

Meteor explosion Milky Way Timelapse from wes eisenhauer on Vimeo.

Redditor wes_eisenhaur was shooting a time-lapse of the milky way, when all of a sudden there is something small that enters earth's atmosphere and then appears to disintegrate into nothing. Other users came to conclusions on what it might have been. Here's a quick breakdown of the suggestions. it could have been a bolide -- which does not have any specific definition but loosely translated means fireball. Another suggestion is that it is a large meteor -- bigger than a typical grain of sand but too small to make it to earth. So it enters out atmosphere, heats up and then pops. Another suggestion is that it might be a bit of space junk, like a part from a rocket or something of that sort. Either way it came form space. So if you are into astronomy and like to gaze at the stars. get your self nice camera and you too could get a nice video of objects falling from space. [Source]

Sarychev Volcano eruption viewed from space [Gif + Video]

This GIF is from a video released by NASA of the Sarychev volcano, northeast of Japan, during its early stages of eruption.  You can watch as the plume of smoke and ash rises and you can only imagine the shock-wave it would have generated. Here's a link to the NASA article on the same. [Gif source here] Please video the video of the same eruption below.

Use this site if you would like to explore the universe and feel insignificant

This website lets you explore the universe in all its magnitude. At least as much that can be experienced on your screen. You can feel the universal vortex as it spins round and round. Just getting a perspective of our universe and its vastness is enough to leave you with a feeling of thankfulness for this great big universe and our little blue marble. Check it out here. If you want an even bigger experience you can use this site but you need to download the application. 

Space Shuttle Discovery launches on its first mission, flight 41-D, on August 30, 1984.

Please click on image to expand. 

3D Nebulae

Was first uploaded here and here.