Amazing Picture of the Sun

Posted by Queuebot in Science & Tech on May 15, 2009 at 7:18 pm


Astrophotographer Thierry Legault took what is probably one of the most incredible photographs of the Sun. What’s the big deal about the big yellow ball? Look closely:

OK, so you look at it and say, “So what? It’s a picture of the quiet Sun seen in overcast conditions. Big deal!”

Ah, but a big deal it is. See those spots in the lower left quadrant of our nearest star? Those aren’t sunspots… here, let me show you what those are:
Yes, that is in fact the Space Shuttle Atlantis silhouetted against the Sun. But wait, there’s something else, isn’t there. What’s that spot below the Shuttle?

That, me droogs, is the Hubble Space Telescope. Perhaps you’ve heard of it.

Holy Haleakala!

Link – via google

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by mrsmojorisin.


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13 comments to "Amazing Picture of the Sun"

  1. Xinavera
    May 15th, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    That is an astonishing photo.

    For more fun over the next few days (morning in the US), check the live NASA TV feed for spacewalks and a much closer view of that same telescope you may have heard of.

    http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html?param=public

  2. Johnny Cat
    May 15th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    Saw the close-up on ABC News tonight, and it was quite humbling. Kudos to Legault!

  3. VonSkippy
    May 15th, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    After seeing spectacular science photo's like these, ya have to wonder how the deluded religious flunkies can continue with their mythical psycho babble.

  4. chris a
    May 15th, 2009 at 9:55 pm

    That is way cool!

  5. ChrisBatDell
    May 15th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    Great photo...

    Really makes you feel small in the whole scheme of existance.

    Chris Byrd
    Dell Digital Life Evangelist
    Follow me on Twitter @ChrisBatDell

  6. Johnny Cat
    May 15th, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    Thanks for plugging your twitterness, Chris. We're all enlightened by it. Follow that bird.

  7. Ajan
    May 16th, 2009 at 3:09 am

    Nice..
    Won't be surprised if someone comes up with another picture of a planet with authentic Photoshop work

  8. seefish3
    May 16th, 2009 at 7:59 am

    @ Ajan

    I can't trust things like this anymore, either.
    I'd like to hope it's a real pic, but, hell, I could do that at home...

  9. ted
    May 16th, 2009 at 8:34 am

    I would tend to believe it, but it`s pretty sad when we have to wade through a lot of doubt first.

  10. seefish3
    May 16th, 2009 at 9:01 am

    Where would this great nation be without doubt? (cue "Battle Hymn of the Republic")

    What if we just blindly believed that Saddam Hussein had WMD's, or that Cheerios cures heart disease? That "one size fits all", "the check's in the mail', or "I won't blank in your mouth"?

    Maybe all Argentinians ARE corrupt, all Muslims ARE wife beaters, and those ARE Pam Anderson's real breasts ?

    NEVER, I say, and I'm proud to live in the greatest free country in the world, united under the banner: "Your mileage may vary !"

  11. Guest
    May 16th, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    Sorry but what the fuck is wrong with you?

  12. Johnny Cat
    May 16th, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    I blame that LG sheep herding commercial. It fooled a lot of people, so cynicism prevails. It's The Boy Who Cried Wolf, all over again.

  13. seefish3
    May 17th, 2009 at 9:09 am

    @ Guest

    Language, friend, language !

    What's wrong with me is that I'm a middle-aged American who's been lied to far too many times to believe anything that didn't happen right in my lap.

    @ Johnny Cat

    My disbelief in "photographic evidence" started with my first copy of Photoshop in the Eighties. That sheep thing was pretty cool, though.


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