• This stunning view of Mount Fuji was captured from the International Space Station (ISS), revealing Japan’s iconic volcano piercing through a sea of clouds. Rising 3,776 meters (12,389 feet) above sea level, Mount Fuji is not only Japan’s tallest peak but also a sacred symbol of beauty, endurance, and national pride.

    Seen from orbit, its nearly symmetrical cone stands out dramatically against the surrounding landscape, showcasing the powerful forces of nature that shaped it. Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano, with its last eruption occurring in 1707. It continues to attract millions of climbers, photographers, and spiritual seekers each year.

    This image, taken by astronauts aboard the ISS, highlights how Earth's natural wonders appear from above—and how even the most familiar landmarks take on new significance when seen from space.

    #MountFuji #EarthFromSpace #ISS #Astronomy #Volcano #Japan #Nature
    This stunning view of Mount Fuji was captured from the International Space Station (ISS), revealing Japan’s iconic volcano piercing through a sea of clouds. Rising 3,776 meters (12,389 feet) above sea level, Mount Fuji is not only Japan’s tallest peak but also a sacred symbol of beauty, endurance, and national pride. Seen from orbit, its nearly symmetrical cone stands out dramatically against the surrounding landscape, showcasing the powerful forces of nature that shaped it. Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano, with its last eruption occurring in 1707. It continues to attract millions of climbers, photographers, and spiritual seekers each year. This image, taken by astronauts aboard the ISS, highlights how Earth's natural wonders appear from above—and how even the most familiar landmarks take on new significance when seen from space. #MountFuji #EarthFromSpace #ISS #Astronomy #Volcano #Japan #Nature
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  • Astronaut Charlie Duke glances back at the Lunar Module Casper—the very craft that brought him to the Moon during the Apollo 16 mission. This image reflects the profound sense of wonder that space exploration inspires and the lasting bond astronauts have with the vehicles that carried them on their extraordinary voyages.

    #Apollo16 #MoonLanding #SpaceExploration #Astronomy #Moon
    Astronaut Charlie Duke glances back at the Lunar Module Casper—the very craft that brought him to the Moon during the Apollo 16 mission. This image reflects the profound sense of wonder that space exploration inspires and the lasting bond astronauts have with the vehicles that carried them on their extraordinary voyages. #Apollo16 #MoonLanding #SpaceExploration #Astronomy #Moon
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  • Types of "Holes" in the Cosmos

    Not all cosmic "holes" are the same — and they’re not just empty space.

    #blackholes #whiteholes #wormholes #universe #cosmos #astronomy #spacefacts #physics
    Types of "Holes" in the Cosmos Not all cosmic "holes" are the same — and they’re not just empty space. #blackholes #whiteholes #wormholes #universe #cosmos #astronomy #spacefacts #physics
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  • In a major breakthrough, scientists have revised the length of a day on Uranus—and it’s now 28 seconds longer than we thought.

    Thanks to over a decade of data from the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers have calculated that a full Uranian day lasts exactly 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds.

    That may sound like a tiny change, but for planetary scientists, it’s a big deal.

    Until now, the only direct measurements came from NASA’s Voyager 2 flyby in 1986, which left lingering uncertainties—especially around Uranus’ magnetic poles. Those outdated rotation estimates made it nearly impossible to accurately track how the planet's magnetosphere behaves over time.

    To solve this, a team led by Laurent Lamy (Paris Observatory) analyzed Hubble’s ultraviolet observations from 2011 to 2022, tracking auroras caused by solar wind slamming into Uranus’ magnetic field.

    By following those glowing signals, they were able to pinpoint the magnetic poles and determine Uranus’ rotation period with unprecedented precision—even more accurately than we know Jupiter’s.

    That’s especially impressive considering Uranus spins almost completely sideways, making these measurements incredibly tricky.

    This refined rotation rate is crucial—it will help scientists build better models of Uranus’ interior, magnetic field, and future missions, including NASA’s upcoming plans to explore the ice giant in detail.

    RESEARCH PAPER:
    L. Lamy et al., “A new rotation period and longitude system for Uranus”, Nature Astronomy (2025)
    In a major breakthrough, scientists have revised the length of a day on Uranus—and it’s now 28 seconds longer than we thought. Thanks to over a decade of data from the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers have calculated that a full Uranian day lasts exactly 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds. That may sound like a tiny change, but for planetary scientists, it’s a big deal. Until now, the only direct measurements came from NASA’s Voyager 2 flyby in 1986, which left lingering uncertainties—especially around Uranus’ magnetic poles. Those outdated rotation estimates made it nearly impossible to accurately track how the planet's magnetosphere behaves over time. To solve this, a team led by Laurent Lamy (Paris Observatory) analyzed Hubble’s ultraviolet observations from 2011 to 2022, tracking auroras caused by solar wind slamming into Uranus’ magnetic field. By following those glowing signals, they were able to pinpoint the magnetic poles and determine Uranus’ rotation period with unprecedented precision—even more accurately than we know Jupiter’s. That’s especially impressive considering Uranus spins almost completely sideways, making these measurements incredibly tricky. This refined rotation rate is crucial—it will help scientists build better models of Uranus’ interior, magnetic field, and future missions, including NASA’s upcoming plans to explore the ice giant in detail. 📄 RESEARCH PAPER: L. Lamy et al., “A new rotation period and longitude system for Uranus”, Nature Astronomy (2025)
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  • Okay, universe, we get it — you're huge. 🥹

    #SpaceWonder #Stephenson218 #AstronomyLovers #MindBlown #StarSizeComparison #FeelingSmall #AstroFacts
    Okay, universe, we get it — you're huge. 🥹 #SpaceWonder #Stephenson218 #AstronomyLovers #MindBlown #StarSizeComparison #FeelingSmall #AstroFacts
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