Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Moon shot


This moon phase is a waning gibbous - it is about 1 day after the full moon. July 23
The dark parts are called mare - they are lava flows from long ago when the moon was quite hot.


Catbirds


I've seen catbirds around my yard for years, but it wasn't until I took this shot that I learned they have red undertail coverts!


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Cumulonimbus cloud

I watched this thunderhead develop a few evenings ago during the heat wave. The classic anvil head was forming at the top of this super tall cloud. 



Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Summer Fun

10 days in Iceland is a science teachers dream! Volcanoes, columnar basalt, waterfalls, glaciers, and puffins! 

This photo shows a waterfall on the way to the Fimmvorduhaal pass. Eyjafjatlajokull volcano is still smoking a bit in the left background. A glacier is seen in the distance.



I travelled 120 meters underground into this cathedral sized magma chamber. The colors were unworldly; the entrance a 12 m chimney down which we were lowered by a crane.

Here is aweb address to a video describing the trip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cadBRoRKAdE&feature=player_embedded




From the top of Skogarfoss (waterfall).



My favorite bird in Iceland - the charming puffins. They are so unafraid of humans that they willingly pose for me.