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A Zodiacal Skyscape

2012-02-23T06:45:13Z

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A Zodiacal Skyscape
Image Credit & Copyright: Jack Fusco

Explanation: Venus and Jupiter are this month's two brightest planets. Shortly after sunset on February 20, they dominate the sky above the western horizon and this snowy landscape. In clear and transparent skies over Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania, USA, they are also seen immersed in Zodiacal light. The extended, diffuse, triangular glow is sunlight scattered by dust along the plane of the ecliptic. Brighter near the horizon, the Zodiacal glow angles upward, first to Venus and then to Jupiter hugging the ecliptic as they orbit the Sun. Fading even further, the glow stretches toward the lovely Pleides star cluster near the top of the frame. Following their appearance in this Zodiacal skyscape, the coming days will see Venus and Jupiter sharing the early evening sky with a young crescent Moon. The two bright planets are even headed for a close pairing or conjunction, separated by about 3 degrees on March 13.

Today In History For February 23rd

2012-02-23T06:43:30Z

Highlights of this day in history: The American flag is raised on Iwo Jima during World War II; Start of the Persian Gulf War's ground offensive; Dolly the cloned sheep; Comedian Stan Laurel dies; Carlos Santana wins big at the Grammys.

Green Overdrive: A Fisker Karma Test Drive

2012-02-23T06:31:41Z

We take the eco-friendly luxury sports car for a spin.

Lone Pine Symbolizes Japan Hopes

2012-02-23T06:27:14Z

Pine trees which survived the quake and tsunami that ravaged northern Japan last March become symbols of hope and resilience. Chris Meyers reports.

The 5-Year-Old Skydiver

2012-02-23T05:39:06Z

This pint-sized-daredevil displays the courage of a grown man as he jumps from a plane 14,000ft above the skies of Mexico. Taken in 2008, then five-year-old Alan Lachman fulfilled a life-long dream when his father allowed him to tandem jump with family friend and legendary skydiver Antonio Montano from the small propeller driven aircraft. Leaving nothing to chance, Alan and his father Aaron, who is a pilot, spent months planning the jump, double-checking everything from the reserve parachute to the safety harnesses that the young boy would rely on. Making that jump in 2008, Alan, now aged seven is busy planning his next ascent into the skies.

Remember: When Testing Out A Tablet At Best Buy...

2012-02-23T05:14:43Z

Youtube: When testing out a tablet in bestbuy... don't forget to delete anything you might have recorded... before somebody like me finds it and emails it to themselves.

[Also, they may not be very clean.]

Touching Footage Of Elephants Saying Goodbye To Dead Young

2012-02-23T04:51:07Z

MUNICH, GERMANY: The herd of elephants say goodbye to Lola the dead elephant calf at Hellabrunn Zoo on January 21, 2012 in Munich, Germany. A baby elephant who tragically died at a German zoo is brought back before her herd so they can say goodbye. Lola, a three month old elephant, died on 21st January 2012, during a CT scan ahead of an operation to fix a serious heart defect. Lola's body was brought back to the herd at Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich, on Saturday afternoon, so that her mother, Panang (22), could say her goodbyes to her in peace. Afterwards the herd gently nuzzled the lifeless body with their trunks and took their leave of her.

The World's Smallest Athlete

2012-02-23T04:37:50Z

SPRINGFIELD, Virginia: Super swimmer Jess Rogers is making a big splash in the world of swimming - as she battles to qualify for the London 2012 paralympic games next year. The 14-year-old, from Springfield, VA, suffers from caudal regression syndrome (CRS) meaning she was born with two tiny legs she cannot use. But that hasn't stopped Jess from becoming the world's smallest athlete. She trains hard every week to make her greatest wish come true - to make the US national paralympic swimming team. Footage shows her at home with dedicated mum Phyllis, who adopted Jess as a baby from Brazil. It's not just at swimming Jess amazes, even at home she gets involved in everything she can - from housework to riding her special bike - using only her hands to walk.

Inside Apple's Chinese Factories

2012-02-23T04:31:06Z

Bill Weir's exclusive report on how our Apple iThings are brought to life.

Aleph By Paulo Coelho

2012-02-23T03:51:21Z