Our Amazing World

Sunrise Through the Solar Arrays

On July 26, 2017, a member of the Expedition 52 crew aboard the International Space Station took this photograph of one of the 16 sunrises they experience every day, as the orbiting laboratory travels around Earth.  One of the solar panels that provides power to the station is seen in the upper left.
The station’s solar arrays produce more power than it needs at one time for station systems and experiments. When the station is in sunlight, about 60 percent of the electricity the solar arrays generate is used to charge the station’s batteries. The batteries power the station when it is not in the sun.

Image Credit: NASA

The Golden Cathedral

Located in the lower section of Neon Canyon, Utah, this is an amazing rock formation that will leave you in awe.
It is a hike where it would be a good idea to have a pair of water shoes with you. The first part of the hike is across desert sandstone, and the second half requires you to cross the Escalante River at least twice. Once you’ve reached the Egypt trailhead, the trained eye can actually spot exactly where they need to go to get to Golden Cathedral, even though it’s over 7.2 milometers away. Be sure to walk all around the pool and end of the canyon to get different views and the full effect of Golden Cathedral. At certain parts of the midday, the sun rays off the water dance along the canyon walls as the minutes pass.

The Jantar Mantar

Situated in the heart of Jaipur, India, the Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observation site constructed in the early 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II. These unique structures embody several comprehensive and significant architectural and instrumental innovations. At the centre of this surreal collection is the Samrat Yantra (the Giant Sundial), which is the world’s tallest sundial at 27 meters and has a shadow movement speed of 6cm per minute.