Two Worlds, One Sun @ AMERICAN DIGEST

May 13, 2015

Two Worlds, One Sun

"How different does sunset appear from Mars than from Earth?

For comparison, two images of our common star were taken at sunset, one from Earth and one from Mars. These images were scaled to have same angular width and featured here side-by-side. A quick inspection will reveal that the Sun appears slightly smaller from Mars than from Earth. This makes sense since Mars is 50% further from the Sun than Earth. More striking, perhaps, is that the Martian sunset is noticeably bluer near the Sun than the typically orange colors near the setting Sun from Earth. The reason for the blue hues from Mars is not fully understood, but thought to be related to forward scattering properties of Martian dust. The terrestrial sunset was taken in 2012 March from Marseille, France, while the Martian sunset was captured last month by NASA's robotic Curiosity rover from Gale crater on Mars. APOD: 2015 May 12

Posted by gerardvanderleun at May 13, 2015 1:00 AM

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Sunshine came softly through my window today ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v4P7kqaeUM

Right up your alley, Gerard. Reliving our youth is far out.
"Those were the days" as Archie and Edith sang.

Posted by: chasmatic at May 13, 2015 1:11 PM

OK, so no big Donavan fans out there. How 'bout old Slowhand?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez55X-oYOyY

C'mon Gerard, my memory synapses are still fried like a French fry. Talk about blackouts? I'm missing some seasons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAzTnsSgs2s

You got the era wrapped up. All that's missing is the patchouli oil.

Posted by: chasmatic at May 14, 2015 6:19 AM

The earth's atmosphere scatters blue light 10 times more than it scatters red light. That's why the sky appears blue. At sunset the sunlight is going thru lots of atmosphere and most of the blue light is scattered and that's why the sun appears red. Something in the mars atmosphere(?) must scatter red light.

Posted by: Ray at May 14, 2015 9:36 AM

Gosh Ray, I never knew there was an actual explanation for the things I used to see back in the day. I always thought I had got ahold of some wicked shit.

Now I find myself staring into God's Golden Eyes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN3I10E0XVY John Hiatt

Posted by: chasmatic at May 14, 2015 11:52 AM