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Author Archives: dr.hypercube
More spacecraft on spacecraft action
Another great picture of Phoenix descending courtesy of MRO. Heimdall crater is in the background – apparently Ikea beat NASA to Mars.
Via APotD.
More – A picture of the lander (top), Heat shield impact area (middle right) and parachute (bottom) on the surface.
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Utricularia nelumbifolia
One of my epiphytic utrics is blooming:
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Just opening in the morning light.
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The reason for the species name (nelumbifolia).
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Utrics (bladderworts) are fascinating plants – adaptable (alpine to tropical, aquatic, terrestrial, epiphytes, lithophytes), active carnivores with beautiful flowers. I have two epiphytes – nelumbifolia and humboldtii. The humboldtii is growing like mad; I’m hoping I can get a large division to trade for another epiphyte I covet – U. jamesoniana (picture of flower here). Here’s the U. humboldtii:
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Keep your fingers crossed for me – maybe I can even get a flower out of it…
If I can't have a thoat, this'll do
I know it’s been all over the web, but I don’t care. I’m posting this picture because it’s just so friggin’ amazing:
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The Mars Reconaissance Orbiter takes a picture of the Mars Phoenix Lander as the Lander parachutes down. I wish I could find the Arthur C. Clarke quote about 2001 coming true (except for the monolith pieces), but not being noticed because the principal players were/are all robotic.
The Phoenix Lander has a Twitter account – the latest tweet: “Looking forward to moving arm today. Will bend the wrist and flex the elbow. It’s been stowed for 10 months so I’ll move it slowly/gently.” (@marsphoenix)