A Memorable Aurora Over Norway

This picture, which is copyright of and credited to Ole Christian Salomonsen, became NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for December 5, 2011 (Dec. 6 in PH time).

According to NASA, it was one of the most memorable auroras of the season. There was green light, red light, and sometimes a mixture of the two. There were multiple rays, distinct curtains, and even an auroral corona. It took up so much of the sky. In the background were stars too numerous to count, in the foreground a friend trying to image the same sight. The scene was captured with a fisheye lens around and above Tromsø, Norway, last month. With the Sun becoming more active, next year might bring even more spectacular aurora.

New 7 Wonders of Nature

The provisional New 7 Wonders of Nature had been picked. This is based on the first count of vote results made on 11/11/11. It was voted by people from all throughout the world.

New7Wonders, however, stated that it is possible that there will be changes between the provisional winners and the eventual finally confirmed winners.

The voting calculation is now being checked, validated and independently verified, and the confirmed winners will be announced starting early 2012 during the Official Inauguration ceremonies.

So far the following had been included on the list:

1. The Amazon, which spans across across Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and France (French Guiana).
2. Vietnam's Halong Bay
3. Iguazu Falls, which is bordered in the Brazilian State of Panama, and the Argentinian provinces of Misiones.
4. South Korea's Jeju Island
5. Indonesia's Komodo Island
6. Puerto Princesa's Underground River, which can be found in the Philippines
7. Table Mountain in South Africa