Explosion on moon visible from earth

I do not know whether the hobbying astronomers watched this or not, but NASA did notice a bright explosion on moon which was visible from the earth.

Explosion on the moon, reported by NASA May 17, was caused by a meteor hitting the surface and was visible on earth to the naked eye

The explosion was caused by a meteoroid that struck the moon surface recently, says NASA on Friday. The impact caused an explosion that was visible on Earth without the aid of a telescope. But don't be alarmed if you didn't see it; it only lasted about a second.

"It exploded in a flash nearly 10 times as bright as anything we've ever seen before," said Bill Cooke, of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office.

NASA's lunar monitoring program has detected hundreds of meteoroid impacts. The brightest, detected on March 17, 2013, in Mare Imbrium, is marked by the red square

NASA says the meteoroid was about 40 kilograms and less than a meter wide, and it hit the moon's surface at 56,000 mph. It glowed like a 4th magnitude star, NASA says, thanks to an explosion equivalent to 5 tons of TNT.

However there is one question which may or may not have come to your mind. But if you're wondering how there can be an explosion on the moon, without oxygen, NASA has the answer for you. It says the flash of light comes not from any type of combustion - as we typically think of explosions - but rather by the glowing molten rock at the impact site.

So this is the answer which may add to your knowledge if you are a hobbying astronomer. So keep watch moon more  - you may find another explosion too if you are lucky.

(via CNN - NASA )
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United States returns stolen remains of 70 million year old Tyrannosaurus skeleton Mongolia

Collecting rare artifacts and other historical objects is one of the major hobbies of the rich around the world. But sometimes a costly auction may land a collector into trouble. And this is exactly what happened to a collector who landed up in jail for 17 years and also the remains of very unique and rare skeleton returned to country to which it belonged.

Tyrannosaurus [Photo: My Jurassic Park]

In what is being termed as a rare cultural return, the United States has returned the fossilized remains of a 70 million year old Tyrannosaurus skeleton stolen from the Gobi desert in Mongolia.

The remains which were sold at auction in New York last year for more than a million dollars, the near complete skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Bataar - a cousin of the better-known T-Rex - is being repatriated at Mongolia's request.

Skeleton of Tyrannosaurus [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]

In the meantime, collector Eric Prokopi pleaded guilty last December to smuggling the remains and faces up to 17 years in jail.

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Reputed "Titanic violin" likely to be Auctioned

Are you a collector? If so get ready to add a rare violent to your collection.

The violin is not ordinary but it made headlines when it was played on that fateful night when the mighty luxury liner Titanic was sinking.

Scene from 1958 film: A Night to Remember

The scene has been immortalized in movies like 1958's "A Night to Remember," in which the band played on to calm the Titanic's passengers as chaos and icy waters swept over and sank the so-called "unsinkable" ship. It's a scene later revisited in James Cameron's film version. The story is real by survivors' accounts, and unlike the fictional Jack and Rose, bandmaster Wallace Hartley was a real-life star.

And how the violin survived. Well it is presumed that in the final moments, Wallace used a bag to protect the one thing that he valued most to him, his violin. He strapped the bag around his shoulders, above his life jacket, in the hope that he and his violin would survive.

The 34-year-old musician's body was found floating in the icy water 10 days after the shipwreck, among 1,500 people who perished.

Although some personal belongings were noted in the paperwork for "Body #224," initially, there was no mention of a violin among his possessions. But in the days that followed, newspapers reported that Wallace had been found with the instrument. And in her diary, Mariah Robinson thanked Canadian authorities for its return to Britain.

(via CBS This Morning)

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Top Rare Photos from History

Photographers catch some of the rare photos that become history one day. And sometimes ordinary photos of people when they are just ordinary become a rarity when decades after these people or places assume a place among people's hearts.

Herein under are some of such photos that reminds us of the beginning of history.  Find out yourself:

The first computer

Beginning of the Brazilian Capital

 Fall of the Berlin Wall

 Che Guevara and Fidel Castro

 Elvis Presley on conscription

 Beatles in their infancy

Beatles in 1957

 John Lennon  giving his last autograph to his 'murderer' 

 Titanic - Before (above) and after sail (below)

All phots above are courtesy: Today's Whisper
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Play Video Games with 3D Headset and Treadmill Combo - and Exercise Too

This is about video games and gamers who have so far been playing video games while sitting or lying on a coach with a hand held console with various buttons on.

These consoles have made gamers rather static and motionless - something that take s aheavy toll due to lack of any physical activity.

But not anymore: Here is an innovative 3D Headset and Treadmill Combo called Omni that is a treadmill-like "natural motion interface for virtual reality applications" that enables a user's in-game avatar to mimic his or her real-life movements.

The video below shows it being used along with the Oculus Rift virtual-reality headset.

Now you can can walk, run, jump, step sideways and crouch (by bending over) in any direction on Omni's circular treadmill.

Check out the video below to see the immersive action:

(via Mashable)
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Pakistan Post Commemorates Centenary of Kinnaird College for Women - Lahore (1913-2013)

Pakistan Post has issued a commemorative stamp of Rs.15 to commemorate the centenary of the famous Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore. A First Day Cover was also issued simultaneously. The stamp was issued on 11th April and is horizontal layout with 13 perforations.

Established in 1913 by the Zenana and Bible Medical Mission, now called Interserve, the college initially had intermediate level of education for the women. The BA classes commenced in 1917. After partition, the college was upgraded to have classes of Masters / M.Phil level.

The college was initially housed near Kinnaird High School. However it was moved to Jail Road in 1926.  In 1933, the college acquired land near Lahore's canal and new buildings were constructed to house the increasing numbers of girls studying at the college. By 1939 the college had grown into a 20-acre campus.

As of now, Kinnaird College is a premier institution exclusive for women. The college has its won Campus radio which started its test transmission in June 2010 and was officially inaugurated on 31st January, 2011.

[Photo: Kinnaird College/Facebook]

Some of the notable graduates of Kinnaird College include Bano Qudsia (author), Faryal Gohar (journalist), Kashmala Tariq (politician), Hina Rabbani Khar (politician), Ayesha Saddiqa (writer), Bapsi Sidhwa Writer/author), Nasira Iqbal (former Lahore High Court Judge) and Hadiqa Kiyani (pop singer).

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My Collection of Postage Stamps of Pakistan 1974

During 1974, Pakistan Post issued stamps on ten occasions and luckily I have all of these in my collection, but one.

 The first set of two stamps was issued on 1st January on the eve of the World Population Year. The stamps valued 20p and Rs. 1.25 showed a family and the emblem of the World Population Year.

The second set of two stamps was issued on the holding of second Islamic Summit Conference in Lahore, Pakistan. The two stamps valued 20p showed the conference emblem while the 65p stamp showed the conference emblem and the sun. 

A souvenir sheet of 85p was also issued beside the FDC.

 The third stamp of the year was published on 1st July on the eve of Adoption of International System of Weight and Measures in Pakistan. The 20p multicoloured stamp showed units of weight and measurement.

 21st July always came with a set of three stamps to commemorate the RCD anniversary. IN 1974, the RCD celebrated its 10th anniversary and the theme selected for this year was the carpets of Iran, Pakistan and Treky which are known the world over for their finest hand knotted carpets. The stamps were valued 20p, 60p and Rs. 1.25.

 The fifth stamp of the year was published on 9 August on the eve of National Day of Tree Plantation. The 20p multicoloured stamp showed hands protecting the fragile saplings.

The sixth stamp was issued on 28th August on the Namibia Day. This 60p multicoloured stamps showed the map of Africa and torch showing the light of freedom.

The seventh stamp was issued on 23 September to commemorate the Shahrah-e-Pakistan or the roads of Pakistan. This 20p multicoloured stamps showed the road map of Pakistan.

The eigth stamp was issued on 7 October on the eve of Universal Children Day. This 20p multicoloured stamps showed a baby boy and a desk.

On the Centenary of the Universal Postal Union, Pakistan Post issued two commemorative stamps. The 20p multicoloured stamp showed the UPU emblem and Acroll, while the Rs. 2.25 multicoloured stamp depicted the UPU emblem and an aeroplane.

A Souvenir sheet was also issued on the occasion, priced at Rs. 2.45.

The tenth stamp of the year was to pay homage to the first Prime Minister of Pakistan who was assassinated on 16th October 1951 at Rawalpindi Liaquat Bagh. The stamp was issued on 18th October.

The last and eleventh stamp of the year was to commemorate the Birth Centenary of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan. The stamp valued 20p bearing portrait of the Iqbal was issued on 9th November.

via My Philatelic World
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'Bird Watching'

I 'shot' this aircraft flying overhead while taking photos of spring flowers of my garden. Turned out to be good - ain't it!!

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Gardening: Companion Plants

Those of us who love gardens and gardening are always in pursuit of finding ways and means to improve the look of our gardens and improve the health of the plants and flowers. Of many remedial measures to save the plants from insects and other harmful effects, planting of companion plants is one of the best remedial measures. I hadn't heard f this terminology or the technique before, until I sowed the bright coloured marigold flowers for this season.

Beside its majestic broad shaped flower spread, which comes in orange, gold and yellows, Marigolds are considered companion plants that keep insects away. So was I told by the wise man at the nursery, who confided that he gives this advice to everyone buying Marigolds from him to grow Marigolds amid a wide variety of flowers and vegetables. Marigolds not only ward off insects but its leaves and stems are also used in preparation of the organic insect sprays.

When I came home, I did a small search on the internet about the companion plants and came to know that besides marigold, garlic, basil, nasturtium, rosemary, sage, thyme, borage and mint are also some of the best companion plants. The concept of companion planting hinges at the establishment of two or more plant species in close proximity so that some cultural benefit (pest control, higher yield, etc.) is derived.

• Plant garlic in your rose beds – the mere smell of garlic would ward off aphids, insects and pests.
• Basil when planted with tomatoes, marigold and peppers, keep the mosquitoes and flies at bay.
• Plant nasturtium with squash, pumpkins and other vegetables to ward off cucumber beetles, aphids and squash bugs.
• To deter cabbage worms, plant thyme with cabbage.
• Mint and Rosemary are also best to keep the cabbage worms when planted with cabbage and broccoli.
• Sage helps the carrots by keeping the carrot flies away.
• Carrots are the best companion of English Pea, Lettuce, Rosemary, Onion Family, Sage, Tomato.
• Celery yields desired effects when planted with onion, cabbage, tomato, bush beans and nasturtium.

I could go on and on as there is much more to companion plants. But for home gardeners, the above information should suffice as normally the plants and vegetables listed above are generally sowed in home gardens. Try it – it would help. Happy gardening.

via The Fire Within
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Spitfire - made of Egg Boxes

Hobbyists are starnge people - they can go to any extenet flexing the muscles of their innovative minds and coming out things that are not only eye catching but mind boggling as well.

Take for isntance the egg boxes that we buy eggs in almost routinely. What does an ordinary do like me and you? Well throw away the egg box after eating all the eggs. But some innovative hobbyist who makes things out of everything won't throw away these empty boxes.

Instead they will make a lifesize Spitfire out of it.



Yes that is exactly what a pair of hobbyists spent six weeks in crafting a life size Spitfire from some 6,500 empty egg boxes. Charlotte Austen, 27, and Jack Munro, 26 also used five litres of glue, 5,000 nails, ten litres of paint and 10,000 staples. In addition to that, they also used 772 ft of wooden batten, 100 square metres of canvas and 82 ft of steel.

The 36ft-long Supermarine Spitfire was constructed using Eggs for Soldiers cartons and will go on display at Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire, reports Mail Online.

The aircraft did not come cheap: While constructing the model the pair also drank 120 cups of tea and chomped their way through six packets of chocolate hob nobs and 18 cream eggs.

Jack added: ‘The project has been hectic due to the enormous amount of work, which resulted in a number of sleep-deprived nights.

‘There were a few bangs and accidents along the way too - one our helpers even had to go to A&E for stitches after she slipped and sliced a chunk of her thumb off.

‘I suffered a gash to the head after bumping into the model and also got the inevitable cuts and bruises you would expect with building a model like this.

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Colourful Spring Signs

Gardening is one of the most creative hobbies of all. You plant saplings and seeds and then watch for the nature to sprout colourful flowers slowly changing the otherwise barren look of winters.

The Early Spring Signs

I being an avid gardening lover am also one of those who take pains all along the winter, starting November  preparing flower beds, buying seeds and saplings and planting these all along the winter. Protecting the fragile leaves from severe cold by shielding these with green cloth and cellophane sheets and tending these just like small kids.

What was just a few flowers two weeks ago are now bunch of colourful Nemesia and Musummary majestically shinning with their bright and multiple colours and freshness.

This is how the bed looked like about two weeks ago

And now that the spell of rains is seemingly over hopefully, the first signs of springs have started to show.

The remaining beds have blossomed with buds visible but flowers are still shy of the cold breeze whizzing past - may be they need a lot more warmth to come out of their buds and ornamate my little garden.

 Two weeks earlier

Today and still growing

Petunia in waiting

Hopefully soon enough I shall be able to write about my gardena dn my flowers when the entire carpet of these present these in a full turned out parade.

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