Aurora Australis

        Among the views of Earth afforded astronauts aboard the +International Space Station (ISS), surely one of the most spectacular is of the aurora. These ever-shifting displays of colored ribbons, curtains, rays, and spots are most visible near the North (aurora borealis) and South (aurora australis) Poles as charged particles (ions) streaming from the Sun (the solar wind) interact with Earth’s magnetic field.

While aurora are generally only visible close to the poles, severe magnetic storms impacting the Earth’s magnetic field can shift them towards the equator. This striking aurora image was taken during a geomagnetic storm that was most likely caused by a coronal mass ejection from the +Sun on May 24, 2010. The ISS was located over the Southern Indian Ocean at an altitude of 350 kilometers (220 miles), with the astronaut observer most likely looking towards Antarctica (not visible) and the South Pole.
       The aurora has a sinuous ribbon shape that separates into discrete spots near the lower right corner of the image. While the dominant coloration of the aurora is green, there are faint suggestions of red left of image center. Dense cloud cover is dimly visible below the aurora. The curvature of the Earth’s horizon (the limb) is clearly visible, as is the faint blue line of the upper atmosphere directly above it (at image top center). Several stars appear as bright pinpoints against the blackness of space at image top right.

      Auroras happen when ions in the solar wind collide with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere. The atoms are excited by these collisions, and they typically emit light as they return to their original energy level. The light creates the aurora that we see. The most commonly observed color of aurora is green, caused by light emitted by excited oxygen atoms at wavelengths centered at 0.558 micrometers, or millionths of a meter. (Visible light is reflected from healthy (green) plant leaves at approximately the same wavelength.) Red aurora are generated by light emitted at a longer wavelength (0.630 micrometers), and other colors

Iphone Jail Breaking

Jailbreaking is the process to unlock the iPhone and iPod touch devices to permit the installation of third-party applications. It can also add ringtones or change wallpaper on iPhone. It opens up the file system of iPhone so that it can be accessed from the computer. Attackers use different techniques to jailbreak the iPod; after jailbreaking, they can install malicious code or software, which helps to access the information from the iPod. Some tools used for jailbreaking, include: 

1. iDemocracy :

          iDemocracy is the iPhone jailbreak and third-party app installation solution for the Windows platform. It installs Installer.app (for 3rd party apps/games), custom ringtones, and SIM unlock. It has new features like free ringtones on firmwares, as well as File Browsing. Go here to know more : http://code.google.com/p/idemocracy/

2. iActivator :

          iActivator is a Cocoa-based application for the Mac. It is a graphical interface providing iPhone activation/deactivation tools, and methods for breaking/restoring the jail. Go here to know more : http://www.iphone-hacks.com/2007/07/

3. iNdependence :

          iNdependence is a Cocoa-based application for Mac OS X which provides an interface for jailbreak, activation, SSH installation, and ringtone/wallpaper/application installation on your iPhone. It allows unauthorized third-party application installation on your iPhone. Go here to know more : http://code.google.com/p/independence/ ;

4. iFuntastic :

           iFuntastic is an iPhone hacking and modification tool. It provides a GUI for almost any iPhone modification task. It can dig into your iPhone and edit images and logos. It can replace any system sounds and color iChat SMS balloons. It has full file browser feature, which simply browses the iPhone's internal file system, and edit UI images. Go here to know more: http://www.tuaw.com/tag/iFuntastic/

5. AppSnap : 

          AppSnapp is a tool for jailbreaking and allowing the installation of non-sanctioned third-party applications to the iPhone. This tool jailbreak the iPhone or iPod Touch, pushes the Installer.app to the device, which contains a catalog of native applications that can be installed directly over a WiFi or EDGE connection. It automates the process on iPhones running software/firmware. It can be completed purely using the iPhone without interacting with a Mac or Windows computer. Go here to know more : http://jailbreakme.com/ ;

6. iPhoneSimFree : 

           iPhoneSimFree is used to unlock the iPhone. It is capable of completely restoring/repairing software unlocked "bricked" iPhone. Go for detail : http://www.iphonesimfree.com/cgi-bin/iphonesimfree/engine.pl?page=home  ;

7. anySIM :

            anySIM is a GUI-based SIM unlocking solution for iPhone. This application works only on VIRGIN 1.0.2 to 1.1.1 phones. It is described as fully automatic, needing only to be copied to a "jailbroken" iPhone and launched from the springboard interface.Go here to know more about it: http://www.iphonestalk.com/anysim-v1-1-free-gui-based-sim-unlock-tool-for-virgin-iphone-os-v1-1-1-released/

Yes, the freedom is yours: Extreme Supermoon

Yes, the freedom is yours: Extreme Supermoon: SUPERMOON Credits : JPL/NASA The term super-moon was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 , defined as a new or full moon which occurs with the Moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit .In short, Earth, Moon and Sun are all in a line, with Moon in its nearest approach to Earth.

The technical term for this phenomenon is a perigee - syzygy which is shortened to "supermoon"!!
Well March 19 2011 has witnessed one of the "ExtremeSuperMoon" phenomenon..... which is repeating itself after an interval of 18 yrs..
Actualy its a common misconception that supermoon is a phenomena which occurs after 18 yrs,in truth there are about 4-6 super moons annually.The extreme supermoon of march 19 2011 is the second super moon of the year....


The difference between a normal moon and a super moon is that

The Super-moon is
-> 14% larger
-> 30% brighter
To explain this phenomenon we must notice that the path of the moon around earth is elliptical (relatively) with earth at one of its focii and at perigee position the moon is closest to the earth and at this time we observe this miraculous phenomena..


The picture below shows the size differences observed at different positions in moons elliptical orbit.

full moon at apogee and perigee
Apogee and prigee of moon, Size difference can be clearly noted..

Due to the super moon phenomena the variations in tide,(ie is high tides and low tides) would be higher than normal.
This could be explained by the considering the inverse square law relation,

During a super moon event the "r"(distance) would be very short compared to the other times, So there would be a high gravitational pull...and this pull results in the different tide levels..

The following is a list of past and predicted extreme super-moons.

* November 10, 1954
* November 20, 1972
* January 8, 1974
* February 26, 1975
* December 2, 1990
* January 19, 1992
* March 8, 1993
* January 10, 2005
* December 12, 2008
* January 30, 2010
* March 19, 2011
* November 14, 2016
* January 2, 2018
* January 21, 2023
* November 25, 2034
* January 13, 2036

Astrologers of the past belive that occurence of a supermoon (its prediction) is a sign of a impending disaster to come..and the coincidence of many natural disasters with this phenomenon is striking.
There is a huge group of people who are blaming super moon for the march 11 tsunami that struck in Japan.In my point of view it is totally absurd.

Perigee Moons do not trigger natural disasters. The "super moon" of March 1983 & SuperMoon of Dec. 2008 were harmless contradicting its relation with Natural disasters...

All I want to point out is that dont blame supermoon for the natural calamities we are facing. And guys remember by doing so we are spoiling once a life time opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the miracles of nature.