APOD: Dark Shuttle Approaching (2010 Feb 16)

[APOD Robot]

Dark Shuttle Approaching

Explanation: What's that approaching? Astronauts on board the International Space Station first saw it far in the distance. Soon it enlarged to become a dark silhouette. As it came even closer, the silhouette appeared to be a spaceship. Finally, at just past 11 pm (CST) last Tuesday, the object, revealed to be the Space Shuttle Endeavour, docked as expected with the Earth-orbiting space station. Pictured above, Endeavor was imaged near Earth's horizon as it approached, where several layers of the Earth's atmosphere were visible. Directly behind the shuttle is the mesosphere, which appears blue. The atmospheric layer that appears white is the stratosphere, while the orange layer is Earth's Troposphere. This shuttle mission, which began with a dramatic night launch and will continue into next week, has many tasks planned. These tasks include the delivery of the Tranquility Module which includes a cupola bay window complex that may allow even better views of spaceships approaching and leaving the space station.

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[Moonbase_Alphan]

Is it possible to get the Orbiter name corrected to include the "u"? It's Endeavour.

[RJN]

Yes. My bad. Sorry. Fixed it.

[neufer]

Dark Shuttle Approaching

Directly behind the shuttle is the mesosphere, which appears blue. The atmospheric layer that appears white is the stratosphere, while the orange layer is Earth's Troposphere.

Well we probably all know why the troposphere is orange
but why is the stratosphere white or the mesosphere blue?

Is this the same Red White and Blue that we observe from the ground?

• http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060615.html
  http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap091022.html
  http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070718.html
  http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap041113.html
  http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap041108.html
  http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090226.html
  http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080310.html

[emc]

I’m pretty good at giving wrong answers in Asterisk so far, but can’t resist the temptation to try. Are the colors due to the absorption of light frequencies from the gases that reside in the layers?

[kenthelm]

Yup - exactly - absorption

[emc]

Thanks kenthelm, for answering my answer. I wasn't sure.

[neufer]

<<This striking astronaut photograph shows polar mesospheric clouds over the Southern Hemisphere on January 30, 2010.

These clouds occur over the high latitudes of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres during their respective summer months at very high altitudes (approximately 76 to 85 kilometers, or 47 to 53 miles). They are most visible during twilight, when the clouds are still illuminated by the setting Sun, while the ground is already dark. Polar mesospheric clouds are also known as noctilucent or “night-shining” clouds—a property that is clearly visible in this astronaut photograph. The clouds exhibit thin, wispy light blue forms that contrast with the darkness of space (image upper right). Lower levels of the clouds are more strongly illuminated by the Sun and appear light orange to white. Clouds closest to the Earth’s surface are reddish-orange.>>

[FAB]

Dark Shuttle Approaching

Is that a hole in the Troposphere at the top left corner of the picture?
If so, how is it created, is it permanent or will it close up??
If so, could this hole be venting "Greenhouse Gasses"???

[neufer]

Dark Shuttle Approaching

Is that a hole in the Troposphere at the top left corner of the picture?
If so, how is it created, is it permanent or will it close up??
If so, could this hole be venting "Greenhouse Gasses"???

Just clouds.