mineralia:

Corundum var. Ruby with Pyrite from Afghanistan

For auction by Dan Weinrich

mineralia:

Euclase from Colombia by John Betts

mineralia:

Topaz from Utah

I always seem to reblog my birthstone.

mineralia:

Beryl var. Aquamarine with Muscovite from Pakistan

mineralia:

Fluorite from England

mineralia:

Quartz var. Amethyst from Mexico

DEAR GOD THE AMETHYST

mineralia:

Topaz from Utah

My birthstone is so lovely.

mineralia:

Tourmaline from Vietnam

mineralia:

Spinel from Burma

The cut. The color. It’s all just beautiful. ♥

mineralia:

Calcite from the Congo

mineralia:

Elbaite from Afghanistan

hhhnnnnngggggggggg

mineralia:

Dioptase from Namibia

My new favorite blog.

moderation:

The Massive Stars of 30 Doradus

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The gas and dust of the star-forming region, 30 Doradus, one of the largest located close to the Milky Way, is found in the neighboring galaxy Large Magellanic Cloud. About 2,400 massive stars in the center of 30 Doradus, also known as the Tarantula Nebula, are producing intense radiation and powerful winds as they blow off material. 

This spiderweb-like tangle of is a star-forming region called 30 Doradus. It is one of the largest such regions located close to the Milky Way galaxy, and is found in the neighboring galaxy Large Magellanic Cloud. About 2,400 massive stars in the center of 30 Doradus, also known as the Tarantula nebula, are producing intense radiation and powerful winds as they blow off material. 

Multimillion-degree gas detected in X-rays (blue) by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory comes from shock fronts — similar to sonic booms — formed by these stellar winds and by supernova explosions. This hot gas carves out gigantic bubbles in the surrounding cooler gas and dust shown here in infrared light from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope (orange). 

(via dailygalaxy)

moderation:

96 New Reasons To Love Star Clusters

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“Ninety-six clusters of stars in the sky…. Ninety-six clusters of stars… You take one down and pass it around…” Do you need ninety-six new reasons to love astronomy? Then you’re going to want to hear about all the new discoveries the VISTA infrared survey telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory has made. Read on…  

An international team of astronomers has taken observations to the next level with their discovery of 96 new star clusters which have been hidden behind the dusty cloak of interstellar matter. By utilizing sensitive infrared detectors and the world’s largest survey telescope, the intrepid crew set a new record for finding so many faint and small clusters at one time.

“This discovery highlights the potential of VISTA and the VVV survey for finding star clusters, especially those hiding in dusty star-forming regions in the Milky Way’s disc. VVV goes much deeper than other surveys,” says Jura Borissova, lead author of the study.

(via universetoday)