Sunday, November 28, 2010

Cranes Flying South


Picture taken at Taylorsville Lake, Kentucky of formations of geese sand cranes flying south for the winter.  Using Photoshop count tool, I determined there were 89 geese cranes flying (see image below).

UPDATE: I originally identified these as geese but thanks to Kenny he informed me they were probably sand cranes.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

New Jersey Calcite

Example of fluorescent calcite from Franklin, New Jersey.  A pink or red glow appears once specimen is illuminated with shortwave ultraviolet light (254 nm).

Friday, November 26, 2010

Willemite Mineral


Example of a fluorescent mineral from the famous Franklin, New Jersey locale.  This mineral is Willemite photographed under two different lights.  The fluorescence shows up under shortwave ultraviolet light (254 nm).

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Louisville Zoo Polar Bears Need Our Help

Yikes!  Would not want to be on this bear's Thanksgiving menu.

The Louisville Zoo of Kentucky is building a section called Glacier Run that provides habitat for the seals and sea lions plus the polar and grizzly bears.   If all the money is raised it will also house snowy owls, Steller's sea eagles, and arctic foxes. [Note: No photographers were harmed taking these pictures.]
The zoo has till January 1, 2011 to raise the final $820,000 of $7,700,000 in order to receive a $900,000 challenge grant from the non-profit Kresge Foundation of Troy, Michigan.  The entire project overall has raised approximately $23.9 million.  Parts of the Glacier Run exhibit are already open (the living area for the seals and sea lions).

Allowable matching funds are tax-deductible and can be in the form of
cash or pledges from corporations, foundations and individuals.  Donations can be mailed to:
Jill Kaplan, Director of Development
c/o
Louisville Zoo
1100 Trevilian Way
Louisville Ky. 40213

For information call 502-459-2181 or read the full story at the Courier Journal web site.

These stuffed polar bears are on display at the Discovery Gallery at the Louisville Science Center.  The polar bears were donated back in the 1970s to the museum.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Calcite Crystals


Calcite specimen was at the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum display at the KYANA Geological Society 2010 Show in Louisville, Kentucky.  It might be mixed in with some purple fluorite.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010