Photos of the Day

 This new comet is quite photogenic. Comet Lovejoy, discovered only three months ago, was imaged through ruins of ancient Mörby Castle in Sweden last week sporting a green-glowing coma and tails trailing several degrees. The past few weeks have been an unusually active time for comet watchers as four comets were visible simultaneously with binoculars: ISON, Lovejoy, Encke, and LINEAR. C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) comet is currently visible to the unaided eye from a dark location. As Monday's new Moon will provide little glare, the next few days provide a good time to see Comet Lovejoy as it reaches its peak brightness. In two and a half weeks, Comet Lovejoy will reach its closest approach to the Sun at a distance just inside the orbital distance of the Earth.

The sea caves of the Bay of Fundy have been carved out of Triassic-aged sandstone by the action of relentless tides. Tides here, near St. Martins, New Brunswick, are among the largest in the world -- in excess of 50 ft (about 15 m). The tidal range is accentuated by the funnel shape and orientation of the Bay and by tidal resonance. Waves pushing through the Bay’s entrance and then sloshing back to the sea approximately matches the length of time between high and low tides –- about 12 and a half hours. People visiting the St. Martins area during low or ebb tide are able to walk literally on the sea floor. Photo taken on October 14, 2013.