Camera
NASA’s Curiosity rover photographs rare shimmering clouds on the Red Planet
While NASA’s Perseverance rover has been getting a lot of attention following its arrival on Mars in February, the Curiosity rover is still working on the Martian surface, where it’s been since August 2012. Curiosity continues to make important discoveries on the Red Planet. Last week, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced that Curiosity had captured images of shining clouds on Mars.
Clouds don’t often form in the thin and dry atmosphere of Mars. NASA writes that ‘Clouds are typically found at the planet’s equator in the coldest time of year, when Mars is the farthest from the Sun in its oval-shaped orbit.’ However, a Martian year ago – two Earth years – scientists observed that clouds formed over the Curiosity rover earlier than expected.
Armed with that observation, the Curiosity team was ready to document ‘early’ clouds this year. They first appeared in late January as wispy puffs. These clouds were filled with ice crystals, which scattered light at sunset. This scattering of light resulted in a colorful, spectacular display and a rare one on Mars.
Caption for the above GIF: ‘This GIF shows clouds drifting over Mount Sharp on Mars, as viewed by NASA’s Curiosity rover on March 19, 2021, the 3,063rd Martian day, or sol, of the mission. Each frame of the scene was stitched together from six individual images.’ Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
The clouds are more than just nice to look at. They’re also important pieces of the puzzle when trying to understand how clouds form on Mars. The Curiosity team discovered that the early-arrival clouds formed at higher than typical altitudes. ‘Most Martian clouds hover no more than about 60 km (30 mi) in the sky and are composed of water ice. But the clouds Curiosity has imaged are at a higher altitude, where it’s very cold, indicating that they are likely made of frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice.’ Scientists must look very carefully at data and images to determine if the images Curiosity recently captured show water-ice clouds or dry-ice clouds. The analysis is ongoing.
The clouds above were viewed just after sunset when the ice crystals catch the fading light, which makes them appear to glow against the darkening sky. The clouds, also known as ‘noctilucent’ clouds, glow brighter as they accumulate more ice crystals and ‘then darken when the Sun’s position in the sky drops below their altitude.’ This is one way that scientists can try to determine the altitude of the observed clouds.
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| ‘NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover spotted these iridescent, or ‘mother of pearl,’ clouds on March 5, 2021, the 3,048th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. Seen here are five frames stitched together from a much wider panorama taken by the rover’s Mast Camera, or Mastcam.’ Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS |
The iridescent clouds seen above, also known as ‘mother of pearl’ clouds, are caused by the cloud particles being all nearly identical in size. Mark Lemmon, an atmospheric scientist with the Space Science Institute in Boulder, CO, said, ‘That’s usually happening just after the clouds have formed and have all grown at the same rate.’ Lemmon adds, ‘I always marvel at the colors that show up: reds and greens and blues and purples. It’s really cool to see something shining with lots of color on Mars.’ If you were on Mars, standing next to the rover, you’d be able to see the colors with the naked eye, although they’d appear fainter than in the image above.
Caption for above GIF: ‘Using the navigation cameras on its mast, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover took these images of clouds just after sunset on March 31, 2021, the 3,075th sol, or Martian day, of the mission.’ Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
If you’d like to learn more about the Curiosity Mars rover, visit NASA’s dedicated Curiosity website. You can also read about the selfie Curiosity sent back to Earth this spring by clicking here. To read about the Mars Exploration Program, visit NASA.
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Pedestrians with umbrellas wander down a rainy alley in Yokohama’s Chinatown.
Panasonic S5IIX + Panasonic S 28-200mm F4-7.1 | F7 | 1/125 sec | ISO 1600 |
Japan is one of my favorite places to travel. I’m captivated by its culture, cuisine, and the warmth of its people. It’s also a photographer’s paradise, offering endless possibilities, from serene temples and bustling markets to breathtaking landscapes.
My favorite type of photography when traveling in Japan is street photography, especially at night. I never tire of exploring the vibrant cityscapes, from the iconic Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo to the atmospheric alleys of Yokohama’s Chinatown.
However, there’s a twist: I seek out rainy conditions. While most travelers might not embrace a downpour, I find that rain transforms nighttime street photography into something magical. The umbrellas emerge, the city lights reflect off the wet pavement, and colors take on a vibrant intensity.
I was fortunate to visit Japan twice this year, and it rained both times. What some might consider lousy weather, I welcome as luck. Both my camera and I were thoroughly drenched during several nights of shooting, underscoring the value of weather-sealed equipment. (For the record, despite being so wet they were dripping with water, neither camera nor lens ever missed a beat.)
“While most travelers might not embrace a downpour, I find that rain transforms nighttime street photography into something magical.”
Unsurprisingly, some of my most memorable photos of 2024 were captured during these rain-soaked adventures. It’s challenging to select just one favorite because, as many of you will surely understand, how we remember the value of an image is often intertwined with the experience of capturing it.
The photo at the top of this page is one of my favorites from these trips, captured in Yokohama’s Chinatown. Off the main street, the area is full of narrow alleys, many decorated with traditional lanterns, creating small, intimate spaces. I spied these two pedestrians with similar coats and umbrellas turn into one of these alleys and instantly knew there was a potential photo around the corner.
I managed to fire off two shots before the scene lost its magic, but that’s all I needed. I love that you can’t see the main subjects’ faces. They remain anonymous, allowing the viewer to focus on the place rather than the person.
|
Pedestrians with umbrellas wander down a rainy alley in Yokohama’s Chinatown.
Panasonic S5IIX + Panasonic S 28-200mm F4-7.1 | F7 | 1/125 sec | ISO 1600 |
Japan is one of my favorite places to travel. I’m captivated by its culture, cuisine, and the warmth of its people. It’s also a photographer’s paradise, offering endless possibilities, from serene temples and bustling markets to breathtaking landscapes.
My favorite type of photography when traveling in Japan is street photography, especially at night. I never tire of exploring the vibrant cityscapes, from the iconic Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo to the atmospheric alleys of Yokohama’s Chinatown.
However, there’s a twist: I seek out rainy conditions. While most travelers might not embrace a downpour, I find that rain transforms nighttime street photography into something magical. The umbrellas emerge, the city lights reflect off the wet pavement, and colors take on a vibrant intensity.
I was fortunate to visit Japan twice this year, and it rained both times. What some might consider lousy weather, I welcome as luck. Both my camera and I were thoroughly drenched during several nights of shooting, underscoring the value of weather-sealed equipment. (For the record, despite being so wet they were dripping with water, neither camera nor lens ever missed a beat.)
“While most travelers might not embrace a downpour, I find that rain transforms nighttime street photography into something magical.”
Unsurprisingly, some of my most memorable photos of 2024 were captured during these rain-soaked adventures. It’s challenging to select just one favorite because, as many of you will surely understand, how we remember the value of an image is often intertwined with the experience of capturing it.
The photo at the top of this page is one of my favorites from these trips, captured in Yokohama’s Chinatown. Off the main street, the area is full of narrow alleys, many decorated with traditional lanterns, creating small, intimate spaces. I spied these two pedestrians with similar coats and umbrellas turn into one of these alleys and instantly knew there was a potential photo around the corner.
I managed to fire off two shots before the scene lost its magic, but that’s all I needed. I love that you can’t see the main subjects’ faces. They remain anonymous, allowing the viewer to focus on the place rather than the person.
| Image: Godox |
Godox has announced the V100, a 100Ws version of its round-headed V1 on/off camera flashgun. The V100 can deliver up to 100 Watt Seconds of power in manual mode and can shoot over 70 consecutive bursts of light at full power. Recycle times of under 1 sec are possible when used with an external power source (1.7 sec with the internal battery).
Like the existing V1 and V1Pro, the V100 is available in versions compatible with the proprietary TTL flash metering systems of Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm or Olympus/OM System, each of which comes with a small secondary flash that can be used to provide a little ‘fill.’ It also has a 2W LED modeling lamp, to help you understand how its light is going to fall.
Godox says it’s able to sync with the global shutter of Sony’s a9 III, up to shutter speeds of 1/80,000, though the company also says the V100’s minimum flash duration is 1/20,000, so presumably 1/80,000 sec shutter speeds would only experience a fraction of that output.
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| Image: Godox |
The V100 is powered by a rechargeable Li-Ion battery that can be charged directly using a USB-C cable or in an optional multi-battery charger if you need to prepare multiple batteries before a shoot.
It’s compatible with the company’s 2.4Ghz radio frequency off-camera communication protocol either as a transmitter or receiver.
Buy now:
No details have been given about price or availability but it’s listed as “Coming Soon” on B&H Photo’s website with a price of $349. B&H is also listing a Pentax-compatible version, not listed on Godox’s website.
Godox V100 C/N/S/F/O
Power Beyond Limits, 100Ws at Hand
Introducing the epic 100Ws TTL Li-ion Round Head Camera Flash V100. The Godox V100 redefines the standards for flagship on-camera flashes, brining an era of 100Ws power to handheld lighting. This groundbreaking flash delivers global shutter sync, a vibrant 2.3-inch color touchscreen, an intuitive menu, and one-tap syn operations. It combine cutting-edge features and professional-grade performance to provide an ultimate solution for professional lighting.
100Ws, Beyond Limits
The V100 sets a new benchmark for on-camera flashes by offering an unprecedented 100Ws power at its maximum output (M mode). With adjustable power steps from 1/1 to 1/256 or from 2.0 to 10, it covers the spectrum from subtle fill light to robust lighting for diverse scenarios, pushing the boundaries of creativity in flash photography.
Intuitive Touchscreen, Effortless Control
Equipped with a 2.3” full-color, high-sensitivity touchscreen, the V100 offers a smooth and responsive interface. Paired with an intuitive menu design and logical control layout, it allows photographers to quickly adjust power levels, activate high-speed sync, switch between TTL/M modes, and pair devices with a single tap, significantly improving workflow efficiency.
Global Shutter Flash Sync
The V100 is seamlessly compatible with cameras featuring global shutter like Sony a9 III. Supporting shutter speeds up to 1/80,000 seconds and offering TTL functionality, it delivers outstanding high-speed continuous shooting with effortless precision. This makes it an ideal choice for sports photography, outdoor bright light, and other fast-paced shooting scenarios.
70 Full-Power Consecutive Flashes
Thanks to its advanced cooling system, the V100 delivers 70 to 100 consecutive flashes at 100Ws without compromising performance. This ensures enhanced shooting efficiency and flexibility, allowing you to handle complex scenarios with ease and capture every brilliant moment of your creative vision.
| Zoom range (mm) | 28mm | 35mm | 50mm | 70mm | 80mm | 105mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous flashes (100Ws) |
75 | 75 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 100 |
Detachable Sub Flash
The V100 continues the highly praised detachable sub flash (SU-1) design from the V1 Pro. This versatile feature enables dual-light setups with a single flash, offering creative lighting solutions for portrait photography.
Wireless Sync, Streamlined Workflow
With the built-in Godox 2.4G Wireless X System, the V100 functions as both a master and receiver unit. Its one-tap pairing capability seamlessly integrates with the X3 trigger or other Godox wireless flash units, streamlining multi-flash setups and boosting productivity.
Powerful Battery, Convenient Charging
Powered by the same high-performance lithium battery as the V1 Pro, the V100 ensures uninterrupted shooting. The Type-C charging port and compatibility with the VC26T Multi-Battery Charger make recharging quick and convenient.
Enhanced Recycling with External Power
The V100 includes a port for the PB960 Lithium-Ion Flash Power Pack, reducing full-power recycling time to as fast as 0.8 seconds. This feature supports demanding, high-intensity shooting scenarios, ensuring peak performance.
Built-In LED Modeling Lamp
A 2W LED modeling lamp with 10 adjustable levels provides flexible options for previewing light effects or serving as a fill light. The lamp supports continuous or interrupt modes, catering to different creative needs.
Comprehensive Accessory Ecosystem
The V100 is compatible with a broad range of Godox accessories, including the AK-R1 Accessory Kit for Round Flash Heads, AK-R21 Projection Attachment, AK-R22 Collapsible Diffusion Dome, and the S2 Speedlite Bracket for Bowens, among others. Whether you’re fine-tuning light, exploring creative effects, or expanding functionality, the V100 is designed to meet every need.
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