Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2023 February 12
   [2]An unremarkable red building is seen past a large parking lot. Above
   them both are a bank of very unusual clouds with many nodules pointing
      down. The scene is lit by sunlight from the side. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                        Mammatus Clouds over Nebraska
              Image Credit & Copyright: Jorn Olsen Photography

   Explanation: When do cloud bottoms appear like bubbles? Normally,
   [3]cloud bottoms are flat. This is because moist warm air that rises
   and cools will [4]condense into water droplets at a specific
   temperature, which usually corresponds to a very specific height. As
   water [5]droplets grow, an opaque cloud forms. Under some conditions,
   however, [6]cloud pockets can develop that contain large droplets of
   water or [7]ice that fall into clear air as they evaporate. Such
   [8]pockets may occur in [9]turbulent air near a [10]thunderstorm.
   Resulting [11]mammatus clouds can appear especially [12]dramatic if
   [13]sunlit from the side. The [14]mammatus clouds [15]pictured here
   were photographed over [16]Hastings, [17]Nebraska during 2004 June.

                     Tomorrow's picture: airglow chateau
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    Authors & editors: [29]Robert Nemiroff ([30]MTU) & [31]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([32]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [33]Specific rights apply.
              [34]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [35]ASD at [36]NASA / [37]GSFC,
                         [38]NASA Science Activation
                           & [39]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2302/mammatus_olson_1024.jpg
   3. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-01/flat-bottom-clouds-and-the-science-behind-them/12591230
   4. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10387
   5. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/GlobalClouds/
   6. https://www.globe.gov/web/s-cool/home/observation-and-reporting/cloud-type
   7. https://gpm.nasa.gov/resources/faq/what-are-clouds-made-are-they-more-likely-form-polluted-air-or-pristine-air
   8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket
   9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbulence
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170226.html
  11. http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/cldtyp/oth/mm.rxml
  12. https://youtu.be/0uLRHfw7TF0
  13. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/11/dd/61/11dd6174e69c390dc90be5a517e9fb1c.jpg
  14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammatus_clouds
  15. https://jornolsen.com/products.php?cat=8
  16. https://youtu.be/b-o5WpJgC6c
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230211.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  22. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  27. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=230212
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230213.html
  29. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  30. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  31. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  32. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  34. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  35. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  38. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  39. http://www.mtu.edu/