Just when you thought smartphone cameras couldn’t get any better, the Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro comes along. Featuring a 6.47-inch display (1080×2340) at a pixel density of 398 pixels per inch (ppi), a 2.2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage and a 5260mAh non-removable battery with fast charging. The highlight is its 108-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.69 aperture; a second 20-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture; a third 12-megapixel camera with an f/2.0 aperture; a fourth 8-megapixel camera and 5-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture, for a total of five rear camera sensors. Up front, there’s a 32-megapixel selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture. Read more for two videos and additional information.
NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover is still investigating Central Butte, or to be more specific a little further up the side of the butte, and the goal is to characterize the different units that can be observed. The Geology (GEO) theme group planned both contact science and remote imaging science, while the team investigates contacts (i.e. boundaries) between what appear to be different units of bedrock here. Read more for a video and additional information.
Many already know that total solar eclipses are a rare sight at any particular location because totality exists only along a narrow path on the Earth’s surface traced by the Moon’s full shadow or umbra, but what if you were to view this phenomenon in space? Well, until space tourism becomes common, not many will get the pleasure of doing so, that is unless…you have access to a high-altitude weather balloon. Read more for a video and additional information.
Photo credit: NASA, ESA, and J. Dalcanton, B.F. Williams, and M. Durbin (University of Washington)
Even though Halloween may be over for 2019, there are still several gems hidden in NASA’s Hubble archives, including this ghostly face that was formed by two galaxies. If you look closely, a pair of glowing eyes glares menacingly can be observed, but what you’re actually looking at is a massive head-on collision between two galaxies. Read more for a video and additional information.
DJI’s Mavic Mini weighs a svelte 0.55-pounds, making it just small enough to not require FAA registration requirement, but in terms of features, it’s definitely no slouch. Offering a 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor capable of recording 2.7K video at 30fps / 1080p video at 60fps, mounted on a 3-axis motorized gimbal, while its removable Lithium Ion battery is good for 30 minutes of flight time on a single charge. Product page. Read more for two videos and additional information.
NASA captured an image on Oct. 8, 2014 of the active regions on the sun resembling something like a Jack-o’-lantern’s face. This spooky photo was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, which watches the sun at all times from its orbit in space. These active regions in this photograph appear brighter due to them emitting more light and energy than their surrounding areas. Read more for a NASA pumpkin carving contest video and additional information.
DJI’s yet to be announced Mavic Mini drone fits in the palm of your hand, and due to its ultra lightweight design, you won’t have to register it with the FAA. This leak comes courtesy of Newegg Canada, and from the data gathered, it weighs in at a svelte 249 grams, which puts it right under the 250 grams limit for FAA registration requirements. Read more for a hands-on video and additional information.
The Polaroid Lab is essentially a desktop darkroom that uses 100% real film chemistry to expose the digital photos on your phone and process them into an analog instant print via the Polaroid Originals companion app. After selecting the desired image from your smartphone using the app, simply place y our handset screen-side down on the platform, push a button, and the image is projected onto a piece of film, creating an instant photo using mirrors, lights and chemistry. Product page. Read more for a hands-on video review and additional information.
Photo credit: Astro Melina via RT
Ever since NASA and ESA gave the public access to its Hubble Space Telescope archives, amateur astronomers have come across some magnificent photographs that would have otherwise gone unnoticed, like this image of an asteroid crossing in front of the Crab Nebula. Melina Thévenot found this image while searching through the archives. However, the asteroid wasn’t spotted until different versions of a 2005 image of the Crab Nebula were processed, combining views taken in blue, green and red filters. Read more for a video about the Crab Nebula and additional information.
Photo credit: Rudy Pohl
Rudy Pohl, an Ottawa-based astrophotographer who has been a space fanatic his entire life has earned recognition from NASA for an incredible image of the aftermath of two galaxies colliding. The smaller neighbor, NGC 7715, located to the left of the featured frame, is thought to have charged right through NGC 7714. The golden ring that you see is composed of millions of older Sun-like stars that are likely co-moving with the interior bluer stars. Read more for a video and additional information.