In astronomy, an analemmais a diagram showing the variation of the position of the Sun in the sky over the course of a year, as viewed at a fixed time of day and from a fixed location on the Earth. The north–south component of the analemma is due to change of the Sun’s declination caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis, and the east–west component is due to nonuniform rate of change of the Sun’s right ascension, governed by combined effects of axial tilt and Earth’s orbital eccentricity. The diagram has the form of a slender figure eight, and can often be found on globes of the Earth.
It is possible to photograph the analemma by keeping a camera at a fixed location and orientation and taking multiple exposures throughout the year, always at the same clock time (and accounting for daylight saving time, when and where applicable). Diagrams of analemmas frequently carry marks that show the position of the Sun at various closely spaced dates throughout the year. (The image of the analemma on Mars is only a simulation) (source)
‘you’re back early’ is the most hilarious phrase to me in this context. like, you’re back early. from the moon. which takes days to get back from, and also definitely the assistance of this nasa employee. but somehow we managed it and just decided to drop by nasa for you to make this casual remark. yep. a logical setup to any joke.
“At press time, NASA astronomers had calculated that it would take them approximately 300,000 years to reach the new planet in a space capsule, but unanimously agreed that it was worth a shot rather than ‘spend another day on this stupid lump of shit.’”
Flamingsalyut Safehaven 