Cool Pic Archive #4

Cool Pic Archive Pages

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These images have been chosen for their uniqueness. Subject matter ranges from historic events, to really cool phenomena in science and engineering, to relevant place, to ingenious contraptions, to interesting products (which now has its own dedicated Featured Product category).

Here is an impressive electronic version (the Enigma-E) of the infamous WWII German Enigma coding machine. Both the electronic and the woodworking skills are exemplary. This showpiece is available in kit form.Here is an impressive electronic version (the Enigma-E) of the infamous WWII German Enigma coding machine. Both the electronic and the woodworking skills are exemplary. This showpiece is available in kit form.

This is a portion of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, which occupies an area of over 5 degrees in the sky, and consists of thousands of galaxies (look closely and you'll see scores of them). A totally dark sky and a pair of binoculars will allow you to see a good portion of this, but a low magnification eyepiece in an 8" telescope will have you in awe!This is a portion of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, which occupies an area of over 5 degrees in the sky, and consists of thousands of galaxies (look closely and you'll see scores of them). A totally dark sky and a pair of binoculars will allow you to see a good portion of this, but a low magnification eyepiece in an 8" telescope will have you in awe!

5th Combat Communications Group Radar Maintenance Shop assembling an MPN-14 mobile radar at Robins AFB, GA (circa 1981).This photo and more, along with a [very] brief history of my tour of duty there can be seen by clicking on this image.5th Combat Communications Group Radar Maintenance Shop assembling an MPN-14 mobile radar at Robins AFB, GA (circa 1981).This photo and more, along with a [very] brief history of my tour of duty there can be seen by clicking on this image.

What is called "The Tapestry," hanging on Jim William's living room wall, is actually the nose cone of a Minuteman missile, its circuit cards laid out end-to-end around the core memory.What is called "The Tapestry," hanging on Jim William's living room wall, is actually the nose cone of a Minuteman missile, its circuit cards laid out end-to-end around the core memory.

First production massive Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine with 116 inch fan producing 81,000 pounds of thrust for the equally massive Airbus A380. First production massive Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine with 116 inch fan producing 81,000 pounds of thrust for the equally massive Airbus A380.

Bill Gates' 66,000 sq.ft., $50M mansion along east the bank of Lake Washington.Bill Gates' 66,000 sq.ft., $50M mansion along east the bank of Lake Washington.

Technician crawling on 10-meter diameter aluminum sphere of the world's most energetic laser at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. $3.4B after completion in 2008. 2 MJ of UV laser light, with short pulses of 500 TW.Technician crawling on 10-meter diameter aluminum sphere of the world's most energetic laser at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. $3.4B after completion in 2008. 2 MJ of UV laser light, with short pulses of 500 TW.

An incredible shot of Mt. Fuji taken by an RF engineer co-worker of mine during a trip to Japan.An incredible shot of Mt. Fuji taken by an RF engineer co-worker of mine during a trip to Japan.

This is "The Lightning Field" - an installation located at 7,200 feet in New Mexico and based on a computer-modeled grid of lightning rods, by earthscape artist Walter De Maria. Featured in the February 2004, Popular Science.This is "The Lightning Field" - an installation located at 7,200 feet in New Mexico and based on a computer-modeled grid of lightning rods, by earthscape artist Walter De Maria. Featured in the February 2004, Popular Science.

On July 8, 2004, Micron CEO Steve Appleton crashed in his Extra 300 aerobatic plane (same type flown by Patty Wagstaff). He and his passenger walked away from it. Steve owns and runs Appleton Air Sports, in Boise, ID, which has quite an inventory of aircraft, including two Hawker military jets. See his website at https://www.appletonairsports.com/On July 8, 2004, Micron CEO Steve Appleton crashed in his Extra 300 aerobatic plane (same type flown by Patty Wagstaff). He and his passenger walked away from it. Steve owns and runs Appleton Air Sports, in Boise, ID, which has quite an inventory of aircraft, including two Hawker military jets. See his website here.

This enhanced infrared image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), aboard NASA’s Terra satellite, shows widespread contrails over the southeastern United States during the morning of January 29, 2004.This enhanced infrared image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), aboard NASA's Terra satellite, shows widespread contrails over the southeastern United States during the morning of January 29, 2004.

Towering (literally) rime iceTowering (literally) rime ice.

This is a magnetic core memory stack of 13x4096bits. It is about an 8 inch cube. The IFF radar system I worked on in the Air Force used a 1 kB magnetic core memory.This is a magnetic core memory stack of 13x4096bits. It is about an 8 inch cube. The IFF radar system I worked on in the Air Force used a 1 kB magnetic core memory.

This is a marvel of architectural engineering that existed in Mankato, MN (I saw it while living in nearby Waseca). Unfortunately, it no longer exists - a national treasure lost.This is a marvel of architectural engineering that existed in Mankato, MN (I saw it while living in nearby Waseca). Unfortunately, it no longer exists - a national treasure lost.

Mrs. Röntgen's hand - the world's first x-ray. The "X" stood for  "unknown."Mrs. Röntgen's hand - the world's first x-ray. The "X" stood for "unknown."