Adventures of Ash

New results from our Juno mission suggest the planet is home to “shallow lightning.” An unexpected form of electrical discharge, shallow lightning comes from a unique ammonia-water solution. ⁣

⁣It was previously thought that lightning on Jupiter was similar to Earth, forming only in thunderstorms where water exists in all its phases – ice, liquid, and gas. But flashes observed at altitudes too cold for pure liquid water to exist told a different story. This illustration uses data obtained by the mission to show what these high-altitude electrical storms look like. ⁣

Understanding the inner workings of Jupiter allows us to develop theories about atmospheres on other planets and exoplanets! ⁣

Illustration Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Heidi N. Becker/Koji Kuramura⁣

Getting wet can be a big problem for little creatures. But these animals have a secret weapon: tiny roughness on their scales and feathers that helps them shed water. (Image and video credit: N. Sharp; research credit: S. Kim et al.)

2020 June 22

Moon Mountains Magnified during Ring of Fire Eclipse Image Credit & Copyright: Wang Letian (Eyes at Night)

Explanation: What are those dark streaks in this composite image of yesterday’s solar eclipse? They are reversed shadows of mountains at the edge of the Moon. The center image, captured from Xiamen, China, has the Moon’s center directly in front of the Sun’s center. The Moon, though, was too far from the Earth to completely block the entire Sun. Light that streamed around all of the edges of the Moon is called a ring of fire. Images at each end of the sequence show sunlight that streamed through lunar valleys. As the Moon moved further in front of the Sun, left to right, only the higher peaks on the Moon’s perimeter could block sunlight. Therefore, the dark streaks are projected, distorted, reversed, and magnified shadows of mountains at the Moon’s edge. Bright areas are called Bailey’s Beads. Only a narrow swath across Earth’s Eastern Hemisphere was able to see yesterday’s full annular solar eclipse. Next June, though, a narrow swath across Earth’s Northern Hemisphere will be able to see the next annular solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse will be visible at the bottom of the world near the end of this year.

THIS RESOURCE DOCUMENT  was created as a collaborative effort between people who stand in solidarity with Black trans women and some of the foremost Black trans leaders in community and culture.

the document was created to honor the black trans lives that were lost this year, including Nina Pop, Monika Diamond, Tony McDade, Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells, and Riah Milton (re: this statement from the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC).

if you have the means, click here to make donations to a group of Black trans-led organizations in support of the futures of Black trans people.

actions you can take to support Black trans folk in the following topics:

ECONOMIC/HOUSING STABILITY

donate to: 

GLITS - currently fundraising to buy a house for incarcerated trans people

House of GG

The Transgender District

NYC’s Princess Janae’s Place - NY state’s first and only community housing org led by - and for - trans people

The Okra Project for greater food stability

Homeless Black Trans Women fund

provide resources and recruiting methods for the black LGBTQ+ community in your workplace

while waiting for the SCOTUS decision regarding employment discrimination toward LGBTQ+ people, check out transgender law center for resources and this thread of Black trans curators to hire

IMMIGRATION

donate and subscribe to FAMILIA - immigration justice for queer and trans folks

donate and subscribe to El/La Para Trans Latinas

Transgender Law Center and RAICES - assist trans migrants

Trans Latinx Network

The TransLatin@ Coalition - organizes and advocates for the needs of Trans Latines who are immigrants and reside in the US

this list is a more localized list of resources specific to your area

SEX WORK

volunteer and donate to DecrimNY to support their efforts in New York state

Donate to GLITS - advocates for community, housing, and economic stability for transgender people, particularly sex workers; provides immediate needs and crisis support for urgent care

stop SESTA/FOSTA (and demand that political candidates repeal it), which outlawed online communities of sex workers

donate to St. James Infirmary - provides self-defense training for sex workers

The New York Transgender Advocacy Group is a trans-led organization that advocates for more inclusive gender-based policies that benefit TGNCNB individuals through building community leaders, educating practitioners, and influencing policy makers

donate to Urban Justice Center’s Sex Workers Project

INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

donate to Taja’s Coalition, a Black trans-led organization

support any LGBTQ+ organizations that offer shelter or refuge for people in need (click here to find a shelter to support near you)

AVP (Antiviolence Project) - empowers LGBTQ+ and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy

HEALTHCARE

this guide to understanding your rights for acquiring healthcare as a trans or GNC person

donate to Trans Buddy Pittsburgh.

donate to your local LGBTQ Centers.

donate to your local LGBTQ-focused hospitals

make a sustained donation to Planned Parenthood, which continues to support gender affirming and affordable care.

to find out more about how to flip key Senate seats, go to Vote Save America.

to protect voting rights, go to Fair Fight

MEDIA

support and follow the work of Monica Roberts, the leader of this movement, and her blog, TransGriot.

support Black Trans Media.

follow and amplify the work of Black trans journalists (Raquel Willis, Serena Sonoma, Tre’vell Anderson, Tiq Milan, Ashlee Marie Preston, Shar Jossell, Tyler Ford, etc.)

use the hashtags of names of trans women to bring attention, only sharing media sources that properly elevate the women we’ve lost

READ THESE BOOKS:

Redefining Realness by Janet Mock

Surpassing Certainty by Janet Mock

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

I Rise - The Transformation of Toni Newman by Toni Newman

Hiding My Candy by The Lady Chablis

Mi Hermana by Selenis Leyva and Marisol Leyva

The Transsexual from Tobago by Dominique Jackson

Captive Genders: Trans Embodiment and the Prison Industrial Complex by Eric A. Stanley, Nat Smith

Trap Door: Trans Cultural Production and the Politics of Visibility edited by Tourmaline, Eric A. Stanley, and Johanna Burton

Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton

Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon

Fairest by Meredith Talusan

Death Threat by Vivek Shraya

READ THESE ARTICLES:

Black Transgender Justice by National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)

Black Trans Women and Black Trans Femmes: Leading & Living Fiercely by Transgender Law Center

When Black lives matter, Black trans people must be freed from discrimination and violence by Tiq Milan | NBC News (June 9, 2020)

How We Can End the Violence Against Trans Women of Color by Raquel Willis | Out (November 20, 2019)

Education on pronouns from NBJC’s Words Matter Gender Justice Toolkit

How Sylvia Rivera Created the Blueprint for LGBTQ+ Organizing by Raquel Willis | Out (June 2019)

Six LGBTQ+ Activists on What We Should Abolish and Legalize by Misc. | Out (June 2019)

How Essential Is My Facial Feminization Surgery? by Harron Walker | Esquire (June 9, 2020)

FILMS & TV SERIES TO WATCH:

Happy Birthday, Marsha! (Reina Gossett, Sasha Wortzel) — available to rent here

Pose — Netflix

Gun Hill Road — available to rent on YouTube, iTunes

Tangerine — available to watch on Hulu, iTunes

A Fantastic Woman — available to watch on YouTube, Amazon Prime

My House — available to watch on Hulu

Legendary — available to watch on HBO Max

Disclosure (Sam Feder) — Netflix starting on June 19th

Orange is the New Black — Netflix

Paris is Burning — Available to rent

MAJOR! (Annalise Ophelian) — available to rent on Vimeo

VIDEOS TO WATCH:

Black Trans* Lives Matter | D-L Stewart | TEDxCSU

Diamond Stylz on Why Black Trans Rights Are Civil Rights | The Root

Janet Mock at Women’s March: “I Am My Sister’s Keeper”

State of Emergency: Violence Against Trans Women | Commonwealth Club

Why We Need Black Feminisms: Centering Black Feminisms for This Moment & Beyond

PODCASTS TO LISTEN TO:

BGD Podcast hosted by Raquel Willis

Black Trans Lives Matter interview with Imara Jones | WNYC’s Nancy

Inner Hoe Uprising podcast episode 199: The Movement For All Black Lives

Marsha’s Plate: Black Trans Podcast

Never Before with Janet Mock

The Lack of Attention for Violence Against Black Trans People | WNYC’s The Takeaway

MORE RESOURCES FOR TRANS FOLKS:

Callen-Lorde Community Health

On Name Changes, Immigration Rights, Healthcare Rights (Sylvia Rivera Law Project)

For Formerly Incarcerated Trans Folks (Black and Pink)

Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective

Pods & Pod Mapping (making your own safety team) (3)

Transformative Justice & Community Accountability

Video: Don’t be a Bystander: 6 Tips for Responding to Racist Attacks (1)

Video: She Safe, We Safe: A Webinar on State & Gender Violence in Black Communities (2)

Oakland Power Projects: Know Your Options Healthcare Toolkit (4)

Critical Resistance: Addressing Harm, Accountability and Healing (5)

From Words to Action: Showing Up for Black Trans Women by TGIJP