Search Icon

Pictures of the day: 29 October 2010

Today: Blue-faced monkeys, Halloween dogs, and the Mars rover.

This picture of the solar chromosphere - the 'atmosphere' of the sun, was taken by American amateur astrophotographer Alan Friedman. Aptly entitled 'Not The Great Pumpkin' the super high resolution image shows sunspots, giant convection cells and gas that follows magnetic loops piercing the sun's surface
This picture of the solar chromosphere - the "atmosphere" of the sun - was taken by American amateur astrophotographer Alan Friedman. Aptly entitled "Not The Great Pumpkin" the super high resolution image shows sunspots, giant convection cells and gas that follows magnetic loops piercing the sun's surface Credit: ALAN FRIEDMAN / BARCROFT MEDIA
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, captured this colourful image of the reflection nebula IRAS 12116-6001. This cloud of interstellar dust cannot be seen directly in visible light, but WISE's detectors observed the nebula at infrared wavelengths. The bright blue star on the right side of the image is the variable star Epsilon Crucis. The green and red colours represent 12- and 22-micron light coming from the nebula's dust grains warmed by nearby stars
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, captured this colourful image of the reflection nebula IRAS 12116-6001. This cloud of interstellar dust cannot be seen directly in visible light, but WISE's detectors observed the nebula at infrared wavelengths. The bright blue star on the right side of the image is the variable star Epsilon Crucis. The green and red colours represent 12- and 22-micron light coming from the nebula's dust grains warmed by nearby stars Credit: AFP / NASA / JPL
This mosaic of images, released by NASA, shows the soil in front of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit after a series of short backward drives during attempts to extricate the rover from a sand trap in January and early February 2010. It is presented in false colour to make some differences between materials easier to see. Bright-toned soil was freshly exposed by the rover's left-front wheel during the drives and can be seen with a 'sand wave' shaping that resulted from the unseen wheel's action. Insets in the upper left and lower right corners of the frame show magnified views of the nearby inscribed rectangles within the mosaic
This mosaic of images, released by NASA, shows the soil in front of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit after a series of short backward drives during attempts to extricate the rover from a sand trap in January and early February 2010. It is presented in false colour to make some differences between materials easier to see. Bright-toned soil was freshly exposed by the rover's left-front wheel during the drives and can be seen with a "sand wave" shaping that resulted from the unseen wheel's action. Insets in the upper left and lower right corners of the frame show magnified views of the nearby inscribed rectangles within the mosaic Credit: REUTERS / NASA / JPL
A plucky wolf flees after attempting to join a giant grizzly bear for breakfast in the Yellowstone national park in Wyoming, USA
A plucky wolf flees after attempting to join a giant grizzly bear for breakfast in the Yellowstone national park in Wyoming, USA Credit: Rob Daugherty/BNPS
Telegraph reader Ros Hurn sent us this photo of a sparrow hawk standing on a pigeon. She took the photo in her garden. If you'd like us to consider one of your photos for a picture gallery, email it to mypic@telegraph.co.uk
Telegraph reader Ros Hurn sent us this photo of a sparrow hawk standing on a pigeon. She took the photo in her garden. If you'd like us to consider one of your photos for a picture gallery, email it to mypic@telegraph.co.uk Credit: ROS HURN
A keeper handles an eagle, during a visit by Norwegian King Harald V and his wife Sonjia to a museum located in a chateau in Svaty Anton near the city of Banska Stiavnica in Slovakia
A keeper handles an eagle, during a visit by Norwegian King Harald V and his wife Sonjia to a museum located in a chateau in Svaty Anton near the city of Banska Stiavnica in Slovakia Credit: AFP/GETTY
A cold spell this spring caused a food crisis for Golden monkeys, an endangered Chinese species. They have therefore started coming to a local village for food. The local government has set up a reservation area in the Huayang forest area of Yangxian County, Shaanxi Province, China, to feed a group of some 150 Golden Monkeys in case they suffer from extreme weather conditions again
A cold spell this spring caused a food crisis for Golden monkeys, an endangered Chinese species. They have therefore started coming to a local village for food. The local government has set up a reservation area in the Huayang forest area of Yangxian County, Shaanxi Province, China, to feed a group of some 150 Golden Monkeys in case they suffer from extreme weather conditions again Credit: KPA / ZUMA / REX FEATURES
Orangutan Kejutan drinks water from a pumpkin during a Halloween breakfast at the Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg
Orangutan Kejutan drinks water from a pumpkin during a Halloween breakfast at the Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg Credit: REUTERS
Six-year-old miniature Yorkshire terrier Alfie gets ready for Halloween in Aveley, Essex
Six-year-old miniature Yorkshire terrier Alfie gets ready for Halloween in Aveley, Essex Credit: Emma Cattell / Rex Features
Elliot, a pug owned by Allison Snider, wears a frog costume at a Halloween party for pug owners among teachers, staff and friends at Riverside Elementary School in Brainerd, Minnesota, US
Elliot, a pug owned by Allison Snider, wears a frog costume at a Halloween party for pug owners among teachers, staff and friends at Riverside Elementary School in Brainerd, Minnesota, US Credit: AP
Cheryl Clark finishes adjusting a vampire costume on her chihuahua Beaner before competing in the Fantasy Fest Pet Masquerade in Key West, Florida
Cheryl Clark finishes adjusting a vampire costume on her chihuahua Beaner before competing in the Fantasy Fest Pet Masquerade in Key West, Florida Credit: AP
Buster the dog sits on a motorcycle with a supporter of Delaware Republican senatorial candidate Christine O'Donnell before a rally in Dover, Delaware
Buster the dog sits on a motorcycle with a supporter of Delaware Republican senatorial candidate Christine O'Donnell before a rally in Dover, Delaware Credit: REUTERS
A photo released by the police in Iserlohn, Germany, shows a dachshund that caused a 90-minute police operation. The animal hid underneath a car and all attempts of the car-owner to get the dog out failed. Even the police officers struggled to get the animal out, because it reacted offensively at first and then hid underneath a police car
A photo released by the police in Iserlohn, Germany, shows a dachshund that caused a 90-minute police operation. The animal hid underneath a car and all attempts of the car-owner to get the dog out failed. Even the police officers struggled to get the animal out, because it reacted offensively at first and then hid underneath a police car Credit: EPA
In this image provided by Victoria Police, a car is pictured after it crashed into a bedroom of a house in Melbourne, Australia, in the early hours of Friday. The sole occupant of the house was in another room at the time of the accident and was about to go to bed when the car came crashing through his bedroom
In this image provided by Victoria Police, a car is pictured after it crashed into a bedroom of a house in Melbourne, Australia, in the early hours of Friday. The sole occupant of the house was in another room at the time of the accident and was about to go to bed when the car came crashing through his bedroom Credit: AP / Victoria Police
Family and friends gather around Travis Ransom, brother of shark attack victim Lucas Ransom, during a paddle-out memorial near the Oceanside Pier in California. Lucas Ransom, 19, was killed last week in a shark attack while boogie-boarding in the surf line about 100 yards off of Surf Beach
Family and friends gather around Travis Ransom, brother of shark attack victim Lucas Ransom, during a paddle-out memorial near the Oceanside Pier in California. Lucas Ransom, 19, was killed last week in a shark attack while boogie-boarding in the surf line about 100 yards off of Surf Beach Credit: AP
Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner stands next of the coffin of her late husband, former President Nestor Kirchner, in this image provided by the Argentine presidency during his wake in the Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires
Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner stands next of the coffin of her late husband, former President Nestor Kirchner, in this image provided by the Argentine presidency during his wake in the Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires Credit: REUTERS/ARGENTINE PRESIDENCY
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva embraces Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, next to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, during the wake of late former Argentine President Nestor Kirchner
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva embraces Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, next to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, during the wake of late former Argentine President Nestor Kirchner Credit: AFP/GETTY
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva shows his hands, dirty with the first extraction of pre-salt oil, at the Petrobras platform RJS660/Angra dos Reis on the Tupi oil field basin in the Atlantic Ocean
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva shows his hands, dirty with the first extraction of pre-salt oil, at the Petrobras platform RJS660/Angra dos Reis on the Tupi oil field basin in the Atlantic Ocean. He lost the little finger on his left hand in an accident at a car parts factory when he was 19 Credit: AFP/GETTY
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrives for a European Union summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrives for a European Union summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels Credit: AFP/GETTY
Mount Merapi emits hot clouds of lava and volcanic ash as seen from Kali Tengah Lor district in Sleman, Indonesia. Vulcanologists said the activity was not a fresh eruption but could help stabilise the mountain following its deadly eruption on October 26
Mount Merapi emits hot clouds of lava and volcanic ash as seen from Kali Tengah Lor district in Sleman, Indonesia. Vulcanologists said the activity was not a fresh eruption but could help stabilise the mountain following its deadly eruption on October 26 Credit: AFP/GETTY
A cemetery is pictured covered with ash in Kinah Rejo village, Indonesia, after Mount Merapi's violent eruption
A cemetery is pictured covered with ash in Kinah Rejo village, Indonesia, after Mount Merapi's violent eruption Credit: AFP/GETTY
Autumn leaves lay among the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, USA
Autumn leaves lay among the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, USA Credit: AP
A Wildlife Trusts photo of a rare 'bearded tooth' fungus which has been discovered at a site in Surrey. The fungus, which is also known as 'lion's mane', 'monkey head' and 'tree hedgehog', is virtually confined to old deciduous woodlands in south east and south west England, where it grows on tree trunks
A Wildlife Trusts photo of a rare "bearded tooth" fungus which has been discovered at a site in Surrey. The fungus, which is also known as "lion's mane", "monkey head" and "tree hedgehog", is virtually confined to old deciduous woodlands in south east and south west England, where it grows on tree trunks. It is used in Chinese medicine to treat digestive upsets and stimulate the immune system, and research is under way into using it to treat digestive tract cancers. It is a culinary delicacy in the US, and is cultivated on "artificial logs" for cooking Credit: Wildlife Trusts / PA
Baseball fans wear black beards in support of San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Brian Wilson before game two of Major League Baseball's World Series in San Francisco
Baseball fans wear black beards in support of San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Brian Wilson before game two of Major League Baseball's World Series in San Francisco Credit: REUTERS
Fans watch the game beneath a giant Coca Cola bottle and baseball glove during game two of the 2010 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers at AT&T Park in San Francisco
Fans watch the game beneath a giant Coca Cola bottle and baseball glove during game two of the 2010 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers at AT&T Park in San Francisco Credit: EPA
Culture and Tourism Ministry contract employees, standing on top of the Propylaea in the archaelogical site of the Acropolis of Athens, hold a banner that reads 'No to lay-offs'. The protesting contract workers demand permanent jobs and 22 months back pay
Culture and Tourism Ministry contract employees, standing on top of the Propylaea in the archaelogical site of the Acropolis of Athens, hold a banner that reads 'No to lay-offs'. The protesting contract workers demand permanent jobs and 22 months back pay Credit: EPA
Maria Jose Zavarce, representing Lara state, falls during the Miss Venezuela 2010 beauty pageant in Maracaibo
Maria Jose Zavarce, representing Lara state, falls during the Miss Venezuela 2010 beauty pageant in Maracaibo Credit: AP
A Simples Life - My Life & Times, the autobiography of comparethemeerkat.com founder Aleksandr Orlov, which went on sale at a pop-up store on London's Regent Street
A Simples Life - My Life & Times, the autobiography of comparethemeerkat.com founder Aleksandr Orlov, which went on sale at a pop-up store on London's Regent Street Credit: comparethemarket / PA
A woman cleanses a young man at the Temple of San Simon in San Andres Iztapa, Guatemala City. Thousands of devotees will celebrate Saint Simon's day, considered the patron of the most marginal people in society
A woman cleanses a young man at the Temple of San Simon in San Andres Iztapa, Guatemala City. Thousands of devotees will celebrate Saint Simon's day, considered the patron of the most marginal people in society Credit: AFP/GETTY
Roman Piekarski makes a start to changing the time on one of more than 600 cuckoo clocks at his museum before the clocks go back on Sunday morning. Cuckooland Museum, in Tabley, Cheshire, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year
Roman Piekarski makes a start to changing the time on one of more than 600 cuckoo clocks at his museum before the clocks go back on Sunday morning. Cuckooland Museum, in Tabley, Cheshire, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year Credit: PA