Wikipedia:Picture of the day/March 2009
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Thesefeatured pictures,as scheduled below, appeared as thepicture of the day(POTD) on the English Wikipedia'sMain Pagein March 2009. Individual sections for each day on this page can be linked to with the day number as theanchorname (e.g.[[Wikipedia:Picture of the day/March 2009#1]]for March 1).
You can add an automatically updating POTD template to youruser pageusing{{Pic of the day}}(version withblurb) or{{POTD}}(version without blurb). For instructions on how to make custom POTD layouts, seeWikipedia:Picture of the day.Purge server cache
March 1
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TheFlorida Box Turtle(Terrapene carolina bauri) isendemicto theU.S. stateofFloridaand the extreme southeastern portion ofGeorgia.It can be found in damp environments, such aswetlands,marshlands,and nearswamps,but usually does not enter water deep enough to swim. Photo credit:Jon Zander
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March 2
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Plate 9 fromA familiar treatise on astronomy(1825) depictingUrsa Major,aconstellationvisible throughout the year in most of thenorthern hemisphere.In European star charts, the constellation was visualized with the 'square' of theBig Dipperforming the bear's body and the chain of stars as a long tail, even though bears do not have long tails. Image credit:Sidney Hall
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March 3
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TheFoyer de la Danse( "foyerof the dance ") within thePalais Garnier,a 2,200-seatopera houseon thePlace de l'OpérainParis,France.A grand landmark designed byCharles Garnierin theNeo-Baroquestyle, it is regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time. Photo credit:Eric Pouhier
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March 4
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Located in theUrner Alpsnear theGrimsel Pass,Switzerland,theRhône Glacieris the source of theRhone Riverand one of the primary contributors toLake Genevain the far eastern end of thecantonofValais. Photo credit:Ikiwaner
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March 5
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ApanoramaofMikumi National ParkinMikumi,Tanzania.The mountain ranges at the mid-ground are theUluguru Mountains,which border the park together with theUdzungwa Mountains.TheSelous Game Reserveis directly adjacent to the south. With an area of 3,230 km2(798,150 acres), it is the fourth largestnational parkin the country. Photo credit:Muhammad Mahdi Karim
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March 6
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Duck and Coverwas acivil defensefilmproduced in 1951 by theUnited States federal government'scivil defensebranch shortly after theSoviet Unionbegannuclear testing.It was shown in schools as the cornerstone of the government's "duck and cover"public awareness campaign. The film suggests that by ducking down low in the event of anuclear explosion,children would be safer than they would be standing, and explains some basic survival tactics fornuclear war. Film credit: Archer Productions, Inc.
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March 7
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AJapanese woodblock printin theukiyo-estyle ofblind monks examining an elephant.Originating fromIndia,the story tells of a group of blind men who touch an elephant to learn what it is like. Each one touches a different part, but only one part. They then compare notes on what they felt, and learn they are in complete disagreement. Artist:Hanabusa Itchō
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March 8
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A view of thesolar eclipse of August 1, 2008,overRussia,Norway,and theArctic Ocean,as seen by NASA'sTerrasatellite. In the area shown in the image, thesunwas completely obscured for about two minutes. AsEarthrotated, the shadow moved southeast across the surface. At the same time, the satellite crossed the Arctic with its path nearly perpendicular to the eclipse. Photo credit:NASA
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March 9
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Swamp Milkweed(Asclepias incarnata) is aherbaceousplant species native toNorth America.It is found growing in damp to wet soils and is also cultivated as a garden plant for its attractive flowers that are visited bybutterflies.Like most othermilkweeds,it has sap with toxic chemicals, used to repelinsectsandherbivorousanimals. Photo credit:Derek Ramsey
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March 10
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Acrab spiderfrom theDiaeagenus (Diaea evanida) with its prey, amoth,on ajonquilflower. MostDiaeaspecies occur in Africa, Asia and the Australian region, with two found in the Americas and two in Europe. Photo credit:Fir0002
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March 11
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Along the River During the Qingming Festivalis a painting from China'sSong Dynastythat captures the daily life of people from the period at the capital, Bianjing, today'sKaifeng.As an artistic creation, the piece has been revered, and court artists of subsequent dynasties have made several re-interpretive replicas. The painting is famous because of its geometrically accurate images of boats, bridges, shops, and scenery. Because of its fame, it has been called "China'sMona Lisa". Artist: Attributed toZhang Zeduan
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March 12
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Atractor drawn aerialbelonging to theLos Angeles Fire Department.This type of fire truck has separatesteering wheelsfor front and rear wheels (the steering device for the rear is sometimes atillerrather than a true steering wheel, thus the alternate name "tiller truck" ). It is often used in areas with narrow streets that prevent longer single-vehicle trucks from entering. Photo credit:Matthew Field
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March 13
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The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulpis a 1632oil paintingbyRembrandtdepicting Dr.Nicolaes Tulpusing acadaverto explain themusculatureof thearmto medical professionals.Anatomylessons were a social event in the 17th century, taking place in lecture rooms that were actual theatres, with students, colleagues and the general public being permitted to attend on payment of an entrance fee. Artist:Rembrandt |
March 14
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TheAmerican Tree Sparrow(Spizella arborea) is a medium-sizedAmerican sparrowfound on thetundraor the northern limits of the boreal forest inAlaskaand northernCanada.These birdsmigrateto theUnited Statesor southernCanadato spend the winter. Photo credit:Mdf |
March 15
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Germanammunitiontrain wrecked byartilleryfire, c. 1918.Rail transportwas a dominant form oftechnology during World War I.Through railways, men andmaterielcould be moved to the front at an unprecedented rate, but they were very vulnerable at the front itself. Thus, advancing armies could only move forward at the pace that they could build or rebuild a railway, such as inthe British advance across Sinai. Photo credit: Schutz Group Photographers |
March 16
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A 1786 depiction of thefirst hot air balloon to carry humans,built by theMontgolfier brothersofAnnonay,France.The flight occurred on 21 November 1783 from the grounds of theChâteau de la Muettein the western outskirts ofParis.Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier,a physician, andFrançois Laurent d'Arlandes,an army officer, flew aloft about 3,000 feet (1,000 m) above the city for a distance of 9 kilometres (6 mi), with a total flying time of 25 minutes. Artist: Unknown |
March 17
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A map of the Greater Dublin Rail Network showingSuburban Rail,Luasand proposedMetroandCommuterlines.Public transport in Dublinis run by a number oftransport operatorsand utiliseselectricanddieseltrains,tramsand an extensivebusnetwork to provide service to theGreater Dublin Area. Map credit:Stabilo boss
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March 18
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Sultan al-Atrashwas a prominentArabDruzeleader,Syrian nationalistand Commander General of theSyrian Revolution(1925–1927). He fought against theOttomans,French,and even against theSyriangovernment in days ofdictatorship.One of the most influential figures in Syrian and Druze history, he played a major role in deciding the destiny ofJabal ad-Duruzand of Syria in general. Photo credit:American Colony, Jerusalem |
March 19
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An illustration fromU.S. Patent#223898 for theincandescent light bulb,issued toThomas Edisonon January 27, 1880. Edison's 1879 effort was the first commercially practical light bulb, coming 75 years after the incandescent lamp was invented by SirHumphry Davy.Twenty-two other people also invented versions of the light bulb, but Edison's version was able to outstrip the others because of a combination of three factors: an effectiveincandescentmaterial, a highervacuumthan others were able to achieve and a highresistancelamp that made power distribution from a centralized source economically viable. Image credit:Thomas Edison
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March 20
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Moultingphase of aSouthern Hawkerdragonfly (Aeshna cyanea).Arthropodspossess anexoskeletonwhich provides support and defends the animal from mechanical injury. The exoskeleton however, is rigid and limits growth, and is periodicallyshed.The new exoskeleton is initially soft but hardens after the moulting of theexuvium(the old one). Photo credit:Böhringer Friedrich
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March 21
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The maindonjonofNagoya Castle,aJapanese castlefound inNagoya,Aichi Prefecture.It was destroyed inWorld War II,but the donjon was reconstructed in 1959, and there are plans to also rebuild Honmaru Palace, which was also located within the castle walls. Photo credit:Samuel Louie
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March 22
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H.M.S. Pinaforewas the fourth collaboration betweenGilbert and Sullivan,and proved spectacularly successful on both sides of the Atlantic. However,United States copyright law of the timedid not respect British copyright, and most of the productions in America—probably including the one here advertised—were unauthorised and gave no income to the creators. In order to attempt to gain American copyright on their next opera,The Pirates of Penzance,the entire company was taken toNew York Cityin order to stage its official première. Image credit: A.S. Seer's Print
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March 23
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Morningfogon theplainsofEast Frisia,a coastal region in the northwest of theGermanfederal stateofLower Saxony.It connectsWestern Frisia(in theNetherlands) with the district ofNordfriesland( "Northern Frisia" ) inSchleswig-Holstein,all of which belong to the historic and geographicFrisia. Photo credit:Matthias Süßen
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March 24
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Recreationalfishermencast their lines in front of theOswego Harbor West Pierhead Light,ca. 1900, inOswego, New York,United States. Thislighthousewas built in 1889 and was in operation until 1934, when it was replaced by the current facility. Photo credit:Detroit Publishing Co.
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March 25
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Pyrotechnicsstuntexhibition by "Giant Auto Rodéo", aBelgianstunt performergroup. Stunt performers typically perform stunts forfilmsortelevision programs.Stunts are sometimes rigged so that they look dangerous while still having safety mechanisms, but often they are as dangerous as they appear to be. Photo credit:Luc Viatour
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March 26
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FrenchactressSarah Bernhardt,in a promotional photograph for her performance as the titular character ofWilliam Shakespeare'sHamletin London, holding the skull ofYorick.The portrayal of a character by an actor of the opposite sex is known asen travesti,a "pseudo-French"term which derives from the misinterpretation oftravesti(thepast participleof the French verbtravestir) as a noun. Before the late 17th century, it was consideredimmoralfor women to appear on stage, and as such, males (usuallyadolescents) would play female roles. With theRestoration of Charles IIin 1660 women started appearing on the English stage in both female and male roles. Photo credit:James Lafayette
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March 27
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TheCone Nebulais located about 2,600light-yearsfrom Earth in the constellationMonocerosand is so named because of its apparent shape. The cone's shape comes from adark nebulaconsisting of cold molecularhydrogenand dust in front of a faintemission nebulacontaining hydrogenionizedbyS Monocerotis,the brightest star ofNGC 2264,of which the nebula is part. This image shows the upper 2.5 light-years of the 7 light-year-long Cone Nebula. Photo credit:Hubble Space Telescope |
March 28
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TheAmerican Green Frog(Rana clamitans) is native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. Green frogs live wherever there is shallowfreshwater:ponds, road-side ditches, lakes, swamps, streams and brooks. The green frog is abundant wherever it occurs. Photo credit:Derek Ramsey
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March 29
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A ca. 1900photochromof theHotel del Coronado,a beachfront luxuryhotelin the city ofCoronado, California,just across theSan Diego BayfromSan Diego.When it opened in 1888, it was the largestresorthotel in the world, and the first to utilize electric lighting. The hotel has been featured in numerous films, includingSome Like It Hot,which was released on March 29, 1959. Image credit:Detroit Publishing Co.
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March 30
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AWorld War I-era poster sponsored by theUnited States Department of Agricultureencouraging children toraise sheepto providewoolfor the war effort. The poster reads, "Twenty sheep to clothe and equip each soldier / Boys and girls can help / Join a sheep club". Poster credit: Breuker & Kessler, Co.
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March 31
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AJapanese woodblock printdepicting three men, likely CommodoreMatthew C. Perry(center), with Commander Anan and Captain Henry Adams, during their meeting with theEmperor of Japan.These meetings led to theConvention of Kanagawawhich openedJapanto the West after centuries ofisolation.The text may be a translation of PresidentMillard Fillmore's letter to the Emperor. Artist: Unknown
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