Yesterday And Tomorrow Islands: Russia’s Big Diomede Sits Closest To The U.S. Mainland Without A Land Border

Discover why Russia is the closest non-bordering country to the U.S. mainland. See distances across the Bering Strait, the Date Line split, and life on Little Diomede.

What makes these islands special?

• You can stand on Little Diomede (U.S.) and see Big Diomede (Russia).

• Only 3.8 kilometers separate the two islands.

• Russia’s Big Diomede is about 40 kilometers from mainland Alaska.

• Cape Dezhnev (Chukotka) and Cape Prince of Wales (Alaska) sit about 82 kilometers apart at the narrowest part of the Bering Strait.

Where did these numbers come from?

• VIIRS on the NASA-NOAA Suomi NPP satellite captured a wide view on June 2, 2017.

• Landsat 8 OLI captured a detailed view on June 6, 2017.

• These images show open water after seasonal ice retreat in June.

What is the “ice curtain”?

• It was a Cold War nickname for the tense passage between the islands.

• The maritime border runs through the water separating the two communities.

Who lives there?

• Little Diomede has a small permanent community.

• The 2010 U.S. census counted about 115 residents.

• Homes sit on the west side, facing Russia and Big Diomede.

How cold does it get?

• Summer averages: 40–50°F.

• Winter averages: 6–10°F.

• Sea ice from the Bering and Chukchi seas reaches into the strait each year.

Why “Yesterday” and “Tomorrow” islands?

• The International Date Line runs between them.

• When you look across from Little Diomede to Big Diomede, you look into the next calendar day.

Use this in your next quiz

• Which country is closest to the U.S. mainland without a land border? Russia.

• What two points mark the Bering Strait’s narrowest stretch? Cape Dezhnev and Cape Prince of Wales.

• How far apart are the Diomede Islands? About 3.8 km.

• Which island sits in the “next day”? Big Diomede.

Want to explore more?

• Map the four key distances: 3.8 km (island to island), 40 km (Big Diomede to Alaska mainland), 82 km (cape to cape), and your own location to the Bering Strait.

• Ask yourself: could you spot the other country with the naked eye on a clear day from your home?

• If you teach geography, turn these facts into a quick classroom challenge with distances on a blank map.

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Useful link: https://swot.jpl.nasa.gov

James Webb Space Telescope Jupiter

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Useful link:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/08/22/webbs-jupiter-images-showcase-auroras-hazes

NASA James Webb Space Telescope First Images

Whenever you look at the sky in a new way, you see things that you didn't expect.

Useful links:

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-62140044

https://www.jwst.nasa.gov

Parker Solar Probe

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has entered the solar atmosphere for the first time ever. Stay curious.

Useful link:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/nasa-enters-the-solar-atmosphere-for-the-first-time-bringing-new-discoveries

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Useful link: https://www.jwst.nasa.gov

NASA's Lucy Mission To Jupiter's Trojan Asteroids

A NASA spacecraft named Lucy has rocketed into the sky with diamonds on a 12 year quest to explore eight asteroids. Seven of the mysterious space rocks are among swarms of asteroids sharing Jupiter's orbit, thought to be the pristine leftovers of planetary formation. Stay curious.

Useful link: 

https://www.nasa.gov/content/live-coverage-of-lucy-mission

Moon - False Color Mosaic

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Useful link:

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/moon-false-color-mosaic

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The researchers from the University of Michigan using NASA's Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (a network of eight microsatellites) have been able to detect and track large quantities of microplastics across the ocean's surface. I hope the research will help responsible cleanup activities and be part of an efficient tracking and managing microplastic pollution. 

Useful link:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/esnt2021/scientists-use-nasa-satellite-data-to-track-ocean-microplastics-from-space

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Half bright half idiots.

Useful links: https://www.theatlantic.com I https://www.jwst.nasa.gov

The Perseverance Rover Landing On Mars

Must watch.

Useful link: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/watch-first-ever-video-of-a-spacecraft-landing-on-mars-from-nasa-perseverance-rover

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A rare metallic asteroid worth an estimated US$10,000,000,000,000,000,000. Take a look.

Useful links: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/31/us/psyche-asteroid-ultraviolet-trnd-scn I https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/asteroids/16-psyche/in-depth

Asteroid 16 Psyche

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Useful links:

https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/rare-psyche-asteroid-worth-way-more-than-the-global-economy-1234577976

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/asteroids/16-psyche/in-depth

https://www.swri.org/press-release/16-psyche-asteroid-surface-observation-ultraviolet-wavelengths

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See where NASA's Mars 2020 mission will go and what it may find.

Useful links:
http://nautil.us/issue/89/the-dark-side/take-our-virtual-trip-to-mars
https://www.omniscope.org

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Useful links:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/30/climate/antarctica-ice-climate-change.html
https://icesat-2.gsfc.nasa.gov

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Useful links:
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/536/voyager-1s-pale-blue-dot
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/02/first-person-see-pale-blue-dot

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NASA will become one customer of many companies. I hope all goes well.

Useful link:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/18/nasa-chief-bridenstine-on-harvesting-rare-earth-metals-from-the-moon.html

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Amazing discovery by NASA.

Useful link:
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/23/us/feat-nasa-kepler-planet-discovery/index.html