Road Trip 2009 picture of the day: What is it?

What is this yellow sphere? Tell me and you could win a nice giveaway.

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

ARCO, Idaho--Every day on Road Trip 2009, I'm seeing eye-catching things I've never seen before. And every day, I'm seeing things that I'm familiar with that still manage to make me smile, or laugh, or shake my head.

And so, as you might guess--or have seen if you've read any of the stories I've written or photo galleries I've posted during the last two and a half weeks--I've been taking a whole lot of pictures. Nearly 4,000, so far, in fact.

From now until Road Trip is over, I will do my very best to post a daily photo and ask a question about it. If you're the first person to answer the question correctly, or provide the information I'm looking for, then I'll offer you a nice gift in return.

For Wednesday, I want to know what this yellow sphere is. Walking through this tiny town near the Craters of the Moon, I saw two of them on a back street. I have a theory on what they might be, but I thought it would be fun to hear your ideas. After all, when I posted a photo of an extremely cool, steampunk-looking object from Utah two years ago, I got plenty of answers, including many that were spot on.

So, e-mail me at daniel--dot--terdiman--at--cnet--dot--com and let's hear your ideas on what this is. And then please stay tuned for the Road Trip picture of the day throughout the rest of the project.

For the next several weeks, Geek Gestalt will be on Road Trip 2009. After driving more than 12,000 miles in the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest, and the Southeast over the last three years, I'll be writing about and photographing the best in technology, science, military, nature, aviation and more in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and Colorado. If you have a suggestion for someplace to visit, drop me a line. And in the meantime, join the Road Trip 2009 Facebook page and follow my Twitter feed.

[sinatra87]

are there markings on the poles? is it used to measure snow depth?

[DatabaseDoctor]

Its a political idiocy meter. The higher the yellow float is in the frame, the more political BS we're experiencing. Notice that it's at its maximum level.

[tektaktyks]

it is measuring the earthquakes?
ps :@DatabaseDoctor-very funny

[tektaktyks]

it is measuring the earthquakes? or its a genetically engineered potato
ps :@DatabaseDoctor-very funny

[sinatra87]

I know that ARCO Idaho was the first town to use nuclear power as a source of electricity. Is the sphere somehow related to measuring nuclear radiation levels. Forgive me if i know nothing of which i am talking about.

[tyndmar]

as Arco was the home of the world's first nuclear reactor, would this be some type of dosimeter?

[tolnay]

Maybe it's a compost container. Suspended to keep critters out.

[bigguy1951]

Perhaps it is some sort of liquid natural gas or propane storage.

[higleydc]

Seismometers within the yellow spheres record ground motion generated by seismic waves traveling through the earth's mantle.

[filcano]

It's an Idahoan UFO hitching post, link related.
http://www.nuforc.org/webreports/027/S27783.html

[gthoennes]

Transponder beacon.

[Lord_Wheezy]

It goes on high voltage power lines to provide visibility to aircraft.

[mayhem6ix]

I think that is correct, I have seen them installed above the Mississippi river from a helicopter by a guy hanging off of it. I often wondered if he got hazard pay for that....

[Been_there_Saw_it_before]

So what is the steam punk object? My guess is a piece of harvesting equipment, possibly potatos.

[dsmaltais]

Could this be a satellite dish protector from snow and ice buildup. In North America during winter this can be a problem for satellite TV users. Accumulation of snow and ice on the satellite TV dish antenna is one of several causes of poor signal strength.

[maggie99]

did you ever tell us what it is? If so I missed it.

[darkmyst85]

its a Emergency Air Sphere, I have seen one at the oak ridge facility that created the first nuclear bomb, http://www.photographyserved.com/Gallery/Slouching-towards-Bethlehem-___/56780
its in the 9th picture from the top.