Image source: Iberdrola
Meteorites & Moons
If you have been alarmed at the recent meteorite events in Ohio and Texas, rest assured they are nothing new. Every single day tons of outer space material land on the surface of our member of the solar system. Particles the size of a grain of salt are the norm, but the larger ones leave a visible track as they streak into our atmosphere, heating up the gases and creating sonic booms to draw attention to them. Nowadays almost every person has a cell phone camera ready to take a picture and post it to the various venues available for the world to see and exclaim about. The sporadic rate of meteors is about half a dozen an hour on a moonless night with dark skies.
I hope that you have been out walking in the evening this week and observed the changing phase of our moon. The shadows of the maria may look like a rabbit or a face, depending on how imaginative you are. The illumination from the Sun traveling to our eye here on Earth is truly awesome. Taking the time to think about the physics or the biology of how we see it only seems to add to the mystique and adds a new dimension to observing. I do hope that your (children)students are signing up for those pre-AP and AP courses in middle and high school. There is no sense in taking lesser course work if a student is planning to attend college or university to continue their education. Getting AP courses in high school can earn college credits and it is a really good way to advance in knowledge. Think of AP courses as pumping iron for your brain and sign up NOW. You will not regret it! It is also good to keep in mind there are multiple technical opportunities available at the various schools across the RGV today. I have a young friend learning cyber security for his career path and another one learning to weld with the new technology required by companies today.
As the Moon is rising, it will be visible during the day and it may surprise children to see the Moon during daytime. Try it and see. Be careful to not look at the sun as you look for the Moon though. I must say I have known adults to be surprised to know they can see it during the day. On Sunday the Moon will be near Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the lion-but it will be broad daylight so you will just have to take my word for that and look for the Moon after dark to see where it is among the stars of the ecliptic.
For night time stargazing stand facing south and look well below the bright Dog Star, Sirius, for the solitary stars of Columba, a rough L shape representing the dove sent out from the ark by Noah in the Old Testament. The odd trapezoidal shape below Orion's knees is Lepus, the Hare. If your skies are dark and clear you may even be able to see some star clusters in the area if you use binoculars.
As an astronomy aid, binoculars are much easier to use than a telescope and far more practical. A decent pair can be had for about $100. If you think you have to have a telescope, think again. Until you can find your way around the constellations with the un-aided eye, a telescope is not necessary.
By 9:00 P. M. Jupiter has crossed the meridian risen and is attended by its four moons dancing rings around it. This stunning planet and its four Galilean satellites is in the east, while Saturn is continuing to awe viewers in the western sky. If you stand facing south and stretch out your arms up in a wide V you will probably be pointing at each of these gas giant planets. Saturn and Venus have been putting on a fine show for several months now and is joined by Jupiter to slowly drift off the sky's stage into the west as the world rapidly spins towards sunrise. Have you noticed that Venus is higher in the sky now than it was at the beginning of the month?
And keep anticipating some showers in April; we desperately need rain for our dry thirsty land of the RGV. Our Valley home was built on cattle and agriculture. Do you remember those days fragrant with the citrus blossoms? Even neighborhood back yards had citrus trees; what a wonderful odor came through the open screened windows on a spring night riding on the evening breeze as the sun sank below the horizon.
Until next week, DO KLU.
