Spring Equinox: The 1st Day of “Spring”
Today, 20 March 2013, is called the Spring Equinox and marks the first meteorological day of the “Spring Season” in the Northern Hemisphere. This day also signifies that the hours of day and night are about equal. Soon after today, however, nights will typically become shorter while days will become longer until the Fall (Autumnal)..
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US Clocks “spring forward” today
For those living in the United States and other parts of the world that are affected by the “spring” of Daylight Savings Time, please be reminded to turn your clocks forward 1 hour as of 2:00am this morning (Sunday, 10 March, 2013). Clocks will “fall back” again on Sunday, 3 November, 2013. What is Daylight..
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Asteroid passed nearby Earth Friday
Several hours after a meteorite crashed into Russia, an asteroid passed relatively close to earth but did not hit. According to astronomers, both events are unrelated and it was pure coincidence that they occurred around the same time. As the countdown for the asteroid’s close approach entered the final hours, NASA noted that the path..
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Meteorite smashes into Earth last Friday
A meteorite blazed across the western Siberian (Russian) sky last Friday and exploded with the force of 20 atomic bombs, injuring about 1200 people as it blasted out windows and spread panic in a city of 1 million. This extra-terrestrial object entered the Earth’s atmosphere on Friday, 15 February, 2013 at about 9:20am Russian time..
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Winter Solstice: The shortest day of the year
Today, 21 December 2012, is called the Winter Solstice and marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. This day also signifies the astronomical (or official) beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. During the Winter Solstice, the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° south) – here it comes to..
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Autumnal Equinox: The 1st Day of “Fall”
Today, 22 September 2012, is called the Fall (Autumnal) Equinox and marks the first meteorological day of the “Fall Season” in the Northern Hemisphere. This day also signifies that the hours of day and night are about equal. Soon after today, however, nights will typically become longer while days will become shorter until the Spring..
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Summer Solstice: The longest day of the year
Today, 20 June 2012, is called the Summer Solstice and marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. This day also signifies the astronomical (or official) beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. During the Summer Solstice, the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° north) – here it comes to..
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Solar Eclipse to take place 20-21 May 2012
The first Solar Eclipse of 2012 will take place this weekend (May 20-21) and is projected to turn the Sun into a “ring of fire”. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth; therefore the Sun appears partially or fully darkened. This particular event is specifically called an Annular..
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What is the Weather?
Weather is what is happening in the atmosphere now, at any place on Earth’s surface. It includes the temperature, precipitation (rain), wind and clouds, among other components. A weather forecast is a prediction of weather conditions over a particular area. We study the weather to help people plan what to wear, when to travel, and..
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