August Meteors

"Conditions couldn't be better for this year's Perseid meteors, expected to be most active just before dawn on the mornings of August 12th and 13th. The Moon is nowhere to be seen, thanks to August 11th's total eclipse, and anyone at midnorthern latitudes who can escape city lights might see four or five dozen meteors each hour. Fewer Perseids are expected earlier on these nights and for a week before and after. The track of the Perseids, if extended backward, intersect at a radiant point between Perseus and Cassiopeia...." (Excerpted from "Calendar Notes," p. 113, Sky & Telescope magazine, August 1999.)

Partial Lunar Eclipse

The moon enters the dark umbra of the Earth's shadow on Wednesday, 28 July 1999 at 6:22 EDT. Observers east of a line from Detroit to South Carolina will be unable to see the event. If you miss this one, the next total lunar eclipse for North America occurs on 20-21 January 2000.

Earth at Aphelion

The point at which the Earth is farthest from the Sun is known as aphelion. The Earth reaches aphelion on 6 July 1999. Food for thought: if the Earth is farthest from the Sun, then why is it Summer in the northern mid-latitudes? The answer lies in the annual cycle of change in the apparent path of the Sun across the sky (refer to "Summer Solstice" below).

Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice occurs at 3:49 p.m. on 21 June 1999. On this date, the Sun reaches the northernmost line of latitude where the midday Sun is at the zenith (the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees N). At northern mid-latitude locations, the midday Sun reaches its maximum altitude (annually) and the duration of insolation (number of hours of daylight) is greatest. For example, in Washington, D.C. the midday Sun will reach an altitude of 74.5 degrees above the horizon and there will be nearly 15 hours of daylight.

Morning Glories

Early risers will notice that the planets Jupiter and Saturn are visible in the eastern morning sky (before sunrise).

1 June...

...is the beginning of Tropical Atlantic hurricane season. What's the seasonal outlook this year? Visit the WeatherNet4 Tropical Forecast Page for Dr. William M. Gray's prediction.

FCPS Technology Resource Teacher Joanne Goodwin provides pointers to hurricane-related Web sites as well as suggested teaching strategies for upper elementary hurricane activities involving science and technology integration.

First 90-degree Day

A little later than average but just in time for the unofficial start of Summer (Memorial Day weekend), the first 90-degree day of 1999 occurred on Sunday, 30 May [average date of first 90-degree day at Reagan National Airport (DCA): May 19].

Astronomy Day: Bringing Astronomy to the People!

May 17-23, 1999 is Astronomy Week; Saturday, 22 April is Astronomy Day. Visit the Astronomical League Astronomy Day Web page to learn more about Astronomy Day and to find an activity near you.

Mars Attacks!

Venus reigns supreme in the West, but in the East...

[23 April 1999] "This week and next, the Red Planet makes its nearest approach to Earth in 1999 (brighter and nearer to Earth than at any time since 1990). To find Mars simply go outside any night for the next couple of weeks about an hour or two after sunset. Reddish-colored Mars should be easy to spot 20 to 25 degrees above the horizon in the east-southeast. Later in the evening, near midnight, Mars can be seen due South about 45 degrees above the horizon from mid-latitude sites in the northern hemisphere.

It's a great opportunity for amateurs to see details on the red planet through a small telescope or to simply view Mars with the naked eye. Sky & Telescope has prepared an excellent Mars Observing Guide which reviews what can likely be seen on the red planet through a telescope this month [April-May]." (Excerpted from A close encounter with Mars, courtesy Marshall Space Flight Center Space Science News.)

Last Freeze

On average, the last frost in Washington, D.C. occurs sometime between April 10-20 (April 20-30 for the northern and western suburbs). For more information about Spring weather in the Washington, D.C. area, visit the WeatherNet4 Washington Spring Statistics Web page. With the onset of warmer temperatures, it won't be long 'til our first 90-degree day!

April Lyrids Meteor Shower

"The shower maximum occurs at 16 UTC [3:00 p.m. EST] on 22 April, so North Americans should watch during the early morning hours before sunrise on 22 April. Roughly 15 meteors an hour should be visible. Most Lyrids are faint. The Lyrids will be a trickle compared to the Leonids last November." (Excerpted from "The Sky Show," p. 73, Astronomy magazine, April 1999.) For more information, visit SKY Online's Meteor Page.

18-24 April 1999 - National Sky Awareness Week

Plan to celebrate National Sky Awareness Week, April 18-24, 1999. Its theme is: "THE SKY- Where Meteorology and Astronomy Meet."

The Date of Easter

Every year, Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox (e.g., the Spring Equinox occurred on 21 March 1999, the next Full Moon occurred on 31 March, and Easter is Sunday, 4 April). Well, usually. For more details, visit The Date of Easter Web page, including the Easter Calculator.

Spring Forward...

At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, 4 April set your clocks forward one hour to begin "Daylight Saving Time" (EDT). Something of a misnomer, we merely shift the increasing daylight hours from the morning to the evening. Daylight Saving Time begins on the first Sunday in April and ends on the last Sunday in October.

April is National Poetry Month.

Celebrate National Poetry Month and increase your sky awareness by reading some of Carl Sandburg's sky-related poetry, or by reading Carl Sandburg Middle School student-authored sky-related poetry.

March Madness!

No, we're not referring to the NCAA Basketball Tournament, but rather two astronomical events: first, the Spring (or Vernal) Equinox; second, a Blue Moon redux.

The Spring Equinox occurs at 8:46 p.m. EST on 20 March 1999. The word equinox literally means "equal nights," referring to either of two times of the year when the Sun crosses the plane of the Earth's equator and day and night are of equal length, that is, about March 21 and September 22.

Recall that when two full moons occur in the same month, the second is referred to as a "Blue Moon." In a rare coincidence, the second Blue Moon of 1999 occurs during March: the first full moon is on 2 March; the second on 31 March. To discover how improbable this occurrence is, visit the Blue Moon Web site, including the Blue Moon Calculator.

23 March 1999 - Tornado Preparedness Day

Virginia Governor Gilmore has declared Tuesday, 23 March 1999, "Tornado Preparedness Day." Visit the NOAA National Weather Service Severe Weather Awareness Week Web site for an online Tornado Preparedness Guide, including information regarding tornado safety in schools. Preparedness Guides for other weather hazards are available online also.

On 11 February, once again Pluto...

...becomes the ninth planet from the Sun. Huh? Follow the hyperlink for details.

Groundhog Day, 02 February1999

Take a virtual trip to Punxsutawney, PA to see Phil's prediction -- will it be an early Spring or six more weeks of Winter?

January '99 - Once in a Blue Moon

"The first full moon of the year occurs on January 1. The second full moon is on January 31. When two full moons occur in the same month, the second is referred to as a "blue moon." January's blue moon also undergoes a rather unusual total penumbral eclipse. This means that the moon passes fully into the penumbra of Earth's shadow without entering the darker umbral shadow. This event comes near the time of Earth's perihelion to the Sun on January 3 -- a time when the umbra is at its smallest and the penumbra is at its largest. Only 1.2% of the 10,936 lunar eclipses in 45 centuries are total penumbral eclipses. The eclipse is visible only from the extreme western portions of the United States and Canada." (Excerpted from "The Sky Show," p. 78, Astronomy magazine, January 1999.)

December's Gems

"Without question, the premier astronomical event of December is the annual Geminid meteor shower. As the Earth cuts a swath through ancient comet dust, the particles vaporize. On the night of December 13/14, watch the often bright fireballs that this reliable shower produces. The "shooting stars" appear to emanate from a point (the radiant) near Pollux and Castor in the Gemini constellation.

Observers at dark sky sites should see a maximum of 60-80 meteors per hour. Because this shower produces frequent bright meteors, those who wish to stay close to home in the city may still be able to enjoy 15-20 meteors per hour -- more than the fainter Perseids." (Excerpted from "The Sky Show," p. 78, Astronomy magazine, December 1998.)

17-18 November 1998 - Leonid Meteor Shower

Look for meteors from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle on the mornings of November 17th and 18th, starting around 1 or 2 a.m. and continuing 'til dawn. For more information, visit SKY Online's Meteor Page.

2 a.m., Sunday, 25 October 1998 - Daylight Saving Time Ends

Remember the mnemonic: Spring forward; Fall back? On the last Sunday in October, clocks are set back one hour to return to Standard Time. Notice how much earlier sunset seems to be! Sure sign that Winter is coming: the number of daylight hours is decreasing!

23 October 1998 - First Freeze

Slightly earlier than average, on Friday, 23 October we observed the first frost at the Sandburg Center for Sky Awareness. For more information about Fall weather in the Washington, D.C. area, visit the WeatherNet4 Washington Fall Statistics Web page. With the onset of frosty cold temperatures, it won't be long 'til the first snowfall! In the meantime, make artificial snow by visiting Snowflake Designer, a very cool (pun intended) Shockwave multimedia Web site.

October 11-17, 1998 - First Annual Earth Science Week

6 September 1998 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Penumbral lunar eclipse. Eclipse begins at 5:14 a.m. EDT and ends at 9:06 a.m. EDT. Only the first hour of the eclipse is visible for observers away from the Northeast US, although west coast observers will see the entire event.

11-12 August 1998 - Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight. Although bright moonlight will interfere, you can still expect several dozen meteors per hour for observers away from city lights. Look anywhere in the skies in the predawn hours of the 12th.

7 August 1998 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Penumbral (very slight) lunar eclipse. Eclipse begins at 9:32 p.m. EDT and ends at 11:18 p.m. EDT. Only the lightest hints of the Earth's shadow may be visible at maximum eclipse around 10:30 p.m. EDT.

21 June 1998 - Summer Solstice

Celebrate Space Day '98 on May 21st.

Planned activities include an all-day live Web broadcast, events in Washington, DC, and activities in schools and communities throughout the world. So mark your calendar. And keep an eye on the sky.

April is National Poetry Month.

Celebrate National Poetry Month and increase your sky awareness by reading some of Carl Sandburg's sky-related poetry, or by reading Carl Sandburg Middle School student-authored sky-related poetry.

Celebrate the Eighth Annual Sky Awareness Week, April 19-25, 1998.

The theme is, "THE SKY - Where Meteorology and Astronomy Meet." Sky Awareness Week 1998 falls during the same time of year as National Science and Technology Week, National Mathematics Awareness Week, Earth Day (April 22nd), and Astronomy Day (May 2nd). And don't forget Space Day, May 21st. Each of these "awareness" days affords teachers a great opportunity to deliver timely mathematics, science, and technology instruction which capitalizes upon student interest generated by these special events.

Celebrate the Vernal (Spring) Equinox, 20 March 1998, by Measuring the Circumference of the Earth

• The Noon Day Project, March 18-20, 1998, Measuring the Circumference of the Earth
• Noon Shadow Project Schools Around the World

26 February 1998 Solar Eclipse

• How to Watch the Eclipse Safely
• Live! Eclipse 98 - If you were unable to connect to this Web site in real-time (due to overloaded servers), you can get an "instant replay" by revisiting the site.
• SOLAR ECLIPSE: STORIES FROM THE PATH OF TOTALITY
• Eclipse 98 Webcast
• NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Eclipse Home Page
• SKY Online's Eclipse Page
• For a unique perspective of the 26 February 1998 solar eclipse (looking down at the Earth instead of up at the Sun), a variety of interesting eclipse images are available from the GOES Project Eclipse Watch Web site, including a small GIF animation (0.2 MBytes) and a medium QuickTime animation (0.6 MBytes) which are ideal for use in the classroom.

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