I bet you didn't know that when you shine a flashlight creating a beam of white light, within that beam all the colors of the rainbow exist. That simple white beam of light is actually a combination of purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red colored beams. If you take that beam of white light and send it through a glass prism, the different colors will show themselves vividly as they exit at a different angle. Rainbows are created in a similar manner. … [Read more...]
So, how hot is lightning? Believe it or not, lightning temperature readings are nearly off the charts. At around 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, lightning is actually hotter than the surface of the sun! Lighting Fun Fact: Around the world, lightning strikes about 1,000 times a second. Check out this video to see a single lightning strike hit 3 Chicago skyscrapers at the same time! You won't believe it until you see it. The video is slowed down -- so you can see this … [Read more...]
Have you heard about the phase out of R22 air conditioning & the need for R22 replacement refrigerants (freon) lately? Well, here's what that's all about... it's called the Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol regulates substances that deplete the Earth's ozone layer -- like incandescent light bulbs and R22 freon. R-22 is the refrigerant that has been most commonly used for decades in household air-conditioning systems, and the name is a reference to its chemical … [Read more...]
Ever wonder what the difference is between the weather being partly cloudy versus partly sunny? While a lot of people have their own notions about what partly cloudy versus partly sunny means, there are some specific definitions from the National Weather Service: Partly Cloudy: About 30% to 70% of the sky is covered with clouds BUT usually refers to sky conditions at night. Partly Sunny: About 30% to 70% of the sky is covered with clouds BUT refers only to sky conditions in the … [Read more...]
A solar eclipse is about to block the sunlight... for a little while anyway. On July 11, 2010, those living in northern New Zealand, the Cook Islands, the Society Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island will be able to see a solar eclipse lasting 3 to 4 minutes. Solar eclipses happen when the moon blocks out the light from the sun. The moon has to get directly in front off the sun to block out the sunlight and create a full or nearly full solar eclipse. Always be careful when viewing a … [Read more...]
The sun's out, the heat's on, and summer's here! You know what that means, right? Time to go swimming! But hold onto your water wings... There are a few things you should know about swimming safety. More specifically, you should be sure you know a thing or three about water illness caused by improper and unsafe use of your swimming pool. Don't worry, you have time to read this. Fall won't officially begin in the United States until the autumn equinox in late September! A few … [Read more...]
The summer solstice is an event that has for centuries been helping humankind define -- astronomically -- when summer starts. Occurring on either June 20th or June 21st (depending on the year), the summer solstice happens when the sun rises and sets at its northernmost point.In terms of how long the sun is in the sky, the summer solstice is also the longest day of the year. … [Read more...]
Sun spots... yes, many of us get them as we age. But I'm not talking about the sun spots we get on our skin. No, I'm referring to the spots that occur on the Sun. Sun spots tend to occur in cycles that last about 11 years. The reason sun spots look darker than the surrounding areas of the sun is because the sun spots are only about 6,300 degrees Fahrenheit -- relatively cooler than the rest of the sun's 10,000-degree surface. Sun spots are regions where the magnetic field is particularly … [Read more...]
Measuring distance in the sky is a nifty trick that can help you determine the size or length of objects in the sky. You can use distance measuring in the sky to: Find sun dogs Estimate how much sunlight is left before sunset Locate stars and constellations Look for weather or astronomical phenomenon based on degrees given … [Read more...]
Did you know there's more than one type of twilight? No, I'm not referring to the ever-popular Twilight movies.I'm talking about that time of day when the sun is shining light into our atmosphere -- just before sunrise and just after sunset.However, few people realize that there are actually 3 different definitions of twilight: Civil Twilight: This refers to the period of time when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon. It's before the morning civil twilight and after the … [Read more...]
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