December solstice 2019 arrives on December 22 at 4:19 UTC. High summer for the Southern Hemisphere. For the Northern Hemisphere, the return of more sunlight! Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-december-solstice…
Tag: winter
Christmas Bird Count starts December 14
It’s time again for the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count. This is the project’s 120th year! Learn how to join the count here. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/audubon-christmas-bird-count-starts-december14…
Earliest sunsets for 40 degrees N. around now
Earliest sunsets for 30 degrees N. were centered on late November and early December. Earliest sunsets at mid-northern latitudes are happening now. S. Hemisphere? Watch for your earliest sunrises. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/earliest-sunset-today-but-not-shortest-day…
Aldebaran is the Bull’s fiery eye
Aldebaran – brightest star in Taurus the Bull – is easy to spot at one tip of a V-shaped pattern of stars. If this star replaced our sun, its surface would extend almost to the orbit of Mercury. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/aldebaran-is-taurus-bloodshot-eye…
See the northern lights or aurora borealis: Follow this easy guide
Winter is the best time to see the amazing phenomenon of the polar lights, when solar particles stream into Earth’s atmosphere Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24432590-500-see-the-northern-lights-or-aurora-borealis-follow-this-easy-guide/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Orion the Hunter and the Milky Way
The constellation Orion is very easy to find. If you have a dark sky, you can also see the luminous band of the Milky Way running behind it. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/orion-the-hunter-your-ticket-to-the-milky-way…
When is my earliest sunset?
For the southernmost U.S and similar latitudes, the earliest sunsets of the year are happening now. Your earliest sunset depends on your latitude, but always comes before the winter solstice. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/winter-solstice-and-late-sunrise…
Cranberries: More than a holiday side dish
Fun facts about this floating fruit, the blueberry’s bitter cousin. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/lifeform-of-the-week-cranberries-at-their-bitter-best…
Nightingales practice new songs in winter to impress mates in spring
Thrush nightingales migrate to Africa during winter. While there, they experiment with new songs to impress mates during the spring breeding season in Europe Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2224840-nightingales-practice-new-songs-in-winter-to-impress-mates-in-spring/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Nightingales practise new songs in winter to impress mates in spring
Thrush nightingales migrate to Africa during winter. While there, they experiment with new songs to impress mates during the spring breeding season in Europe Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2224840-nightingales-practise-new-songs-in-winter-to-impress-mates-in-spring/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…