All articles tagged with #rare event
In 1954, Ann Elizabeth Hodges was the only person confirmed to have been hit by a meteorite, which crashed through her ceiling and left her with a bruise, making it a unique and historic event in space-related incidents.
August’s full Sturgeon Moon performed a rare double rise, appearing twice in successive nights in the Northern Hemisphere, coinciding with Saturn’s rise, and was named for the abundance of sturgeon fish in North American lakes. The moon appeared orange near the horizon due to atmospheric filtering, and the event coincided with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, which was less visible due to the bright moon. Upcoming celestial events include Saturn’s opposition in September and a total lunar eclipse during the September full moon.
Two novae, V572 Velorum and V462 Lupi, have appeared simultaneously in the night sky, an extremely rare event, with both now visible to the naked eye in the Southern Hemisphere. This coincidence occurs as astronomers anticipate the explosion of T Coronae Borealis, which is expected roughly every 80 years. Such simultaneous nova events are unprecedented and highlight the rarity of these cosmic phenomena.
Italy's Mount Etna, the most active stratovolcano in the world, was seen spewing rare and nearly perfectly circular volcanic vortex bubbles, some appearing pink in color against the sky. A new pit crater formed along the volcano within the past week, contributing to the formation of the nearly perfectly circular rings of gas and vapor. This rare phenomenon, which can be traced back to as early as 1724, has been observed emitting "unprecedented quantities" of the rings, with locals referring to Etna as "Lady of the Rings." Etna is one of the most active volcanoes, with the last significant activity recorded in December 2023.
Pictures of the rare 2024 eclipse from Nashville and Middle Tennessee showcase the stunning astronomical event, providing a glimpse of the celestial phenomenon in the region.
Death Valley's temporary lake, "Lake Manly," formed by record rains, has now become too shallow and far from the road for boating, closing the opportunity for tourists to kayak or frolic. The lake's formation was an extremely rare event, caused by intense storms and flooding, and its current state is a muddy, wet mess that will eventually dry out into white salt flats. The National Park Service attributes the lake's formation to record amounts of rain and an atmospheric river, making its depth and duration especially uncommon.
Heavy rains in Death Valley National Park led to the formation of a temporary lake in the typically arid region, attracting nature lovers and tourists to witness and play in the rare phenomenon. Replenished by recent storms, the lake in Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, has provided an opportunity for kayaking and enjoyment, with the possibility of lasting for a couple more weeks and creating reflections through April.
A massive comet named 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as the "Devil Comet," is approaching Earth and will be visible in April 2024 for the first time in 71 years. Astronomers are excited about this rare event as the comet is known for its erratic outbursts, which cause it to shine brighter. The exact size of the comet is uncertain, but it is expected to be larger than most comets. Although it poses no threat to Earth, it offers a unique opportunity for stargazers to observe this rare giant through telescopes.
The blue supermoon, a rare celestial event where a full moon appears twice in one month, occurred last night, following a previous supermoon on August 1. This phenomenon happens every two to three years due to the discrepancy between the moon's cycle and the calendar month. Photographers around the world captured stunning images of the blue supermoon illuminating the night sky in various locations, including Rabat, London, and Jaipur. The next blue supermoon is not expected until 2037.
A rare blue supermoon, the closest full moon of the year, delighted stargazers worldwide on Wednesday night. This phenomenon occurs when a full moon is seen twice in a single month. Saturn also made an appearance alongside the moon, adding to the celestial spectacle. The next blue supermoon is not expected until 2037, but another regular supermoon is anticipated at the end of September.
A rare "blue supermoon" rose over Israel and other parts of the world on August 30. While the name is misleading as the moon is not actually blue, it will appear with an orange hue. There are two types of blue moons, and this one is a "calendar blue moon" occurring when two full moons happen within the same month. This blue supermoon is particularly rare, happening only once a decade on average. It is also a perigean full moon, meaning it occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. The next supermoon will be the Harvest Moon on September 29, 2023.
A rare "blue supermoon" will rise in the night sky on August 30, which occurs when two full moons happen within the same month. This phenomenon, which is not actually blue but appears with an orange hue, is considered rare and will not be seen again until 2037. A blue supermoon is a perigean full moon, meaning it occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. These blue supermoons occur, on average, once a decade, but can sometimes have a gap of up to two decades between them. The upcoming blue supermoon will be the largest and brightest of the four supermoons of this year.
Sky watchers are in for a rare treat at the end of August with a "super blue moon," the last of its kind for over a decade. This phenomenon occurs when the moon is full for the second time in a calendar month, making it a blue moon, and also qualifies as a supermoon, appearing brighter and larger than usual. The super blue moon will be visible on August 30, reaching peak fullness at 9:36 p.m. ET. This will be the closest, biggest, and brightest full supermoon of the year.
A woman in France was struck by a small meteorite while having coffee with a friend on a terrace. Mistaking it for an animal, she later discovered it was a rock that contained a mixture of iron and silicon, indicating it could be a meteorite. Geologists confirmed its authenticity, and the recovered pieces have a total mass of almost 4 ounces. While incidents of people being struck by meteorites are extremely rare, it is estimated that almost 50 tons of meteoritic material falls to Earth daily, with the majority landing in the oceans. The first confirmed case of a meteorite directly striking a person occurred in the United States in 1954.
Johannesburg, South Africa, experienced its first snowfall in over a decade, delighting residents who took to social media to share their excitement. The snow was caused by an increase in humidity, low temperatures, and wind, but experts cautioned that it was unlikely to last long. While other parts of South Africa receive irregular snowfall, Johannesburg typically sees snow only once every five years. Some residents were frustrated by the sudden change in weather, but experts reassured that it was not due to climate change.