This weekend, the yearly Geminid meteor shower is set to reach its peak, providing stargazers with an opportunity to witness what is often regarded as the most impressive and reliable shooting star event of the year.
Although the meteor shower has been active for over a week, it is anticipated to hit its peak activity on Saturday and Sunday nights. As reported by NASA.
Shooting stars can be observed in both the northern and southern hemispheres. However, the Geminid meteor shower tends to be brighter and more frequent in the northern hemisphere due to its trajectory in the night sky.
Under perfect conditions with clear skies and little light interference, skywatchers may be able to see as many as 120 Geminid meteors per hour, according to NASA.
The Geminid meteor shower is famed for its vibrant, colorful fireballs that blaze across the night sky.
For optimal viewing, venture outside between midnight and early morning local time, and gaze towards the eastern sky in the direction of the constellation Gemini.
When the moon rises, it will be just 26% illuminated, which means it won’t disrupt this year’s Geminid meteor shower experience.
Meteor showers occur when Earth travels through clouds of small rocks, dust, and debris, which ignite upon entering the planet’s atmosphere. While most meteor showers are linked to comet debris, the Geminid meteor shower is derived from debris left by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon.
The Geminid meteor shower showcases striking colors ranging from yellow and red to even greenish hues, attributed to the chemical makeup of the asteroid debris.
This weekend, powerful and destructive thunderstorms are anticipated in the Midwest, Central Plains, and Southeast, leading to heavy rain and flash flooding in the upcoming days.
By early Saturday, rain and strong wind gusts had already left over 50,000 residents in Nebraska without power. Poweroutage.us. The National Weather Service warns that severe weather may still be unfolding.
The agency forecasts “massive nocturnal thunderstorms” affecting parts of the Midwest from the weekend through Monday.
Clusters of thunderstorms, especially during nighttime, are likely to produce “very heavy rain” along corridors extending from northern Missouri to southern Iowa and southern Wisconsin. The National Weather Service reports.
Consequently, there is a significant flash flood threat across the region.
In the Southeast, storms are expected to persist, particularly in northern Florida and southern Georgia this weekend, accompanied by heavy rainfall.
“The daily heavy rains on already saturated ground present localized flooding risks, especially along the coast in southeastern Georgia,” the local NWS branch in Jacksonville, Florida, stated in their weekend predictions.
Central and South Florida may experience numerous showers and slow-moving storms, leading to damaging winds and heavy downpours, according to the NWS.
Meanwhile, the Southwest is grappling with record-breaking heat. Triple-digit temperatures are widespread in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, with Phoenix hitting 118 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, breaking the city’s daily record. Other Arizona cities, including Scottsdale, Yuma, Bryce, and Deer Valley, have also reported similar daily temperature records. The National Weather Service confirmed.
Although the weekend temperatures in Arizona and other areas of the Southwest Desert are expected to be less extreme than recent highs, the NWS indicates that high temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit are still possible.
In Albuquerque, Friday’s high of 101 degrees Fahrenheit shattered the previous record of 98 degrees F set in 2011. The NWS reported. A heat advisory remains in effect until Saturday evening, just before a storm moves through central and northeastern New Mexico on Sunday.
Saturn’s iconic ring appears to “disappear” for several days starting this weekend, at least from a vantage point on Earth.
The ring does not actually disappear, but for a while the angle between Earth and Saturn creates something like an illusion of the universe, making it seem impossible to see the planetary ring from our perspective.
The reason this happens is related to the specific tilt of both planets. Saturn’s axis tilts 26.73 degrees from vertical to orbit the Sun. This is similar to the 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth. According to NASA. Therefore, as each planet rotates on its axis and orbits the Sun, the appearance of Saturn, including the ring, differs from what you see through a telescope or a powerful observatory on Earth.
Occasionally, Saturn’s tilt angle to Earth makes the ring accurately edge-on and appear to have no thin bands.
“They literally almost disappear,” said Sean Walker, associate editor of Sky & Telescope, a monthly magazine on science and amateur astronomy. “You can usually see the ring around Saturn, but with an edge-on view, your hair looks like a thin line of light lying around.”
A Saturn ring photographed by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft on May 15, 2017.Cassini-Huygens / NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute
Over the last few months, Saturn’s vast rings have gradually appeared thinner when viewed through a ground-based telescope. By Sunday, the ring will reach its exact edge-on angle.
The illusion is temporary and lasts only a day or two before the ring slowly appears in vision again.
Events are relatively rare. Ring plane crossing – as the phenomenon is known – usually occurs twice during 29.4 years. This means that it can be seen from the Earth once every 13-15 years.
But unfortunately, Saturn is too close to the sun to see what Skywatcher looks like without the ring this weekend. However, another opportunity this year will be the ring will almost be edge-on on November 23rd later this year (not exactly).
Walker said he used a backyard telescope to witness the intersection of the ring plane in 1995.
“It was great,” he said. “It looked like another planet. I spent most of the night just drinking in that view.”
He said at the time he had only just begun to become interested in astronomy.
A Saturn ring photographed by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft on November 28, 2016.Cassini-Huygens / NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute
In addition to being a quirky product of geometry, the ring plane crossing occurs due to the structure of Saturn’s ring rings. The iconic accessory consists of billions of swirling rocks and ice blocks, but is relatively flat, making it appear that the ring disappears into thin lines when tilted to the earth.
Edge-on views also make Saturn’s moon more visible, Walker said.
“When there is an intersection of these ring planes, the light that normally reflects the ring of Saturn is no longer glancing towards Earth,” he said. “That means we can detect more small moons.”
Walker said that with a regular backyard telescope, people often can find four to six months around Saturn. People may be able to detect almost 12 people during the ring plane traversing the dark sky.
“The really faint things are on the near perfect line, so it becomes clear,” he said.
After this weekend’s Ring Plain intersection, the next complete will take place in 2038. The event, according to Walker, should be visible to Earth.
“I want to see it again,” he said. “I’ll wait a little bit.”
California is bracing for a dangerous combination of extreme heat and high fire risk this week as people across the state celebrate Independence Day outdoors. Temperatures in the Sacramento Valley could soar to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, according to meteorologist Kate Forrest from the National Weather Service in Sacramento. Heat warnings have been issued for the region starting Tuesday and are expected to last through Saturday.
Forecasters anticipate the heat wave to start in inland California on Tuesday before spreading to the Pacific Northwest and Southern California later in the week. Heat watches, warnings, and advisories will be in effect across the West on Tuesday from southern Oregon to southeastern California’s low desert according to the National Weather Service.
The increase in temperatures is due to a strong high-pressure system lingering in the region. Governor Gavin Newsom has instructed emergency officials to activate the state’s operations center in response to the upcoming heatwave.
The hot weather could see nighttime temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, with inland California facing “extreme” conditions by Friday, as indicated on the Heat Risk Map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Weather Service.
Southern Oregon, including the Medford area, is also under a heat watch through Saturday. Meanwhile, Pacific Gas & Electric has warned of potential power outages in 10 California counties on Tuesday due to high winds and dry conditions.
Given the high temperatures and dry conditions, there is an increased risk of wildfires, prompting caution during Fourth of July celebrations involving fireworks. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is monitoring 13 active fires in the state.
Climate change has been linked to the increased frequency and intensity of heat waves and wildfires. Analysis from Climate Central shows that regions like the Sacramento Valley are experiencing more fire-prone weather compared to previous decades.
With heat waves growing in frequency and duration, it is important for residents to take precautions to stay safe during extreme weather events.
debtFor nearly 15 years, I used to fly to Los Angeles every June to cover E3, the massive video game conference where major games and consoles were unveiled for the first time, from PlayStation to Wii U, from Fallout 4 to Final Fantasy VII Remake. However, due to the pandemic, E3 was canceled this year and replaced by a series of loosely connected events: Summer Game Fest, organized by The Game Awards’ Jeff Keighley, the Xbox Game Showcase, and the indie-led event Day of the Devs. It all kicks off tomorrow, June 6th.
Publishers like Ubisoft and Devolver are hosting their own broadcasts, while other E3 regulars like EA and Square-Enix are absent. Live Show From leading games and entertainment website IGN – I worked there during the height of E3 in the early 2010s, when companies would rent studios and broadcast basically all of their announcements over four consecutive days. What’s basically happened is that it seems like we still get as much gaming news as we get at E3, but now it’s much more spread out and crammed into one weekend instead of a week-long conference.
In short, it’s all a bit chaotic right now, but I’m on a plane to Los Angeles just like the old days, so I’ll do my best to play and cover as many interesting games as I can. If you’re looking to follow events other than E3 over the weekend, here are five things to keep an eye on (and where to watch them).
It’s a two-hour live showcase hosted by Keighley from LA’s YouTube Theatre. Based on my previous experience with both SGF and the Game Awards, it’s going to be a series of blockbuster trailers interspersed with very tepid, very rehearsed conversations with developers. It’ll be an endurance test, but with all the big names in the video game industry in attendance, including Capcom, 2K Games, and PlayStation, there should be at least two major game announcements and it should be worth watching. Straight afterwards, for those staying up late in the UK, the Day of the Devs indie showcase (4pm PST/midnight BST) and Devolver Direct broadcast (5pm PST/1am BST) will showcase the satire and independent spirit of the games industry, dispelling any corporate chic.
If you’re looking for a cozy gaming vibe, this is the place. Farming simulators, dating games, anything with cats and frogs. I get a lot of emails from Pushing Buttons readers asking where to find non-violent, approachable games, and this is the place. In past years, this showcase has proven to be long-lasting enough to get cloyingly cute, and with over 70 games on display, it’s quite possible that will be the case in 2024 as well, but the wholesome intention behind it makes up for it for me.
Looks promising… Star Wars Outlaws. Photo: Ubisoft
Xbox Games Showcase – Sunday, June 9th9am PST / 5pm BST
I’m very interested to see how the rather embattled Xbox division will fare this year, having pushed through the Activision/Blizzard/King mega-merger last year and then made the very unpopular decision to close down some of their studios. With a new version of Xbox on the horizon, the Game Pass strategy seems to be shifting, and Microsoft now owning a lot of developers, should There’s no shortage of games to premiere, with the sequel to the Call of Duty Black Ops series (above), due to launch this year, also premiering shortly thereafter.
PC releases tend not to get as much attention in the games media as console releases, so this will be a most exciting showcase for a readership that loves real-time strategy, 4x, Moba, team-based FPS games, CRPGs, and other genre acronyms that accompany PC-exclusive games. Organized by venerable magazine PC Gamer, the event is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
Ubisoft Forward – Monday, June 1012pm PST / 8pm BST
Ubisoft’s lineup this year is promising, with the new Assassin’s Creed game set in feudal Japan and the promising Star Wars Outlaws alone being enough to keep me entertained for an hour, but I Mario vs Rabbids Kingdom Battle 2017 Edition Shigeru Miyamoto made an appearance, Rabbids creative director Davide Soliani got emotional, and it wouldn’t be E3 without a slightly embarrassing “Just Dance” performance.
What to Play
One of the best… Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Photo: FromSoftware
I have two long-distance flights coming up, so it’s time to get serious. Elden Ring On Steam – Fortunately, the best game of 2022 (and in fact one of the best fantasy games of all time) runs great on a portable PC console. Shadow of the Elder TreeThe expansion is out on June 20th and is small enough to be considered a mini-sequel. The good news for those of you who haven’t finished Elden Ring yet, like me, is that you don’t have to finish the game to the end before the expansion comes out, but you’ll still get to enjoy the brutal yet exhilarating rhythm of the combat (and Substantial We’ll be looking back at the game’s history before taking on a new challenge later this month.
Available on: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Estimated play time: 60+ hours (expansion will take at least another 15-20 hours)
Now on TV… Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Photo: SEGA
Amazon Prime Unexpectedly Live-action television series It’s based on the fantastic cult-favorite crime drama game, Like a Dragon (pictured above).
Sony’s State of Play showcase last week technically kicked off a summer of gaming-related announcements. Gamesradar There is an overview Highlights from the trailer Astro Botstarring an adorable little white robot who serves as PlayStation’s best mascot, is a playful mix of platforming, puzzles, and action that’s great fun.
In news that’s too depressing for me to even think about, IKEA plans to pay its employees the minimum wage. Virtual Roblox Store You wanted the metaverse? Here’s the metaverse. Working at IKEA for minimum wage. But now. Not real.
Actor and developer Abubakar Salim recently released his debut game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, with his studio Surgent. made a statement He talks about the targeted racist harassment he and his team suffered, part of a resurgence of the anti-woke culture wars that have resurfaced this year in the games industry and beyond. “There’s always going to be a reason why diverse stories can’t exist. These exclusionary rules keep piling up, and the goalposts keep shifting, until I, my studio, and people like us just sit back, shut up, and accept the fact that we’re outsiders. And I won’t,” he says.
Camels are not your typical finicky herd animals anymore. They are gaining popularity in the world of agriculture.
While the idea of incorporating camel milk into your diet may seem odd to some in Europe or the United States, it has been a dietary staple for many communities for years. Now, camel products are making their way to shelves worldwide.
Currently, it is the United Nations’ international year of the camel, celebrating camels, alpacas, and llamas. Events like the big camel parade in Paris aim to raise awareness about these animals.
Camels already contribute 8% of sub-Saharan Africa’s milk production and are expected to see a significant increase in global trade, reaching $13 billion by the end of the decade.
Experts like Dr. Ariel Ahern from the University of Oxford point out the rapid growth in camel farming, especially in regions like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. They predict that by 2050, camel products may become more common even in western countries like the UK.
Camels are gaining popularity due to their ability to thrive in harsh environments, making them a sustainable alternative in the face of climate change. Their high efficiency in converting food and water into meat and dairy products makes them a valuable resource in regions facing food and water scarcity.
With the potential environmental benefits of camel farming, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional livestock farming, the shift towards camels in agriculture seems promising.
Why are we seeing a shift towards camels?
The International Year of the Camel aims to raise awareness about the importance of camels in the future food chain. As climate change threatens traditional food sources, camels offer advantages in adapting to dry climates and maximizing resource efficiency.
A group of camels feeding in the desert, shot from directly above, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Image credit: Getty
Camels’ resilience to extreme conditions, lower resource requirements, and lower environmental impact make them a promising option for sustainable agriculture.
Is it time to add camel to your diet?
Camel products like milk and meat offer nutritional benefits and can be suitable alternatives for those with dietary restrictions. Camel milk, in particular, is rich in vitamin C and iron, making it a healthy option for many.
Studies show that camel milk can help lower blood sugar levels and boost immunity, while camel meat is leaner and higher in iron compared to traditional meats like beef or lamb.
Camel: Coming to a farm near you?
While camel farming is on the rise, experts caution against industrialized models and advocate for more sustainable practices. Free-range, nomadic farming models that allow camels to graze naturally may offer a greener alternative to traditional agriculture.
By utilizing the unique traits of camels, such as their ability to thrive in arid environments and their resource efficiency, we can create a more sustainable and resilient food system for the future.
About our experts
Ariel Ahearn is a lecturer at the University of Oxford, specializing in human geography and rural development. Dr. Ahearn has extensive experience working with nomadic communities in Mongolia and advocating for sustainable land use practices.
Ilse Köhler Rollefson is a German scientist known for her work with camel herders in India and her advocacy for pastoralism and sustainable farming. She is a co-founder of Camel Charisma, promoting eco-friendly camel products.
For more information on camel farming and its potential impact on agriculture, read on.
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