Shoot the Breeze
Where’s Waldo? Forget what you’ve heard—despite its grandeur, the Great Wall of China is not actually visible from space with the naked eye. This popular myth has been debunked by astronauts and satellite images. While the wall stretches for thousands of miles, its width is relatively narrow, making it indistinguishable from other man-made structures from outer space. So, don’t worry about trying to spot it during your next space expedition!
It’s Bigger Than My Head! Snowflakes are nature’s delicate artwork, but they can also be incredibly large! The largest recorded snowflake measured a whopping 15 inches in diameter. This gigantic ice crystal fell during a snowstorm in Fort Keogh, Montana, USA, in 1887. So, next time you catch a snowflake on your tongue, remember it could be a miniature masterpiece.
More to Love With: When it comes to matters of the heart, octopuses go above and beyond. These intelligent and elusive creatures have not one, not two, but three hearts! Two hearts are dedicated to pumping blood to the gills, while the third heart circulates blood throughout the rest of their body. With all that extra love, it’s no wonder octopuses are such fascinating creatures.
Brain Freeze Buzzword: Ever had that sharp pain in your head after eating something cold too quickly? That’s a brain freeze! But in the scientific community, it’s “sphenopalatineganglioneuralgia.” Quite a mouthful, right? This phenomenon occurs when something cold touches the roof of your mouth, causing blood vessels to constrict and then rapidly dilate. The pain receptors in your brain interpret this as coming from your forehead, hence the headache. So, next time you’re enjoying that ice cream, take it slow or be ready to impress your friends with your knowledge of a brain freeze.
Canadian Courtesy Clause: Canadians are renowned for their politeness, often going out of their way to apologize. This tendency to say “sorry” is so ingrained in Canadian culture that in 2009, a law was enacted to ensure that apologies aren’t misconstrued as admissions of guilt. The “Apology Act” ensures that saying sorry in, say, an accident, can’t be used against you in court. It’s a testament to the Canadian spirit of kindness and understanding, ensuring that their natural inclination to apologize remains a gesture of goodwill rather than a legal liability.
Back in Time
October 1, 1908 – Henry Ford‘s Model T, a “universal car” designed for the masses, went on sale for the first time.
October 8, 1871 – The Great Fire of Chicago erupted. According to legend, it started when Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern in her barn on DeKoven Street. Over 300 persons were killed, and 90,000 were left homeless as the fire leveled 3.5 square miles, destroying 17,450 buildings. Financial losses totaled over $200 million.
October 13, 54 A.D. – Roman Emperor Claudius died after eating mushrooms poisoned by his wife, the Empress Agrippina.
Memorable Quotes
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Trivia
- What is the largest species of shark?
- Which planet has the most moons in our solar system?
- In which country would you find the Taj Mahal?
- What is the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy called?
- In what country did the tradition of Halloween originate?
(Bottom of this post has the answers)
Celestial Watch
October 7 – Draconids Meteor Shower – The Draconids is a minor meteor shower that happens every year from October 6-10. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner. Unlike other meteor showers, the Draconids can be best viewed in the early evening. This year, it will peak on the night of the 7th and the second quarter moon will provide dark skies for a good show. The best way to view the meteor shower is in a dark location away from city lights, meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Draco but can be visible anywhere in the sky.
October 14 – New Moon – The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, making it not visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 17:56 UTC, and it is the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
October 14 – Annular Solar Eclipse – An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely cover the Sun, resulting in a ring of light around the darkened Moon. The Sun’s corona is not visible during an annular eclipse. The eclipse path will begin in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern Canada, move across the southwestern United States, and Central America, Colombia, and Brazil. A partial eclipse will be visible throughout much of North and South America.
October 21, 22 – Orionids Meteor Shower – The Orionids meteor shower is an annual event that produces up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The shower runs from October 2 to November 7, and it is produced by debris left behind by Comet Halley. This year it will peak on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. The first quarter moon may block some of the dim meteors in the evening, but it will set shortly after midnight, providing dark skies for a good morning show. Best viewing will be a dark location after midnight. Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.
October 23 – Venus at Greatest Western Elongation – Venus will reach its greatest eastern elongation of 46.4 degrees from the Sun. It is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look in the eastern sky before sunrise.
October 28 – Full Moon – The full moon will occur at 20:25 UTC. This full moon was known as the Hunter’s Moon by early Native American tribes because the leaves are falling, and the game is fat and ready to hunt. It is also known as the Travel Moon and the Blood Moon.
October 28 – Partial Lunar Eclipse – A partial lunar eclipse will occur when the Moon passes through the Earth’s partial shadow or penumbra, and only a portion of it passes through the darkest shadow or umbra. During this type of eclipse, a part of the Moon will darken as it moves through the Earth’s shadow. The eclipse will be visible throughout all of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and western Australia.
Kicks & Giggles
- “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” – This phrase means that someone can’t have everything they want at once.
- What goes up but never comes down? (Answer: your age)
- I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I? (Answer: an echo)
- What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear!
Bible Verse
“Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.” — Proverbs 10:4-5
Trivia Answers
- Whale Shark
- Jupiter
- India
- Photosynthesis
- Ireland
Read last month’s edition, here [September 2023 Edition]