About 4.6 billion years ago (give or take) our sun was formed as the center of our solar system. Shortly after (about 4.5 billion years ago) the earth was formed. Earth's axis of rotation tilts in respect to its orbital plane. While it defines the seasons change for the Northern and Southern hemispheres no one … Continue reading The return of sunset Manhattanhenge
Science
Welcome Summer Solstice
While Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, today is official, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. In New York City we have had a gentle, cool end of spring. But we are now experiencing a hot spell like much of the rest of the country. Still, happy to be here for a nice … Continue reading Welcome Summer Solstice
Manhattanhenge, Manhattan Henge or Henge o’ Manhattan is back!
In January I alerted you to a sunrise Manhattanhenge and gave you advance notice of the next occurrence of the sunset version. The orientation of Manhattan is generally north-south and the Commissioners Plan of 1811 created a grid system of streets north of 14th Street. As the earth tilts to create our seasons, the sun … Continue reading Manhattanhenge, Manhattan Henge or Henge o’ Manhattan is back!
Recycling in New York
High density living, as we experience in New York, is not for everyone. I know lots of friends and relatives who shudder at the thought of apartments stacked upon each other and living so close to other people. They long for their lawns and driveways and separation from their neighbors. But one thing it provides … Continue reading Recycling in New York
Cassini Mission Ending
Human beings are capable of horrible things. You think times are tough today? Go back in history to any previous period, the cruel methods taken by empires, mobs, and local societies, behavior we would decry as inhuman was all too common. Life was brutal and short. We are fortunate to live in today's world. At … Continue reading Cassini Mission Ending
National Stand Up To Cancer Day
The second Friday in September is National Stand Up To Cancer Day. I am a cancer survivor and grateful to be around to talk about it. Cancer is something many people don't want to even whisper about but it has far reaching consequences for many people. Mine was excised, removed, cut out and not returned … Continue reading National Stand Up To Cancer Day
Asteroid Florence
This is pretty cool. Today a large near-Earth object known as Asteroid Florence makes its closest pass to Earth in more than 600 years. Don't worry, Florence is less an immediate threat than Harvey (we do have a tendency to anthropomorphize things coming flying at us). It (she?) will come within 4.4 million miles (7 … Continue reading Asteroid Florence
Time to wipe the sun from the sky – for a minute or two anyway
Ah, finally here. The much heralded, much hyped total eclipse of the sun running through a big chunk of America. Of course total eclipses happen on Earth about every two years or so, but seldom just traverse America. Because of this America is paying a lot of attention. It will be quite the event that … Continue reading Time to wipe the sun from the sky – for a minute or two anyway
Walter Thinnes 
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