Current Events

  • Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm
    During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm rep...Read more

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    Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm

    During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm repeatedly. Daily levels of CO2 can vary due to weather, and there are seasonal trends as well. The level of atmospheric greenhouse gases continues to increase, now over 120 ppm since the Industrial Revolution began. For more on the Keeling Curve, see http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/. Find out more about greenhouse gases and warming.
  • Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley
    The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Io...Read more

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    Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley

    The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. On May 20th, a massive tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, devastating communities - destroying over 100 homes and hitting two elementary schools and a hospital - with many casualties and deaths. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues suffering from these storms. For more on the May 20th storms, see the NOAA Storm Prediction Center Storm Report.
  • Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education
    A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of ...Read more

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    Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education

    A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of sustainability. Here is a link to the one-page bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2366_00_0000.pdf. See report on Bloomberg News.
Crater is a faint constellation best seen in April.
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Windows to the Universe original image

Crater

The constellation Crater is known as the Cup! The stars in Crater are very faint, so it is hard to see. Crater is between Leo and Hydra. Corvus the Crow is next to it. You can see Crater from March through June.

In Greek mythology, the crow took the cup to a spring to get some water for Apollo. But he ate a fig before getting the water. He took a serpent with him back to Apollo.

Corvus was late, so he told Apollo the serpent attacked him. Apollo knew he was lying, so he put Corvus, Crater and the serpent in the sky. Corvus shouldn't have lied!

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The Summer 2010 issue of The Earth Scientist, available in our online store, includes articles on rivers and snow, classroom planetariums, satellites and oceanography, hands-on astronomy, and global warming.

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Leo

Leo, the lion, is easy to find because his head looks like a backward question mark with the bright star Regulus at the bottom. Regulus, Leo's brightest star, means "little king" in Latin. This star is...more

Hydra

Hydra, the sea serpent, may be the longest and largest of all constellations, but its stars are very faint. It is so long that four constellations run along its northern side. These are Cancer, Leo, Virgo...more

Andromeda

The fall constellation Andromeda is a Princess. She looks like a "V"! Andromeda is close to the north pole, so only a few people in the Southern Hemisphere can see it in the spring. Andromeda's parents...more

Aquarius

Aquarius is also known as the Waterbearer. There are several myths about this constellation. In Greek mythology, Aquarius was the young boy, Ganymede. Zeus sent Aquila to kidnap Ganymede. The boy became...more

Cancer

The constellation Cancer is a crab. Look for Cancer from December through June. It's hard to see Cancer because the stars are so dim. To find Cancer, first find Gemini and Leo. Cancer is right between...more

Canis Major

Canis Major is known as the Great Dog. In Greek myth, it is one of Orion's hunting dogs. Many cultures saw the shape of a dog in this constellation. Sirius is the brightest star in the sky. It is also...more

Capricornus

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We now offer the Cool It! card game in our Science Store. Cool It! is the new card game from UCS that teaches kids about the choices we have when it comes to climate change.

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