Space Weather News for July 3, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

WEEKEND SKY SHOW: Saturn, Mars and a slender crescent Moon are gathering together for a pretty sunset sky show over the 4th of July weekend. For people in the USA celebrating Independence Day, it's a bit of heavenly charm among the smoke and flash of evening fireworks. Check http://spaceweather.com for the full story and sky maps.

EARTH AT APHELION: On the 4th of July, you will be farther from the sun than at any other time of the year. Earth's orbit around the sun is not a perfect circle, it's an ellipse, and on July 4th, Earth is at the end of the ellipse farthest from the sun. Astronomers call this "aphelion." When we are at aphelion, the sun appears slightly smaller in the sky (by about 1.7%) and global solar heating is actually a little less (by about 3.5%) than the yearly average. This provides scant relief from northern summer heat, however. Today's edition of http://spaceweather.com explains why.


David Cottle

UBB Owner & Administrator