Solstices, Axial Tilt and Cultural Significance

December 21 Marks The Beginning Of Winter In The Northern Hemisphere

• The astronomical start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere will occur on December 21, 2024.
• The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year.
• Residents of the Southern Hemisphere celebrate the summer solstice on the same day, enjoying the longest day and shortest night of 2024.
• Earth's seasons result from its orbit around the Sun and the tilt of its axis at a 23.5-degree angle.
• During the December solstice, the Northern Hemisphere tilts farthest from the Sun, receiving less sunlight.
• The Southern Hemisphere leans toward the Sun, basking in its warmth.
• For ancient cultures, the winter solstice held great significance and was marked with elaborate rituals.
• Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, is believed to have been built specifically for solstice ceremonies, designed to perfectly align with the Sun's movement during the solstices.
• Newgrange in Boyne Valley, Ireland, which is a popular 5,200-year-old stone structure, is designed to receive sun light.
• The admission to the chamber from December 19th to 23rd each year for a few dozen people is determined by lottery.

Can Life Exist On An Icy Moon? NASA's Latest Mission Aims To Find Out!

• NASA's latest mission takes the search for life to Jupiter's fourth largest moon, Europa.
• On October 14, 2024, the Europa Clipper spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to uncover the distant moon's secrets.
• About an hour and 10 minutes after launch, it was confirmed that the spacecraft successfully entered orbit.
• Europa is considered one of the top candidates for alien life because it may have the three key ingredients necessary for life: liquid water, energy, and the right chemical elements.
• Scientists believe that under Europa's icy crust lies a large saltwater ocean, containing twice as much water as Earth's oceans.
• Europa's energy source likely comes from Jupiter's gravity pulling on it, stretching and squeezing Europa's interior, creating heat.
• Europa surface may have essential elements for life, such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen which could create conditions that support microbial life.
• Jupiter is about 480 million miles (772 million km) from Earth and the Europa Clipper will travel 1.8 billion miles (2.8 billion km) over 5.5 years to reach its destination.
• The long journey is because the spacecraft needs to use "gravity assist" maneuvers to gain speed.
• Europa Clipper will enter Jupiter's orbit in April 2030 and spend about a year preparing for its first flyby of the moon.
• Over three years, the spacecraft will fly over Europa 49 times, mapping the entire moon, getting as close as 16 miles (25 km) to its surface.
• The data collected will help scientists estimate the thickness of Europa's icy shell and understand the ocean beneath it.
• NASA states that the mission's goal is to determine if there are areas below the icy moon's surface that could support life.
• Once its the Europa Clipper mission is complete, the spacecraft will deliberately crash into Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon.

Metal Detectorists Unearth Ancient Silver Coins Worth Millions

• In January 2019, Adam Staples and friends found a trove of silver coins in Chew Valley, Somerset, England.
• The Chew Valley Hoard consist of 2,584 silver pennies dating back to the 11th century.
• On October 23, 2024, the South West Heritage Trust purchased the coins for $5.5 million, making it Britain's most valuable treasure find.
• The coins date from 1066 to 1068 and are believed to have been minted at 46 different locations in England.
• The coins featured either Harold II or William I.
• The coins represent a significant turning point in England's history, following the Norman Conquest of 1066.
• The Chew Valley Hoard will tour museums across the UK, beginning with the British Museum in London in November 2024.

November's Beaver Moon Will Be This Year's Last Supermoon

• The full moon on November 15, 2024, will be the last of four consecutive supermoons.
• The next supermoon will not occur again until October 7, 2025.
• Supermoons can be as much as 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than the average full moon.
• On November 15, 2024, the Moon will be about 224,853 miles (361,866 km) from Earth.
• The average full moon coincides with the lunar perigee, which is the Moon's closest point to Earth in orbit.
• It will be a smaller distance than the November 2016 supermoon which was 221,524 miles (356,508 km).
• The Moon's elliptical orbit causes the distance between the Moon and Earth to vary.
• The farthest point in this orbit is known as the apogee, placing the Moon about 253,000 miles (407,164 km) from Earth.
• At perigee, the Moon's distance from Earth is on average 226,000 miles (363,711 km) of Earth.
• Other names for November's full moon include the Frost Moon, the Freezing Moon, and the Digging Moon.

Student-Built Rocket Breaks 20-Year-Old Amateur Space Altitude Record

• Aftershock II, launched from Nevada's Black Rock Desert by USC students, reached an altitude of 470,000 feet (143.3 km).
• The altitude was 90,000 feet (27.4 km) higher than the amateur rocket altitude record of 380,000 feet (115.8 km) set by the Civilian Space eXploration Team's GoFast rocket in 2004.
• The Aftershock II broke the sound barrier within two seconds of launch, reaching a speed of 3,600 mph (5,800 km/h) which is 5.5 times the speed of sound just 19 seconds after launch.
• Aftershock II left Earth's atmosphere in about 85 seconds after launch and reached its peak altitude in 92 seconds.
• RPL's Traveler IV rocket became the first student-built rocket to cross the Kármán line, an imaginary line 328,083 feet (100 km) above Earth's surface, marking the edge of space.
• The rocket's titanium-coated fins and heat-resistant paint enabled it to endure the extreme temperatures.
• RPL's next goal is designing vehicles to carry scientific instruments into space for research purposes.

Word's First Wooden Satellite Launched Into Space

• LignoSat, the wooden satellite reached the ISS aboard a SpaceX cargo capsule on November 5, 2024.
• The satellite, named after the Latin word for "wood," will be launched from the ISS into Earth's orbit.
• Its purpose is to determine wood is able to withstand it.
• LignoSat could pave the way for more environmentally friendly spacecraft designs.
• LignoSat Space Wood Project is a collaboration between Japan's Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry.
• Researchers sent a panel with wood samples to the ISS and analyzed the results to determine magnolia wood was best for the satellite.
• Testing wooden satellites could reduce space junk as they're primarily made of aluminum and produce aluminum oxide particles.
• Wooden satellites leave behind water and carbon dioxide, alleviating the issue.
• LignoSat will orbit Earth for six months and researchers aim to use this information to design larger and more advanced wooden satellites and devices.

Millions Of Bats Gather In Largest Mammal Migration On Earth

• Kasanka National Park in Zambia, Africa, has millions of straw-colored fruit bats migrate to it.
• From October to December across Africa, from miles, fruit bats converge on this evergreen swamp forest, but not for breeding.
• Researchers are unsure why the bats pick Kasanka.
• Bats' migration routes and habits remain a mystery even with GPS tags.
• Straw-colored fruit bats are larger than most bat species, with a wingspan that can reach up to 30 inches (76 cm) and form colonies in the millions.
• Bat populations face threats, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.

From Orphans To Soulmates - The Tale Of Two Amur Tigers

• Boris and Svetlaya, Amur tigers in Siberia, Russia, reunited being separated for over 100 miles.
• The original cubs became companions in 2014.
• The tiger's release was to spread them out over an area.
• Six months after the reunion, Svetlaya gave birth to a litter of cubs.
• Some years ago, another rescued tiger named Zolushka ("Cinderella" in Russian) was released into the wild.
• Amur tigers, are the largest of all tiger subspecies and can live in temperature as low as -50°F (-46°C).

From The White House To Global Peace - The Lasting Legacy Of Jimmy Carter

• Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away on December 29, 2024.
• Carter passed peacefully at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia.
• During the month of Jimmy Carter’s death, Joe Biden had January 9 declared as a federal holiday.
• Carter served as a Navy submariner graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1946
• Carter announced his Presidential candidacy on December 12, 1974.
• During his presidency he achieved numerous things including; negotiating a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
• After his Presidency, Mr. Carter devoted himself to humanitarian causes.
• During 2007, Mr. Carter helped form The Elders, a political group based in world leadership.

Israel And Hamas Reach Ceasefire Agreement

• Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement on January 15, 2025, to end conflict, which marks the first step.
• The conflict began on October 7, 2023, during Hamas's attack that killed 1,200 civilians and took 251 hostages.
• In response, war was declared during Israel-Hamas.
• The Israel-Hamas ceasefire will be carried out in three stages
• As of January 22, 2025, over 2,400 aid trucks have entered Gaza with over half of them reaching northern.

Wildfires Cause Widespread Destruction In Los Angeles

• Since early January 2025, multiple large wildfires have erupted in and around Los Angeles.
• As of January 15, 2025, thousands of acres, homes, businesses, schools, and other structures have been been destroyed.
• The fires are largely driven by severe drought and the Santa Ana winds.
• The most concerning fires are the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire.
• Fires are in the top most destructive in the areas history, and the cleanup is estimated at $250 to $275 billion.
• Biden approved a one-time payment of $770 to the affected residents.

Explore how Earth's axial tilt causes solstices in different hemispheres. Discover the astronomical event behind the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice and ancient cultures' solstice significance. Learn about the Chew Valley Hoard discovery and its socio-economic implications.