HAPPY NEW WEEK!
Last week's Chat Thread is here.
This is an important week with several major events for the global community!
SPRING EQUINOX
Spring arrives Friday, 20 March 2015, in the Northern Hemisphere at:
22:45 GMT/UTC10:45 p.m. in the U.K.06:45 p.m. in the eastern United States03:45 p.m. in California
Autumn Equinox is Saturday, 21 March 2015, in the Southern Hemisphere. Fall arrives at 09:15 a.m. in Adelaide, Australia.
NEW MOON
The Moon turns new on the day of the equinox at 09:36 GMT/UTC, only 14 hours after reaching lunar perigee (the moon's closest point to Earth in its orbit). The New Moon is at 09:36 a.m. in the U.K., 05:36 a.m. in the eastern U.S., 02:36 a.m. in California, and on 20 March at 08:06 p.m. in Adelaide, Australia.
SOLAR ECLIPSE
Here's the big news! On Equinox day, 20 March, the close perigee New Moon will swing right in front of the Sun to totally block out the solar disk. It's a Total Solar Eclipse!
You have to be in the right location -- the Faroe Islands or the Svalbard archipelago... -- to witness the eclipse in totality, but a much larger swatch of the globe will see varying degrees of partial solar eclipse -- Europe and parts of Africa and Asia. In much of the U.K., your view will be near total! (Oh, how I envy you. It won't be visible in the U.S. or Australia, I regret to say.)
For children who might read this, I have to add: Looking directly at the Sun during the eclipse could cause blindness or severe eye damage.
Eclipse information HERE
Watch a livestream broadcast of the event HERE
Edit: Slooh has redesigned their site. Here's an updated link for the livestream broadcast of the total solar eclipse: HERE
Clare, Very good photographs of a gull frenzy. Surprised to see so many of the young were able to take part.
I was thinking that as I snapped them. I suppose that as they've survived at least one winter they are more confident about competing with the adults for food.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
So sorry to read that Dyfi has been broken into. Items have been stolen and the office is trashed. I know Dyfi is a favourite of most of us.
D&G leads the way - again:
www.bbc.co.uk/.../uk-scotland-south-scotland-31907777
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Hello! Not making dinner tonight: OH and I are going to NTS local group supper and AGM.
Very concerned about the T in the Park issue, and the break-in at Dyfi.
Rita – lovely Hippeastrum or Amaryllis – unusual colour.
Wendy and Clare – can’t enter the horsey debate – only time I was put on the back of a horse I screamed until I was taken off – aged four. Can’t stand the things since then, but I do appreciate their looks and what they do, and love photographing them – from a distance!
Wendy – congratulations on the Red Nose Anniversary!
Brenda – well done to your Son and his Marathon feat!
AQ – how awful for you to have been in such pain – and your OH taking on extra Nanny duties. I hope this will make your Daughter and S-I L realise that they are expecting far too much of you!
Alicat – sorry you are still working too hard and long hours – do take care!
Margo – sorry you are left drained and poorly after your chemo week again – but pleased to see your optimism that it will soon pass. I have experienced blood tests from the back of the hand – very painful – even had it done from my foot once. I hope you managed to follow Billie’s example and get some rest today.
Clare – enjoyed the Gulls! Agree with Brenda about the many young ones among them.
Linda – are you due home this week – and then collect Bonnie at the weekend?
Shopping at Asda tomorrow will include lunch out - if we ever decide where - for OH's birthday, as we enter the two weeks when I can declare he is older than I!
Yes, OG - we return on Wednesday and hope to pick up Bonnie on Friday.
Unknown said: Diane, It is doubtful how much of the eclipse we will be able to see, as the forecasters think that it may be very cloudy !!!!!!
Diane, It is doubtful how much of the eclipse we will be able to see, as the forecasters think that it may be very cloudy !!!!!!
Linda, I can't believe your holiday is nearly over. Possibly because you have been posting each day as usual. Hope you are both feeling refreshed and relaxed now.