This radar image of asteroid 2005 YU55 was generated from data taken in April of 2010 by the Arecibo Radar Telescope in Puerto Rico. REUTERS/NASA/Cornell/Arecibo/Handout
We aren’t on the verge of Armageddon and no we won’t need Bruce Willis’ services, but brace yourselves, a large asteroid is on its way to Earth and will come within 201,000 miles of our planet.
The large asteroid, appropriately named 2005 YU55, is on its way to pass by the earth at 6:28 p.m. EST, Tuesday, November 8th. It will be visible in the northern hemisphere and won’t be seen by the naked eye. It will also be too fast for the Hubble Space Telescope to spot it.
Thousands of professional and amateur astronomers are poised and ready to watch the asteroid as it passes by. It will give scientists an opportunity to study the asteroid without having to launch a probe.
These celestial events where objects pass closely to the earth are only expected to occur a few times a century.
It’s the first time since 1976 that an object this large has come this close to Earth. During that time, no
There is a fight going on in Douglas County, Colorado. Not over school lunches, school hours or even the amount of homework assigned.
The fight is over a parent’s right to choose vs how taxpayer money is spent.
Let’s not forget, this issue is also about kids and their families getting caught in politics.
Last year, the Douglas County Schools approved a school voucher program, the first of its kind in Colorado. The voucher program gave parents the ability to choose the right school for their child. If Dougco wasn’t able to provide for and meet the needs of a student, parents were able to take some of the money allocated for their child’s public education and spend it at the school of their choice, including private or religious schools.
The district spends about $6,000 for each student per year, and the district offered “scholarships” of $4,575 to use at a private school. Families would receive four checks during the school year either covering the cost of tuition at their chosen private school or 75% of what the district would have spent if the child attended class in
Photo courtesy Bureau of Land Management/John McColgan In 2000, this wildfire burned just north of Sula, Montana.
It’s wildfire season and people across the country watch the conditions and the weather hoping their home will be spared.
Areas with dense trees, grass, shrubs or other plant growth are more susceptible to wildfires, especially after a wet season in spring followed by a dry season in summer.
According to How Stuff Works, an average of 5 million acres burn every year in the United States, threatening homes, property and the lives of those in the fire area.
The largest fire in Arizona history, the 841-square mile Wallow Fire is now 77% contained. Two other large fires – the Horseshoe Two and the Monument Fire have also raged across the state this June. The Horseshoe Two in southeastern Arizona burned over 348 square miles and is now completely contained. The Monument Fire near Sierra Vista is about 85% contained after burning 47 square miles and destroying 57 homes.
This past week, two forest rangers were killed while fighting a wildfire in northern Florida.
Smokey the Bear defines a wildfire as an “unwanted, unplanned,
Last Thursday, the producers from Saturday Night Live in New York called our office. They spoke with one of our amazing customer service representatives, Harmony. We’ve had producers from shows call us in the past, so this wasn’t a huge surprise for Harmony. But when the producer explained it was for the season finale and Justin Timberlake would be using it as a gag prop in a skit, Harmony took notice. The show purchased two Incredible Shrinking and Growing Head kits to use during the show.
Every box that is shipped from our Distribution Center is double checked for quality. For a package on it’s way to 50 Rock in New York, the product was taken out of the box and personally checked by Harmony before being sent out. Justin was the Mysterious Crandell, a not-so-good magician who used our kit to try and hypnotize the audience. Watch the clip to see what happened.
The wonderful people at Rayovac recently approached us and asked for our help in celebrating Teacher Appreciation week (May 2 – 6). They are recognizing inspirational teachers by offering three all-expense paid trips to attend Science in the Rockies in Denver, Colorado July 6-8, 2011.
Science in the Rockies is an intensive three-day hands-on science training for teachers who want to integrate more science into their classrooms and make it more meaningful and fun for their students.
“There are so many amazing educators that bring inspiration, guidance, encouragement and fun to the classroom,” said Kent Klagos, Division Vice President, Rayovac. “Through the Teachers Bring Science to Life Contest, we hope to recognize a few of the many outstanding teachers as well as give them an amazing science experience they can bring back and share with their students.”
Do you know a K-6 teacher that brings learning to life and inspires kids to want to learn in the classroom? Rayovac is now accepting nominations on
