The 2017 Orionid meteor shower will be at its peak this weekend.

The Orionids are an annual meteor shower which occurs around the same period each year. Associated with Halley’s Comet, this is also one of the most prolific such sky gazing events. This year, the meteor shower will reach its peak on October 20 to October 21, with the rest of the weekend also offering good stargazing or more like meteor-gazing occasions.

The 2017 Orionid Meteor Shower, Better Viewing Chances than Usual

The Orionids are some of the best known and most prolific meteor showers, but that doesn’t mean they are also always at their most visible. This depends on the cloud coverage, light pollution, and in some cases, sky gazing can even be disrupted by the Moon’s phases.

However, the 2017 Orionid meteor shower should offer prime viewing chances as it will peak just a few days after the new moon so that the night sky will be darker than in other years. Nonetheless, sky gazers have to be alert when watching the Orionids, as this is well known for having especially bright and fast meteors, ones that can travel around 41 miles per second.

This meteor shower is produced by Earth’s passing through the particles left behind by Halley’s Comet. Although this whizzes past our planet only every 75 or 76 years, it leaves behind a trail of dust and ice and particles.

Although Halley’s Comet is its “creator”, the Orionids are named after the direction and sky region from which they appear to radiate. This was established as being somewhere near the constellation Orion The Hunter.

According to reports, the 2017 Orionid meteor shower can be best viewed in the morning, especially on October 21 and October 22. Meteors produced by this event started crossing the sky on October 2 and are expected to end on November 07. During its peak periods, the 2017 Orionid is expected to produce some 10 to 15 meteorites per hour.

One of the best things about the Orionids is that they can be viewed from anywhere on the planet and that they can be seen from anywhere across the sky.

Image Source: Wikimedia

The U.S. Air Force is conducting aerial spraying over Texas to combat one of the effects of Harvey.

Texas state authorities are anticipating an increase in the local mosquito populations as the floodwater starts receding. One of the effects of Harvey, the state has called in the U.S. Air Force to try and combat this potential source of illnesses before it sets in.

One of the Effects of Harvey Could Be the Increase in Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Beginning Wednesday, September 13, C-130 military planes from the U.S. Air Force commenced the aerial spraying of insecticides across Texas. According to reports, these will be spread along the state’s coastal regions.

Reportedly, Texas state authorities are looking to spray around six million acres with insecticides with help from the nation’s Air Force. Some three counties, Brazoria, Jefferson, and Chambers have already been treated.

Texas officials have been reported as declaring that most of the mosquitos that turn up in the mentioned areas aren’t disease carriers and that spraying will help protect cleanup crews from discomfort.

However, the spraying actions could very well be helpful in trying to prevent one of the possible effects of Harvey: the increase in mosquito-borne illnesses. As floodwaters recede, local mosquito populations are likely to increase because of the ensuing still water pools.

The Texas Health and Human Services posted a news update on its efforts of combating the effects of Hurricane Harvey. One of the sections specifically targeted the mosquito control actions being conducted by the state.

According to this: “During aerial spraying, a small amount of insecticide is sprayed over a large area, one to two tablespoons per acre. When applied according to label instructions by a licensed professional, it does not pose a health risk to people, pets or the environment.”

The statement continues by pointing out that, although people will likely prefer to remain inside and with their windows closed during these actions, this will not be strictly necessary.
U.S. Air Force-conducted aerial sprayings will be using naled, an ‘organophosphate category of insecticides’.

Image Source: Flickr

Randy Bresnik, a NASA astronaut aboard the ISS, has been tweeting pictures of the Earth from space.

Randy Bresnik, one of the NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station or ISS, took to his Twitter page to show photos of the effects of the Hurricane Irma and the eye of Jose.

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A walk inside the Eye of #Jose. Just amazing to see through the eye to the surface! pic.twitter.com/5IwlKLOWfN

— Randy Bresnik (@AstroKomrade) September 11, 2017

The effects of Hurricane Irma and the total damages produced by its passing have yet to be fully calculated. Presently, Irma has been downgraded yet again and is now a tropical storm after changing several times between Category 5 or 4 and then Category 3.

The NASA Astronaut Captured Media for Harvey, Irma, and Now Jose

Randy Bresnik has been on the ISS since July and has been sharing of images and media that he captured while up in space. Among them, the NASA astronaut released a series of images of Super Typhoon Noru as it formed over the Pacific.

Bresnik’s shares also captured the effects of Hurricane Harvey and now of Hurricane Irma and Jose. Through his images, the astronaut offers a more accurate sense of the scale of the hurricane, now downgraded to a tropical storm. The pictures also give a first look at the damages caused by Hurricane Irma on the Turks and Caicos.

He took photos of the islands a week apart. The shapes and sizes of Turks and Caicos are easily recognizable. However, the color of the two islands is strikingly different as the post-Irma images show the oceanic waters colored by the sand eddying out of them.

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What a difference a week makes, Turks and Caicos before and after #Irma. pic.twitter.com/BAm438TSwe

— Randy Bresnik (@AstroKomrade) September 10, 2017

The NASA astronaut will remain in space until December, this year. He is part of the expeditions 52 and 53, being the Commander of the latter. He is using the robotic equipment to study the Earth from up in space. This is just a part of the ISS technology that casts its eye towards our planet and not the outer space.

For example, the Landsat, which is collecting four decades worth of data on Earth, shows the effects of Irma on the Virgin Gorda island’s vegetation.

While downgraded, Irma is still expected to pound its way across the southeastern U.S. as more rain is predicted to fall on the states of Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama through Wednesday.

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With #Jose exiting off, the windward Caribbean islands can now begin their recovery. pic.twitter.com/yMTJoQFarY

— Randy Bresnik (@AstroKomrade) September 11, 2017

Image Source: Wikimedia

Pyramid Lake visitors are urged not to touch or ingest waters with cyanobacteria blooms.

The California Department of Water Resources issued a warning last week against swimming or even touching the waters of Pyramid Lake. This decision was the result of the increased presence of cyanobacteria blooms, a sort of toxic algae.

An official statement on the matter was released on July 07, coupled with a Twitter post.

Pyramid Lake algal bloom now at ‘Warning’ level. Public urged to avoid water contact. https://t.co/KKfr81gE2j pic.twitter.com/QJh8iSVFdX

— CA – DWR (@CA_DWR) July 7, 2017

Cyanobacteria Blooms Lead to “Warning” Status

The decision to raise the safety levels came after authorities tested the waters of the Pyramid Lake Vaquero Day Use Area swim beach. These were verified on July 06 with a field test kit. This returned a reading of 10 micrograms of microcystins per liter.

The increased levels led to the authorities’ decision of raising a “Warning” health advisory. They also decided to close down the swimming area. In general, people should avoid coming into direct contact or using water containing cyanobacteria blooms.

These toxic bacteria can be either blue-green, white or brown. It can also appear as mats, scum, or brown foam floating on the surface of the water or accumulating in boat ramp areas and along the shoreline. The blue-green algae can come with health problems, especially for pets and children.

“Warning” signs have already been raised at the Vaquero Swim Beach, and “Caution” ones are posted in other areas around the lake. These include the Emigrant Landing Swim Beach, which is still open for swimming. The Vaquero Day Use Area is still open for shoreline activities such as picnics.

Pyramid Lake visitors are urged to avoid swimming or ingesting water in the Vaquero Beach bloom region. They should also not swallow water from anywhere else in the lake. Visitors are also advised to choose safe water activities while at the lake.

The cyanobacteria blooms can rapidly change their conditions and be either concentrated or moved into other areas of the lake by the wind and waves.

While field tests provide faster results, samples have been sent in for laboratory testing. These should yield definitive results and an additional analysis of the features of the blooms.

Image Source: Wikimedia

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is being cleaned up and treated against a parasite.

The National Park Service announced on June 9 its plans for cleaning up the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after a water-borne parasite led to the death of around 80 ducks. This action began on Sunday, June 11, and should be completed by Monday, June 19.

The National Park Service issued a press release on the matter in which it also offered details as to the reason behind this new action. According to the authority, beginning with May 20 and May 21, some 80 ducklings have been found dead on the Reflecting pool. Reports state that around 53 deceased birds were detected in a single day.

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Getting a Very Necessary Treatment

Based on the high numbers, the National Wildlife Health Center of the U.S. Geological Survey decided to carry out necropsies, which seemed to indicate the presence of water-borne parasites. Namely, very high levels of the parasite. This can develop and grow in the snails living in the Reflecting Pool.

The National Park Service stated that, in this case, chemical treatments only are not sufficient. To fully reduce and clean the pool of the snail and parasite population, they decided to completely drain it. The Pool will then be cleaned, treated and then refilled and reopened.

Authorities started draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 11, last Sunday. This process should take about two days. Starting tomorrow, June 13, crews should begin cleaning the pool. If all goes according to plan, the pool should be clean, refilled, and once again operational by next Monday, June 19. The refill is scheduled to begin Friday, June 16.

After the cleaning and treatment are completed, the National Park Services will continue monitoring and testing the pool’s water quality.

Authorities stated that humans that come into contact with the waters of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool are at an extremely low risk of contracting the parasite. They would have to hold a sustained contact with the water, for example by wading or swimming in it, which is strictly forbidden, though not unheard of.

Those who do contract the parasite ca develop cercarial dermatitis or the so-called “swimmer’s itch”. An allergic reaction in the form of a skin rash, this rarely requires medical treatment and is not contagious.

Image Source: Wikimedia

Authorities are alarmed as some mystery pills led to a wave of overdoses in Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Public Health recently issued a warning targeting mystery pills linked to four deaths and many overdoses. According to the statement, these unidentified capsules are being sold under false claims and presented as being a painkiller. Also, authorities fear that these may be spreading to other parts of the state as well.

The Mystery Pills Are Yellow and Sold As Percocet

The Georgia Department of Health (DPH) issued its warning on June 06^th. In it, it revealed that these mystery pills might have already led to four deaths, which occurred in less than 48 hours after consumption. DPH authorities believe that the unidentified substance is spreading and may start surfacing in various communities across the state.

Presently, the DPH detected it in south and central Georgia. Cases connected to them first started being monitored some 2 – 3 days ago. Still, even over this short period, the pills were already linked to dozens of overdoses.

Now, authorities are trying to prevent them from being sold to other parts of the state as well. According to reports, cases linked to such pills continued coming in even on Tuesday. Overdose reports connected to mysterious pills still came in to county hospitals.

“The substance has not yet been identified, but it is extremely potent and has required massive doses of naloxone (Narcan) to counteract its effects,” states the DPH.

Authorities added that tests are being carried out to determine the substance or ingredients in the pills. Besides the high doses of naloxone, many patients also had to be placed on ventilators.

The DPH statement underlines that these mystery pills are yellow and seem to be sold under the pretense of being Percocet. This is an opioid-based painkiller, but the effects of the unidentified capsules are far more potent than it.

The mysterious pills can cause its victims to have trouble or even stop breathing. Authorities are warning people to immediately call 911 if they or someone else may have taken this pill. Specialists are also looking to determine what caused this wave of overdoses.

Image Source: Pixabay