Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight

There will be a total lunar eclipse tonight over Sussex County.  The eclipse of the Moon will begin at at 1:33 am (Tuesday morning) and end at 5:01am.  The Moon will be totally eclipsed by the Earth's shadow from 2:41am till 3:53.   Some other interesting facts: The afternoon have begun to get a little longer (about a minute each day or two) since the earliest sunset occurred two weeks ago on Dec 9th.
Astronomical winter begins today (Dec 21)
December's Sky Chart

Geophysics: Links for class

1.  Classzone.com site:  http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/navigation/home.cfm

2.  "Name that Rock": (answer questions 1-10 in your notebook): http://library.thinkquest.org/J002289/name.html

3. Rock "Scavenger Hunt" (questions 1-10 in your notebook    NOTE: go to bottom of page, then click on "Fun Activities" then find and click on Scavenger Hut) :  http://library.thinkquest.org/J002289/rocks.html
4. Site to help you with "Matching Rock Properties" section of the worksheets: http://geology.com/rocks/igneous-rocks.shtml

Drake's Equation: Is there life out there?

Use the link provided to calculate "your" probability of intelligent life else where in our galaxy. There is a short video to help you. video: youtube video The Calculator: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origins/drake.html  

1. Right ascension / declination link: https://student.boyertownasd.org/UserFiles/pdetterline/Equatorial%20Star%20Maps%20website.pdf

2. Constellation and your zodiac sign article:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41062376/ns/technology_and_science-science/

Oldest Rocks in NJ Dated at 1.37 BILLION Years Old

This past week the state of New Jersey released information that the oldest rocks in NJ dated at 1.37 Billion years old. The geology of NJ rocks have never been dated to such a high degree. The rocks in Sparta seem to be dated at over 1 billion years old too.  For more information: http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2010/10_0137.htm