The Red Planet is about to be spectacular!

This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

 

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide.  At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye...Mars will be easy to spot…

 

At the beginning of August it rose in the east at 10p.m. and reached its azimuth at about 3am.  By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point  in the sky at 12:30am.

 

That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history.  So mark your calendar to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month of August and culminate on August 27th.

Share this with your children and grandchildren...

No one alive today will ever see this again!

 Thank you, Janis Burke for sharing this info with us!

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The Health Fair-Blood Drive was spectacular!

Thanks to everyone who supported the health fair by stopping up to the lodge for the blood pressure and diabetes screenings, health information, displays and free samples.  Collecting the materials does little good if no one comes to use them.

 

The blood drive collected 16 pints of blood, and 3 donors  participated in a double red cell collection, for a total of 22 pints.  The efforts of everyone who signed up are greatly appreciated.

 

This time we had a new procedure ‘double red cell’ collection. The experience should be more comfortable because a smaller  needle is used and you receive fluids back. Only the red blood cells are extracted and your plasma, which contains all of your vitamins, minerals, nutrients is returned with a saline, which is like an energy boost without the calories!  You actually leave LifeShare better hydrated than when you arrived.  The entire process takes just only 10-20 minutes longer (36 minutes the nurses tell us) and  you  only donate 3 times a year instead of 6.  The procedure is safe.  Even though a machine is used to separate the components, your blood never touches the machine or anyone else’s blood.

 

Kudos to all the BHHP volunteers who began setup at 7:30 am, manned the displays & screenings, provided refreshments and the Burger Bash and finished with final cleanup after 3:00pm. 

Special thanks to Jan & Mel Haag for organizing the event!

Horse Activities– 8:00 am Saturday & Sunday     Barn Construction-If you would like to help-10:00 am Saturday & Sunday