Astronomy

Supermoons

We are going to enjoy a “season” of 3 full moon supermoons on March 9, April 8 and May 7, 2020. Then we’ll have a “season” of 3 new moon supermoons on September 17, October 16 and November 15, 2020.

A supermoon is a new or full moon closely coinciding with the moon’s closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. A full moon or new moon has to come within 90% of its closest approach to Earth to be dubbed a supermoon. In other words, any full moon or new moon that comes to within 224,865 miles (or less) of our planet, as measured from the centers of the moon and Earth, can be called a supermoon.

Let’s figure out “90% of the moon’s closest approach to Earth” by the year’s closest perigee (moon’s closest point to Earth for the year) and the year’s farthest apogee (moon’s farthest point from Earth for the year). In 2020, the closest perigee is 221,772 miles. The farthest apogee is 252,707 miles. So any full moon or new moon coming closer than 224,865 miles, as measured from the centers of the Earth and moon, counts as a supermoon in 2020.

By the way, the most distant and smallest full moon of the year will fall on October 31, 2020. Sometimes called a micromoon, it’ll be 252,380 miles away. That’s a whopping 30,529 miles farther away than the year’s closest and biggest full moon on April 8, 2020.

The hype aspect of supermoons probably stems from an erroneous impression people had when the word supermoon came into popular usage, maybe a few decades ago? Some people mistakenly believed a full supermoon would look much, much bigger to the eye. It doesn’t. Full supermoons don’t look bigger to the eye than ordinary full moons, although experienced observers say they can detect a difference.

But supermoons do look brighter than ordinary full moons!  So, go outside on the night of a full supermoon, and – if you’re a regular observer of nature – you’ll surely notice the supermoon is exceptionally bright!

Garden almanac

Breaking Winter

Breaking winter this weekend is supposed to get toward 60 degrees Sunday, and I am thinking of spring. Then looked at the forecast for next week, back down to 30 degrees. I guess spring will wait. But here are some things you can do while you wait.

Sitting in the recliner with gardening catalogs coming out now and with a cup of tea is a time-honored winter activity for gardeners. There, you can peruse the hundreds of new veggie and plant varieties for the 2020 growing season. With a few catalogs at the ready, winter becomes a time for dreaming and hoping.

Grab a pencil and paper and actually draw a bird’s-eye view of your garden. You can mark where plants are currently located and where you want to put new varieties. It’s a great exercise for the creatively minded.

There are plenty of houseplants that can provide you with color and texture right now. Some easy specimens include geraniums, crown of the thorns (Euphorbia milii), begonias, streptocarpus, cyclamen, African violets, and countless types of cacti and succulents. My begonias I brought in October have been blooming since coming inside.

Maybe not the most exciting job, but a necessary one. Keep your shovels, forks, clippers, and trowels in shape by making sure they’re clean and any moving parts are well-oiled. This year I am buying bright-orange spray paint and paint the handles. That way, when you’re working outside and lay a tool on the ground, you’ll be able to find it in a jiffy, instead of waiting till the snow melts to find that shovel.

Home Improvement

Let us Start with the Tub with your Bathroom Remodel

Are you updating or adding a bathroom? Let us start with the tub.

A freestanding tub is a bathroom renovation that takes you back to the past if you are used to walk-in showers. Because it is not positioned in a corner or attached to a wall, this kind of bathtub style instantly becomes a focal point and complements to your home while making a stylish design statement. 

Soaking after a long day is the perfect way to close your evening, and a freestanding soaking tub will get you there. Soaker tubs are designed to be deeper and keep water from overflowing during your bath. These tubs should be considered for contemporary and modern bathroom remodeling ideas, and they usually don’t require significant changes to your home plumbing system. Designed with comfort and space in mind, soakers tubs also tend to have therapeutic features like water jets. Consider adding a set of steps and grab bar to walk into your new soaker tub more easily.

Make a statement in your bathroom with a distinctive bathtub material. The most commonly used bathtub materials are acrylic, fiberglass, and plastic. Step up your remodel with a few alternatives for a fresh and unique finish. There are several options available for when you want to step out of your comfort zone, including copper, alcove and wooden bathtub finishes.

A walk-in bathtub usually includes the tub, shower, seating, and steps to the unit. This type of bathtub setup is perfect for your small bathroom or if you need more functional assistance during your bath. This combination can make your life easier every day. Make your walk-in a smart tub with gadgets that control the water temperature and jets. Other bathtub technology options can play music and monitor water use and consumption.