So what does it mean with Saturn coming to "Opposition"?
Simply put it means that as the sun sets in the west, Saturn will be rising in the east.
More correctly put Saturn will be following the path of the ecliptic, this is the path that the sun and most of the planets follow across the sky. This will obviously vary depending on your latitude and the time of year. If you drew an imaginary line between, the Sun, Earth and Saturn, it would have been a straight line at the time of opposition (24th of February).
Saturn can now be seen at near its closest point to the earth for the year and as such it is an ideal time to view the beautiful ringed planet. Saturn's rings are slowly closing up as each year passes, this means that in a few years time we will see the rings edge on, making them almost disappear!
At the moment Saturn's rings are tilted at 8 degrees, making them still visible in a small telescope. Right now though is the time to look though, and if you have never seen Saturn before you are in for a big treat. It is a planet of incredible beauty and the subtle colors will be seen when your scope size is 6" or above in mirror or lens diameter.
Colors visible on a clear still night include pale yellow, Tan, white and black. If you can get a look through a telescope take the time to watch for as long as you can. Changes in the clarity of our atmosphere from moment to moment will affect just how much detail you see. You will also be able to pick out 4 or 5 moons of Saturn, depending on your scope size!
The main moons that are visible are Titan, Dione, Tethys, Encelandus, Mimas & Rhea. However there are now 60 identified moons around the ringed giant, with some as small as 2 km in diameter right up to the giant Titan which is 150% the size of our own moon.
Best time to enjoy Saturn is mid evening, when it has risen half way up in the eastern sky. If you can find the constellation of Leo and the bright star Regulus, you will be able to find Saturn approximately 5 degree's (about 1 hands width) away, as the bright yellowish "star" nearby that is not shown on the star charts.
If you want to learn more on how to find Saturn and the other planets visit http://www.nightskysecrets.com
Ian Maclean - Author, Presenter and Science Show host
Homepage: http://www.nightskysecrets.com
Discover how you can uncover the hidden secrets of the night sky for yourself.On my homepage http://www.nightskysecrets.com you will be able to download a free copy of my Audio "Night Sky Secrets - Revealed" plus get a free subscription to nightskysecrets, where you will be kept up to date with all the latest events you can see in the night sky and gain subscriber only access to my blog page, often with maps, charts, photos and movies to compliment these articles and much more. I hope you enjoyed my Article.
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¶ 7:28 PM 0 comments
- wind energy is becoming competitive in some regions, primarily driven by cost reductions, better technology and improved siting
- developing wind energy requires a variety of policy instruments
- public opinion is favourable in the abstract, but a NIMBY syndrome pops often up for concrete projects (NIMBY = not in my backyard)
Intermittency is becoming the single biggest challenge for the sector, as the penetration of wind energy increases. The integration of wind energy into the electricity system brings additional costs:
- balancing cost: thermal power stations deviate from their original production schedule due to the increase variability of the load (where unbuffered use of wind power is seen as negative load)
backup capacity needs to be available to supply electricity when there is no wind - reinforcement of transmission and distribution grids, and a lot of good wind sites are found in areas with weak grids
- Estimates for these costs vary among various studies between 5% and 40% of generation costs, and further understanding in this field is needed.
The report also expresses a concern that the integration of wind without buffer affects system stability beyond a certain point. Experiences in Denmark and Germany indicate this thresholds might be around 20%. Beyond that, integration costs would tend to increase with increasing wind use.
Wind energy has grown significantly over the past 1.5 decades in 4 countries (Denmark, Germany, Spain US), primarily with policy support. The technology is now becoming competitive in certain regions. But intermittency, siting and distance to load limit its potential.
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The full report is freely available after registration from the website of the Conference Board of Canadahttp://www.conferenceboard.ca/Boardwiseii/LayoutAbstract.asp?DID=1537
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¶ 1:07 PM 0 comments
Among all the countries in the world, South Africa has to be one of the most breath taking places to visit whether it be for it's geographical and cultural diversity or for the abundance of wild animals it has for you to see. There are several different types of safaris that you can experience on your visit the majority lasting for the duration of 8 days.
One of the most popular ones is the Safari And Sights tour package in which you leave Johannesburg early in the morning to go to Kruger National Park. Being over two million hectares in size, the Kruger national park has more than 146 mammal species, 507 bird species and 400 different tree varieties all for viewing pleasure during the safari. There is no guarantee which animals you will get to see however you are definitely going to be able to see many different antelope, birds, reptiles and mammals. You will also be able to get really close to the animals.
Other safaris you can go on include the Addo Elephant National Park where you get to see the densest population of elephants in the world along with other endangered species such as the black rhino. You can also go on the Safari and Victoria falls where you can enjoy a relaxing morning and or afternoon riverboat cruise on Matetsi's private stretch along the Zambezi River or canoe on the river where you will get the chance to be up and close with the elephants watching them drink from the riverbanks.
A guided tour of the Victoria Falls will also be included in your stay. There is also the grand tour which lasts 18 days and you get the luxury of travelling all over South Africa on a guided tour and get to see and experience all of the tourist sites and wild animals. Johannesburg, Mpumalanga, Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Zululand, Durban, Wild Coast, Oudtshoorn are some of the many different places you get to visit. You will get to see rivers, mountains, forests, cities and lots of other things too.
A safari in South Africa is something that anyone will definitely enjoy and an experience that will be remembered for a life time.
If you want more information on South Africa Safaris, please visit our website :http://www.Goingonsafari.com
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¶ 6:47 AM 0 comments
For lovers of the huge Burmese pythons we all know and care about, who cannot afford the space that they need, a fantastic alternative has arrived. Dwarf Burmese Pythons were imported into the UK and USA for the first time in 2003. They occur from a small off-shore Island in South East Asia and grow to a maximum of 7 feet. Adult males have bred at just 4feet, and females at 5feet. They have an almost identical appearance to their larger cousins, and youngsters will tame easily. The unfortunate side however, is their current price range. This has become the leading project in Python molurus for many breeders, aiming to breed this Dwarf into colour and pattern variants of its larger cousin, to ultimately achieve Dwarf Burmese Pythons in a wide array of colours and patterns.
Housing
When keeping any snake as a pet, you generally want to be able to view the snake from the outside of its enclosure, in the most natural surroundings you can offer. This will be more aesthetically pleasing and also aid in the general condition of the snake. If the snake likes its surroundings, it will have a better feeding response and generally grow quicker. A larger vivarium also offers more interest to the snakes life, and by adding branches and other natural products you will enhance the quality of life the snake has, and stop it from becoming lethargic and overweight. Also, being stronger it should have more of a resistance to any viral infections or any other problems that it may encounter later in life.
For an adult Dwarf Burmese python, a vivarium 120cm Length x 60cm Width x 60cm Height is ample. Unlike their larger cousins, these snakes are very shy and prefer a smaller, darker more compact space. Even in this 120cm Length enclosure, a minimum of 2 hiding areas should be offered. I kept a number of Wild Caught adults in enclosures half this size with no light for many months before they became accustomed to captivity. As soon as they fed on a regular basis and became more comfortable with me, I gave them larger enclosures. Some individuals when put in these enclosures, reverted to being more aggressive and refused their food, while others took to it like icing on a cake. Juveniles should be treated in a similar manner, with a small enclosure being offered to begin with, and as time progresses the enclosure should grow with the snake.
Snake enclosures can be made from a number of materials. Most commonly used is a melamine coated wood which covers all sides except the front, which has glass sliding doors. Aquariums can also be used for juvenile Dwarf Burmese Pythons, although a specialist lid should be bought or made rather than the original aquarium lid. It is essential when thinking about what type of enclosure you use, you think about these 6 SSSHHH factors:
1) Safety Can the snake or owner injure itself from the enclosure or any appliances held within?
2) Secure Can the snake escape through any small hole or cavity?
3) Size Will the enclosure be appropriately sized?
4) Heating Is the enclosure able to regulate the temperature properly?
5) Humidity Will the enclosure last well in humid conditions? Is there enough ventilation for the moisture to escape?
6) Hygienic Will the enclosure build up a lot of bacteria in small cavities? Is it easy to clean?
By following the steps above, you can have a suitable enclosure made from a variety of materials.
Dcor
Dcor in your tank serves two purposes. First being extra cover for your snake and second, allowing for a more natural and pleasing appearance. When choosing dcor, think about the safety of the snake. Make sure that whatever you decide to use, it is securely fixed and that no rocks, wood or anything heavy can fall and possibly injure, or even kill the snake. You must also make sure that everything used is parasite free. If anything has been picked up from outside, or has originally come from outside, such as cork bark, you should either boil it, or place the item in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 30 minutes. Freezing works for some parasites, however others have been known to survive months in freezing conditions. Some parasites found in English conditions last winters in minus temperatures, so it is not entirely effective.
Once all your dcor is parasite free, it is then safe to place inside your enclosure. As a general rule, if you can put pressure on an item to knock it down, a Dwarf Burmese Python is certainly capable of doing so. When positioning rocks or heavy objects, make sure they are completely secure. If it is still uneasy, screw them or use superglue to fix them securely. If it is not possible, the rule is simple: Do not place the item in the vivarium!
If you decide to go for an extra large enclosure, you must provide plenty of cover and hiding areas. A hiding place can be anything from a large tupperware box with a hole cut out to a naturalistic piece of cork bark. There are many brands of fake plants and dcor you can use which is both safe for the animal and pleasing to the eye. Cork bark is available from almost any reptile pet shop in the UK, and can be ordered in if they do not have it in stock. This is excellent cover for any reptile and is 100% natural. One thing you must consider when thinking about the size of the vivarium, is the bigger you go, the more hiding areas you must provide. I recommend at least one hiding place per metre in length of the enclosure.
NOTE: Never use sticky tape in an enclosure; this is an accident waiting to happen. Believe me; removing sticky tape from any snake is no easy task!
Heating
Dwarf Burmese Pythons require a thermal gradient, meaning they must be allowed to move around the enclosure to find their required temperature. The hot end of the enclosure should be 88-94F while the cool end should be approximately 83-86F. During the night, the temperature should drop to a more constant overall temperature of 82-84F. One of my adult males became a victim of a serious infection in its face, due to a drop in temperature for a day or so. This was due to a power-cut and the temperature dropped to around 60F. The infection lasted for several weeks with antibiotics having little effect. Eventually, he had to under-go an operation to remove all infected areas and treated with an antibiotic gel. His eye-cap had to be removed in the process, which left me putting a moist antibiotic gel over his eye for several weeks until he sloughed. He eventually recovered, but I cannot re-iterate enough how important it is for this species to be given a high temperature and humidity.
In my opinion, the ideal way of heating a Dwarf Burmese Pythons enclosure is to use a power plate. This is a small thin square plate, about 25mm thick which is screwed into the top of the vivarium. It does not need to be protected, as there is no way a snake can grip onto it. It is almost invisible to the eye as it simply sits on the ceiling of the vivarium. The only brand available in the UK is HabiStat Reptile Radiator; it is 75 Watts and is sufficient for any vivarium up to 4ft long and possibly larger. It produces no light and therefore in a vivarium you will need a form of lighting as well. A power plate should be used in conjunction with a HabiStat Pulse Proportional Thermostat, which will stop the power reaching the power plate as soon as the temperature goes above the setting, and turn back on as soon as it is too cool. This is one of the most accurate thermostats on the market today.
Ceramic heaters, spot bulbs and heat mats are also ways of heating a vivarium. These all have their advantages and disadvantages, but in my opinion, none quite weigh out to be as good as a power plate.
Lighting
Dwarf Burmese Pythons are primarily nocturnal, meaning they venture out in the dark of night. This is when their main predators are sleeping, and their prey is awake. I have found it better for wild caught individuals to be kept in a darker enclosure, only being allowed the light from the room. Captive bred individuals however, should be bought up and raised with a light in its enclosure during the day time.
Having artificial light in a vivarium is aesthetically pleasing to the owner, and is a good addition to a snakes enclosure. They will use this as a photo-period, and their regular time clock will generally adjust to the settings on which you have your light set to.
They do not require any form of special lighting, such as a D3 Ultra-Violet light commonly used for diurnal species. An Arcadia Natural Sunlight Fluorescent Lamp is a good form of lighting. This comes in lengths of 12 up to 48 and I suggest you use the largest size able to fit inside your vivarium. In a room-sized enclosure, a few may be needed.
Humidity
Dwarf Burmese Pythons occur in South East Asia and therefore are exposed to a high humidity. This should be replicated in captivity to aid to the general health and well-being of your snake. A 70-80% humidity range will allow to snake to slough its skin properly and become less prone to any problems such as respiratory infections.
Feeding
Hatchlings should be offered fuzzy mice or rat pups, and as they grow the mice or rats should become larger. An adult Dwarf Burmese Python should feed on one large rat every 2-3 weeks. Hatchlings should be fed on a regular basis, every 7 days is ideal. Their metabolic rate is very high and as they are growing, they need a lot more food to keep them going. The only exception when adult females should be fed more is when they need fattening up for egg production, or just after they have laid. An egg-laying female should be fed double the normal amount for several weeks after they have laid. Snakes have the capability of building up a huge fat reserve, and become obese very easily. Taking the weight off however, is a much more difficult task. Obese snakes will not live nearly the length as a healthy snake would due to liver and kidney problems. If you are unsure about your snakes weight, check with a reptile veterinarian.
By Chris Jones
Director of Pet Club UK Ltd.
http://www.petclubuk.com
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¶ 12:26 AM 0 comments
