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- Written by: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The most famous of all comets, Comet Halley is noted for producing spectacular displays when it passes near Earth on its 76-year trip around the sun.
However, you don't have to wait until 2061 to see a piece of the comet – you can do it this very week.
Halley's Comet leaves bits of itself behind – in the form of small conglomerates of dust and ice called meteoroids – as it moves in its orbit, which the Earth approaches in early May and mid-October.
When it does, it collides with these bits of ice and dust, producing a meteor shower as the particles ablate – or burn up – many miles above our heads.
The May shower is called the Eta Aquarids, as the meteors appear to come from the constellation Aquarius. The October shower has meteors that appear to come from the well-known constellation of Orion the Hunter, hence the name: Orionids.
Orionids move very fast, at a speed of 147,300 miles per hour. At such an enormous speed, the meteors don't last long, burning up very high in the atmosphere.
Last year, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration's allsky cameras at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., and in Chickamauga, Ga., recorded 43 definite Orionid meteors.
Most of these appeared at an altitude of 68 miles and completely burned up by the time they were 60 miles above the ground, seen in the graph below.
The peak isn't until Thursday, Oct. 21, but the shower is going on now. The NASA camera systems saw their first Orionid on Oct. 15. Unfortunately, the light from the nearly full moon will wash out the fainter meteors, so expect to see fewer than the 30-per-hour rate you might see under completely dark skies.
The good news is that watching Orionids is easy.
Go out into a clear, dark sky after 11 p.m. at night – your local time – and lie on a sleeping bag or lawn chair. Look straight up. After a few minutes, your eyes will become dark-adapted, you'll start to see meteors.
Any of these that appear to come from Orion will be an Orionid, and therefore represent a piece of Halley's Comet doing its death dive into our atmosphere.
Most folks would consider seeing one or two of these a fair exchange for an hour or so of time.
To see a video of an Orionid meteor streaking over western Ontario on Oct. 17, click here: www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/watchtheskies/orionids2010.html.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
On Oct. 8, Mendocino Community Health Clinic (MCHC) received notice of its $4.9 million award through the Affordable Care Act Capital Development Grant.
The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), who administers the grant, requires that grant funds be used to support the costs of alteration/renovation or construction of a facility that is consistent with the health center program’s mission – to provide comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services to medically underserved communities and vulnerable populations.
“You’ve heard the old adage, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?’ Well, community health centers were founded on this premise,” said MCHC Public Relations Director Jendi Coursey.
Federally Qualified Health Centers like MCHC provide primary care, and they help patients manage chronic diseases so they don’t require more expensive hospital care, Coursey said.
“They’re the best bang for your health care buck,” Coursey added.
In Ukiah, MCHC has provided care at Hillside Health Center on Laws Avenue for 16 years, creatively making the best use of available space. With these grant funds, MCHC will be able to provide patients with more appropriate and comfortable spaces, better privacy and streamlined services.
Temporary modular buildings will be replaced with permanent structures. Cramped waiting rooms will be expanded. Technology infrastructure will be more robust.
Plans include investments at all three health centers: Hillside in Ukiah, Little Lake in Willits and Lakeside in Lakeport.
“We are thrilled to receive federal dollars that will allow us to meet the needs of more patients as health care reform is enacted,” said MCHC Chief Executive Officer Linnea Hunter.
As a result of the grant, MCHC will provide 16 new local construction jobs. Completion of the renovations in 2012 will coincide with the organization’s 20th anniversary.
“Thanks to this grant funding, MCHC will be ready to care for the community for another 20 years,” Hunter said.
During the next two years, health care reform will make health insurance available to more individuals than ever before.
While this is wonderful news for the uninsured, it poses a challenge for health care providers as they prepare for additional patients, Hunter said. “Our buildings and infrastructure need to be updated to meet current and future patient needs.”
“Community clinics are perfectly positioned to become people’s medical home. We provide an integrated approach to health care with medical, dental and behavioral health services for all ages,” said MCHC Medical Director Dr. Michael Carnevale.
He added, “This grant will allow us to invest in technology and building expansions so we can continue to care for everyone in need.”
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The group received $3,950.83 for six Garmin Rino two-way radios and a rescue mule litter wheel with handles.
The funds were awarded by the Modesto-based Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation's Laci and Conner Search and Rescue Fund in an effort to help Lake County Search and Rescue be better prepared and “therefore be more successful in their efforts to safely return missing persons to their loved ones.”
“I am deeply appreciative for all of the volunteers who provide their time and expertise for Search and Rescue operations,” Sheriff Rod Mitchell said. “I would like to thank the Laci and Conner Search and Rescue Fund for awarding us this new equipment. This equipment will enhance our volunteers’ abilities to return loved ones to their families in a safe and timely manner.”
Sharon Rocha founded the Laci and Conner Search and Rescue Fund in memory of her daughter, Laci Peterson, and grandson Conner.
“Many people spent countless hours helping in the search for my daughter, Laci,” Rocha said. “I believe that every missing person deserves to be found and returned to their loved ones. We hope to aid in that effort by providing funds to assist in search and rescue operations.”
The fund's purpose is to provide financial assistance to law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations involved in search and rescue operations. These organizations are able to apply for financial assistance for search and rescue training and the necessary equipment in order to improve their search and rescue capabilities.
Since its inception in December 2005, the Laci and Conner Search and Rescue Fund has funded more than $271,000 in grants to 62 organizations in 19 states.
For more information about the foundation visit www.carolesundfoundation.com.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
NICE, Calif. – A driver fled the scene Saturday night after driving their vehicle into a power pole in Nice.
The crash occurred at around 11 p.m. Saturday on Floyd Way, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A Dodge Neon went into the power pole and sheared it in half before the driver got out and left the scene, according to initial reports. No injuries were reported by the CHP.
Reports from the scene indicated a sheriff's deputy who first arrived on the scene didn't see the downed power lines and got her patrol car's light bar snagged on them. The deputy was not harmed and the car later was untangled from the lines, which weren't powered.
The CHP said the entire block was out of power because of the crash.
Northshore Fire and the sheriff's office arrived to help stabilize the scene by blocking off Floyd Way to keep the public out of the area, the CHP said.
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