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ATHENA PREPARATORY

Private High School Education & College Preparation

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The week begins with overcast skies and frequent rain showers on Sunday, with highs near 60°F and lows around 50°F. Rain chances gradually decrease into Monday night, with mixed sun and clouds during the day. Tuesday through Thursday sees mostly variable cloudiness, occasional sun, and highs near 58–61°F, with lows dipping into the low-to-mid 40s. Winds remain light, shifting between SSW, NNW, and variable directions. Friday brings morning sun followed by increasing clouds, while Saturday ends the week with mostly sunny conditions. Overall, the week features mild temperatures, light winds, and intermittent cloud cover with occasional showers. https://www.kcra.com/weather

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Excavations in Antalya, Türkiye, have uncovered a sarcophagus believed to belong to Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra. This site, part of a project by the Turkish Ministry of Culture, has been excavated since 1989. The limestone sarcophagus, which measures about 2 meters, may provide insights into his burial. Nearby artifacts suggest it was a burial site linked to St. Nicholas, whose remains have a disputed history. Ongoing excavations aim to reveal more about this iconic figure associated with Christmas. https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/saint-nicholas-tomb-0021768

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From November 14–23, the night sky features the barely visible interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS in the east-southeast before dawn, best seen with an 8-inch telescope or larger. The Leonid meteor shower peaks early on November 17 under dark skies, joined by sparse Taurid fireballs. Orion, Aldebaran, and the Pleiades rise in the evenings, while Vega and Lyra dominate the western sky. Jupiter rises around 8–9 p.m., followed by Sirius, and Saturn shines high in the southeast with its rings nearly edge-on. Uranus and Neptune are visible with telescopes, and Venus glows low at dawn. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-november-14-23/

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This week’s sky highlights include the emerging interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS, visible in large amateur telescopes as a faint 11th- or 12th-magnitude object low in the eastern dawn sky. Its altitude improves from 10° on November 9 to 20° by November 16, with the waning Moon gradually posing less interference. Orion rises earlier each night, accompanied by bright Capella, Aldebaran, and later Sirius. Jupiter dominates the eastern evening sky, while Saturn shines high in the southeast with its nearly edge-on rings. Fomalhaut, the Pleiades, and Cygnus feature prominently. The Leonid meteor shower peaks November 16–17 under dark, moonless skies. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-november-7-16/

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The week begins mild, with mostly cloudy to partly sunny skies on Sunday and Monday, highs in the low- to mid-70s, and light winds. Clouds increase by Tuesday, and a pattern of showers develops starting Tuesday night, with rain chances ranging from 40% to 60% through the rest of the week. Highs gradually cool to the low 60s by Thursday and remain there through Saturday, while lows fall into the mid-40s to mid-50s. Winds stay generally light to moderate, shifting between south and southeast. Expect an unsettled, showery stretch from midweek into the weekend. https://www.kcra.com/weather

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Travis Gienger, a farmer from Minnesota, set a new Guinness World Record with his 2,749-pound pumpkin, nicknamed "Michael Jordan," at the 50th annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off in Half Moon Bay, California. This massive gourd surpassed the previous record of 2,702 pounds grown by an Italian farmer in 2021. Gienger, who has now won the competition three times, invested roughly $15,000 in growing the pumpkin since planting it on April 10. His victory earned him a $30,000 prize, which he plans to use for cultivating future record-breaking pumpkins. https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/2749-pound-pumpkin-breaks-world-record-at-california-weigh-off/1586340

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Daylight saving time (DST) in the U.S. ends on Sunday, November 2, 2025, when clocks fall back one hour, leading to earlier sunrises and sunsets. Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii do not observe DST, remaining on standard time year-round. Although several states have proposed ending the biannual clock changes, and the Sunshine Protection Act has been introduced in Congress, no legislation has been enacted yet. DST in 2026 will begin on Sunday, March 8, and end on Sunday, November 1. Public opinion is divided on whether to adopt standard or daylight saving time permanently. https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/daylight-saving-time-2025-when-do-clocks-fall-back/1814533

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The upcoming week features a mix of clouds and sunshine with mild temperatures. Sunday and Monday will reach highs near 76–78°F with lows in the low to mid-50s, under mostly sunny skies with light and variable winds. From Tuesday through Thursday, highs gradually cool from 73°F to 68°F, with nights in the low to mid-50s. Midweek brings partly to mostly cloudy conditions, with brief periods of sun and slightly stronger south winds at 5–10 mph on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday remain partly cloudy, with highs in the upper 60s and lows dipping to the upper 40s to low 50s. https://www.kcra.com/weather

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This week’s sky highlights include the interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS, visible in mid-November for large amateur telescopes as an 11th–12th magnitude fuzz low in the east at dawn. Halloween features a waxing gibbous Moon near Saturn with Fomalhaut below. Early November brings conjunctions of Venus and Spica, the Great Square of Pegasus, and Algol’s brightness dips. A supermoon occurs on November 5, with the Moon passing near the Pleiades and Orion later in the week. Jupiter rises late in the evening in Gemini, Saturn’s rings are nearly edge-on, and Mercury, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune round out the planetary lineup. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-october-30-november-9/

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Shinigami are death spirits in Japanese folklore, similar to the Grim Reaper. They appeared in the 18th or 19th century. The name shinigami is a combination of "shi," meaning death, and "kami," meaning god or spirit.

In Japanese folklore, Shinigami are agents that help the cycle of life run smoothly. They politely invite people into death at the right time and escort their souls to the afterlife.

Many Shinigami have unknown appearances and work in pairs. They have inspired many legends, such as the tale of a man who learned that each life is measured on a candle. Once the flame burns out, the person dies.

Shinigami have appeared in modern Japanese anime and manga, including Death Note, Bleach, Naruto, and Soul Eater. https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/shinigami-grim-reaper-japanese-folklore-006072

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