doublelines-5b841e2ec871a.png

ATHENA PREPARATORY

Private High School Education & College Preparation

doublelines-5b841e2ec871a.png

Blog

The upcoming week features variable weather conditions. Sunday will start cloudy, clearing later with highs around 64°F and clear skies at night. Monday will be sunny with a high of 78°F, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Tuesday will be partly cloudy, reaching 82°F, with similar conditions continuing into the night. Wednesday and Thursday will be mostly sunny and warmer, peaking at 88°F and 87°F, respectively. Clear skies are expected at night. Friday and Saturday will have mostly sunny to partly cloudy conditions with highs in the low 80s and mild, clear nights with lows in the mid-50s. https://www.kcra.com/weather/index

more

In 2025, stargazers can enjoy several meteor showers, starting with the Lyrids on April 21-22, offering 15-20 meteors per hour. The Eta Aquarids (May 4-5) peak at 30 meteors per hour, while a summertime duo—the Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquarids—appear on July 29-30 with 10-15 meteors per hour combined. The Perseids (Aug. 12-13) promise up to 100 meteors per hour despite a bright moon. Other highlights include the Orionids (Oct. 22-23), Taurids (early November), Leonids (Nov. 16-17), Geminids (Dec. 12-13), and Ursids (Dec. 21-22). Each offers a unique celestial display. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/meteor-showers-2025-every-event-to-mark-on-your-calendar/1764238

more

This week's sky, from April 25 to May 4, offers captivating celestial events. Look for the dim Little Dipper extending from Polaris and the bright Big Dipper above while Venus shines low in the dawn, guiding towards faint Saturn and Mercury. Evening skies feature Pollux and Castor of Gemini, with Mars nearby. The waxing crescent Moon dances past Aldebaran, Jupiter, and Mars, skimming the Beehive cluster. Bright Arcturus and Vega mark the transition to summer skies. The Summer Triangle emerges with Vega, Deneb, and Altair. Planets like Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury offer dazzling views throughout the week. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-april-25-may-4/

more

Easter, a key Christian holiday, celebrates Jesus' resurrection. Holy Week precedes it, featuring events like Palm Sunday and Good Friday. Western and Eastern Christianity observe Easter differently, with varying traditions like sunrise services, Easter eggs, and the Easter Bunny. Its date is moveable, set by the lunisolar calendar, determined after the first full moon post-vernal equinox, as established by the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD). Easter is linked to Passover, reflecting its historical and theological roots. The term "Easter" may derive from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Ēostre, while "Pascha" connects to the Jewish Passover. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter

more

The upcoming week will feature mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with mild temperatures. Highs will range from the low 70s to mid-80s, peaking at 84°F on Monday. Lows will hover around the upper 40s to low 50s. Winds will generally be from the south to southwest, varying between light breezes and speeds up to 20 mph midweek. Expect the sunniest days on Monday and Tuesday, with a slight increase in cloud cover from Wednesday through Saturday. Nights will remain mostly clear with occasional clouds and temperatures cooling down to the upper 40s. https://www.kcra.com/weather

more

This week, notable sky events include Orion visible in the southwest after dark, the Sickle of Leo high in the south, and the Lyrid meteor shower peaking on April 21–22. Jupiter shines near Aldebaran, while bright Venus rises before dawn alongside Saturn and Mercury. Arcturus and Capella are prominent in the evening, with Mars visible near Gemini’s Pollux and Castor. The Little Dipper and Big Dipper are well-positioned late evenings. On April 27, spot Vega twinkling low in the northeast. The Moon transitions from the last quarter to a new phase during the week. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-april-18-27/

more

A group of beefy, long-horned animals called tauros will be released in a place called Highlands. They are being released to help the environment and wildlife. These animals are similar to aurochs, which are now extinct. The goal is to see how they can help with nature and climate emergencies. A long time ago, aurochs were the heaviest land animals in Europe. The tauros have been specially bred to behave like aurochs and help other animals and plants. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/10/herd-of-tauros-to-be-released-into-highlands-to-recreate-aurochs-effect

more

This week, from April 11–20, the night sky features striking celestial events. The Dog Stars, Sirius, and Procyon align vertically at dusk. A near-full Moon shines above Spica on April 11, reaching full "minimoon" status on April 12, appearing 6% smaller than usual. Vega rises in the northeast on April 13. The Moon occults Pi Scorpii on April 15–16 for parts of the Americas. Orion sets in the southwest while Jupiter glows near Aldebaran. Venus dominates the dawn sky, with Mercury and Saturn faintly visible below. Mars and Jupiter brighten the evening skies, while the last-quarter Moon appears on April 20. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-april-11-20/

more

The week ahead features mostly sunny skies with highs ranging from 78°F to 85°F and lows between 50°F and 53°F. Expect mild winds varying from NNW to SSW at 5-15 mph. A mix of sunshine and occasional clouds will persist, with clear nights throughout. https://www.kcra.com/weather

more

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are migrating north from Central and South America, making their way across the eastern and central United States. They start arriving along the Gulf Coast in early March and reach states like Virginia, North Carolina, Kansas, and Oklahoma by early April. By May, they spread to the Northeast and Midwest. To attract hummingbirds to your garden, provide a variety of food sources, including sugar water and insects, and avoid pesticides. Plants like lilies, fuchsia, honeysuckle, and azaleas can offer food and nesting sites, aiding pollination similar to bees. https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/hummingbird-migration-underway-in-the-us-heres-when-theyll-reach-your-garden/1753177

more