Packing our bags for road trip in search of Zodiacal light; Viewing of SpaceX launch site in Boca Chica; Review of viral evolution and example of tracking the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

 Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well here we are packing our bags for our road trip in search of the Zodiacal light in the dark skies around Needles, CA., and at the same time unpack our backs for the September cruise from Romania, in search of vampires, up the Dneiper River, from Odessa, to Kiev, Ukraine, which has been canceled, but in the meantime we can report on observing opportunities in Boca Chica and look into some science of viral mutations and variants of concern.

The secret trick for last week's mirror symmetry quiz; Dr. Ken gets even and recommends symmetry book; Pretending to look for the supernova in city lights; Aunty Acid and the Lazy Astronomer?

 Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Ok, so this week we are going to reveal the symmetry trick used in the last blog and then go on to pretend to look for the recently announced supernova and finish up with some great advice from Aunty Acid.

The sun has a spot today! Atmospheric scattering equation; Doing physics on the transparent blackboard; Resident Astronomer tries transparent blackboard; Applying symmetry transformations to QFT textbook results in quiz/puzzle?

 Greeting from Palmia Observatory

Well this week we look at the sun for any spots and introduce the atmospheric scattering equation and then finish up with some symmetry and mirror image flipping and leave you with a puzzle to solve.

Yep, OCA Dave shows you can photograph the Zodiacal light from Anza; Estimating and comparing sky brightness from Needles, CA

 Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well, here we are evaluating a good site from which to see or at least photograph the Zodiacal light.  Yep, OCA Dave reminds us that it shows up quite often in photographs from Anza observing site.

Zodiacal Light and Mars; Super Heavy Booster BN1 spotted at Boca Chica; More epistemology with Don Hoffman; How virus binds to cells and energetic favorability; Ammonia Energy Storage World; Tritium and JET and ITER; The Bit Player on Claude Shannon

 Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well we begin this week of mostly indoor zoom meeting and reading with some interesting astronomical news about how the Zodiacal Light might be the result of dust from Mars.