• Polaris Wasn’t Always the North Star: How Earth’s Wobble Shifts the Celestial Pole

    Polaris has been the constant guide for explorers and navigators in the northern hemisphere for thousands of years, hence its other name, the famous North Star. It is significant where it is located near the north rotational axis of Earth, and the whole sky appears to spin about it. But that's not always been the case, and it won't always be the case. The planet's sluggish axial wobble, called precession, makes the pole trace a circle about every 26,000 years, bringing different stars into view over the ages.How Earth's 26,000-Year Axial Precession Shifts the North Star Over TimeAs per NASA, gravitational forces from the sun and moon affect the rotation of Earth; these produce a bulge at the equator and axial precession. Every 26,000 years or so, this wobble makes a complete circle, and it makes the celestial pole move on a cycle, pointing to stars in sequence over time. Thuban, in the star constellation Draco, was the closest visible in the sky to the celestial pole some 4,700 years ago. The stars, such as Kochab and Pherkad, were the nearest to the pole about 3,000 years ago. Polaris now has the title, but not for very long.The axis of the Earth will eventually change again, bringing new stars into prominence. In about 2,200 years, Errai in the constellation Cepheus will become the North Star. Alderamin, likewise in Cepheus, will have its turn some 5,000 years from now. Deneb, who will approach the pole once more about 9,800 CE, and Vega, a former pole star, returning in roughly 12,000 years, complete this cycle.Many of these stars fit identifiable constellations, including Cepheus, Draco, and Ursa Minor. Modern stargazing apps incorporating augmented reality for nighttime sky navigation allow amateur astronomers to trace their positions.As Polaris continues to shine overhead today, its reign is only temporary. Earth's steady 26,000-year precessional cycle guarantees that other stars will eventually take its place, proving that even in the cosmos, change is constant.
    #polaris #wasnt #always #north #star
    Polaris Wasn’t Always the North Star: How Earth’s Wobble Shifts the Celestial Pole
    Polaris has been the constant guide for explorers and navigators in the northern hemisphere for thousands of years, hence its other name, the famous North Star. It is significant where it is located near the north rotational axis of Earth, and the whole sky appears to spin about it. But that's not always been the case, and it won't always be the case. The planet's sluggish axial wobble, called precession, makes the pole trace a circle about every 26,000 years, bringing different stars into view over the ages.How Earth's 26,000-Year Axial Precession Shifts the North Star Over TimeAs per NASA, gravitational forces from the sun and moon affect the rotation of Earth; these produce a bulge at the equator and axial precession. Every 26,000 years or so, this wobble makes a complete circle, and it makes the celestial pole move on a cycle, pointing to stars in sequence over time. Thuban, in the star constellation Draco, was the closest visible in the sky to the celestial pole some 4,700 years ago. The stars, such as Kochab and Pherkad, were the nearest to the pole about 3,000 years ago. Polaris now has the title, but not for very long.The axis of the Earth will eventually change again, bringing new stars into prominence. In about 2,200 years, Errai in the constellation Cepheus will become the North Star. Alderamin, likewise in Cepheus, will have its turn some 5,000 years from now. Deneb, who will approach the pole once more about 9,800 CE, and Vega, a former pole star, returning in roughly 12,000 years, complete this cycle.Many of these stars fit identifiable constellations, including Cepheus, Draco, and Ursa Minor. Modern stargazing apps incorporating augmented reality for nighttime sky navigation allow amateur astronomers to trace their positions.As Polaris continues to shine overhead today, its reign is only temporary. Earth's steady 26,000-year precessional cycle guarantees that other stars will eventually take its place, proving that even in the cosmos, change is constant. #polaris #wasnt #always #north #star
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    Polaris Wasn’t Always the North Star: How Earth’s Wobble Shifts the Celestial Pole
    Polaris has been the constant guide for explorers and navigators in the northern hemisphere for thousands of years, hence its other name, the famous North Star. It is significant where it is located near the north rotational axis of Earth, and the whole sky appears to spin about it. But that's not always been the case, and it won't always be the case. The planet's sluggish axial wobble, called precession, makes the pole trace a circle about every 26,000 years, bringing different stars into view over the ages.How Earth's 26,000-Year Axial Precession Shifts the North Star Over TimeAs per NASA, gravitational forces from the sun and moon affect the rotation of Earth; these produce a bulge at the equator and axial precession. Every 26,000 years or so, this wobble makes a complete circle, and it makes the celestial pole move on a cycle, pointing to stars in sequence over time. Thuban, in the star constellation Draco, was the closest visible in the sky to the celestial pole some 4,700 years ago. The stars, such as Kochab and Pherkad, were the nearest to the pole about 3,000 years ago. Polaris now has the title, but not for very long.The axis of the Earth will eventually change again, bringing new stars into prominence. In about 2,200 years, Errai in the constellation Cepheus will become the North Star. Alderamin, likewise in Cepheus, will have its turn some 5,000 years from now. Deneb, who will approach the pole once more about 9,800 CE, and Vega, a former pole star, returning in roughly 12,000 years, complete this cycle.Many of these stars fit identifiable constellations, including Cepheus, Draco, and Ursa Minor. Modern stargazing apps incorporating augmented reality for nighttime sky navigation allow amateur astronomers to trace their positions.As Polaris continues to shine overhead today, its reign is only temporary. Earth's steady 26,000-year precessional cycle guarantees that other stars will eventually take its place, proving that even in the cosmos, change is constant.
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  • #333;">These Vegetables Require Less Water Than Most
    Everything is more expensive this year, and that likely includes utilities like your water bill.
    While growing vegetables in your yard can be enchanting and empowering, it isn’t very efficient (compared to farms) in terms of water usage.
    There are a number of ways to become more efficient and sustainable, including using drip irrigation, but another way is to only plant vegetables that don't need too much water to begin with.
    Watering at the root is keyBefore I get to the specific vegetables, it's important to go over a few general watering tips.Remember that vegetables get hydration through their roots, which live underground.
    Watering from above, like a hose or sprinkler, has problems: you’re getting the plants wet more than the roots, which creates conditions for disease spread; you’re watering less precisely, therefore wasting water; and the impact of the water against the dirt causes droplets to bounce back up with whatever fungus or viruses are in the dirt, also spreading disease.
    Watering gently and consistently at ground level with drip irrigation is the best option for both the plant and your wallet. To ensure you’re watering efficiently, group plants with similar watering needs together in your garden, so you can set the drip appropriately to water less. But even more important is remembering that roots grow over time.
    A new seedling has shallow roots, whereas an end-of-season plant has deeply established roots.
    More roots means that the plant can absorb more water from deeper underground.
    Less roots means less hydration from the soil, so more water is needed at a shallower depth.
    (Though some vegetables, like corn and lettuce, will always be shallow rooted, and thus aren’t good candidates for less water.)Hothouse plantsAccording to Oregon State University, a tomato plant's need for watering is negated by the deep roots the plants establish over the season.
    As above, you want to water sufficiently early in the season as roots are established while taking care not to over water, which will result in those roots staying close to the surface.
    If the plant needs water, those roots will grow deeper in search of moisture.
    Reducing water greatly, if not cutting it off entirely mid-season, shouldn’t harm your harvest.
    The lack of surface water will reduce disease spread, and tomatoes will ripen if you reduce their watering.
    It’s not only tomatoes, either: Squash, which includes zucchini, summer and winter squash, as well as melons, eggplants, and hot peppers all behave the same in terms of water needs and roots. Beans





    Credit: Amanda Blum


    Most beans, particularly pole beans, have adapted to drought conditions over time.
    As such, they can survive and produce flowers and fruit with minimal moisture.
    Beans require water to germinate, so if you direct sow, ensure the seeds have consistent moisture levels.
    Once germinated, you can reduce (but not eliminate) water.
    Since beans have such a short season (usually 60 days or less), they require less water simply by existing for less time.
    Less moisture is going to reduce common bean problems like powdery mildew, a quickly spreading surface fungus.Chard and okra





    Credit: Amanda Blum


    For some heat hardier vegetables like chard and okra, they still require water, but do better with weekly or every-other-weekly deep watering, as opposed to daily drip.
    Okra is native to drier climates and prefers less water.
    The deep roots of the plant allow it to draw enough water from the soil to sustain itself.
    Chard and kale can use their huge leaves to shade the ground, which is an effective form of moisture retention.
    Occasional deep waterings will be enough for the plant to continue growing.Blueberries prefer less moistureI know, blueberries are a fruit and not a vegetable, but I felt compelled to include the advice here anyway.
    Consider it a bonus tip.
    A few years ago, Micah Geiselman, a blueberry farmer from Morning Shade Farm in Canby came to inspect my many bushes, and he had surprising advice: “People over-water their blueberries,” he explained to me.
    They appreciate good drainage and do better with less water. I’ve since changed the elevation of my blueberries to ensure better drainage and moved watering lines further away—the results were astounding.
    I experienced better yields, but the berries themselves were plumper and better tasting.
    This isn’t conclusive, of course, since there are too many variables to account for, but I take the advice of a blueberry expert seriously. 
    #666;">المصدر: https://lifehacker.com/home/these-vegetables-require-less-water?utm_medium=RSS" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration: none;">lifehacker.com
    #0066cc;">#these #vegetables #require #less #water #than #most #everything #more #expensive #this #year #and #that #likely #includes #utilities #like #your #billwhile #growing #yard #can #enchanting #empowering #isnt #very #efficient #compared #farms #terms #usagethere #are #number #ways #become #sustainable #including #using #drip #irrigation #but #another #way #only #plant #don039t #need #too #much #begin #withwatering #the #root #keybefore #get #specific #it039s #important #over #few #general #watering #tipsremember #hydration #through #their #roots #which #live #undergroundwatering #from #above #hose #sprinkler #has #problems #youre #getting #plants #wet #creates #conditions #for #disease #spread #precisely #therefore #wasting #impact #against #dirt #causes #droplets #bounce #back #with #whatever #fungus #viruses #also #spreading #diseasewatering #gently #consistently #ground #level #best #option #both #walletto #ensure #efficiently #group #similar #needs #together #garden #you #set #appropriately #lessbut #even #remembering #grow #timea #new #seedling #shallow #whereas #endofseason #deeply #established #rootsmore #means #absorb #deeper #undergroundless #soil #needed #shallower #depththough #some #corn #lettuce #will #always #rooted #thus #arent #good #candidates #waterhothouse #plantsaccording #oregon #state #university #tomato #plant039s #negated #deep #establish #seasonas #want #sufficiently #early #season #while #taking #care #not #result #those #staying #close #surfaceif #search #moisturereducing #greatly #cutting #off #entirely #midseason #shouldnt #harm #harvestthe #lack #surface #reduce #tomatoes #ripen #wateringits #either #squash #zucchini #summer #winter #well #melons #eggplants #hot #peppers #all #behave #same #rootsbeans #credit #amanda #blum #beans #particularly #pole #have #adapted #drought #timeas #such #they #survive #produce #flowers #fruit #minimal #moisturebeans #germinate #direct #sow #seeds #consistent #moisture #levelsonce #germinated #eliminate #watersince #short #usually #days #simply #existing #timeless #going #common #bean #powdery #mildew #quickly #funguschard #okra #heat #hardier #chard #still #better #weekly #everyotherweekly #opposed #daily #dripokra #native #drier #climates #prefers #waterthe #allow #draw #enough #sustain #itselfchard #kale #use #huge #leaves #shade #effective #form #retentionoccasional #waterings #continue #growingblueberries #prefer #moisturei #know #blueberries #vegetable #felt #compelled #include #advice #here #anywayconsider #bonus #tipa #years #ago #micah #geiselman #blueberry #farmer #morning #farm #canby #came #inspect #many #bushes #had #surprising #people #overwater #explained #methey #appreciate #drainage #waterive #since #changed #elevation #moved #lines #further #awaythe #results #were #astoundingi #experienced #yields #berries #themselves #plumper #tastingthis #conclusive #course #there #variables #account #take #expert #seriously
    These Vegetables Require Less Water Than Most
    Everything is more expensive this year, and that likely includes utilities like your water bill. While growing vegetables in your yard can be enchanting and empowering, it isn’t very efficient (compared to farms) in terms of water usage. There are a number of ways to become more efficient and sustainable, including using drip irrigation, but another way is to only plant vegetables that don't need too much water to begin with. Watering at the root is keyBefore I get to the specific vegetables, it's important to go over a few general watering tips.Remember that vegetables get hydration through their roots, which live underground. Watering from above, like a hose or sprinkler, has problems: you’re getting the plants wet more than the roots, which creates conditions for disease spread; you’re watering less precisely, therefore wasting water; and the impact of the water against the dirt causes droplets to bounce back up with whatever fungus or viruses are in the dirt, also spreading disease. Watering gently and consistently at ground level with drip irrigation is the best option for both the plant and your wallet. To ensure you’re watering efficiently, group plants with similar watering needs together in your garden, so you can set the drip appropriately to water less. But even more important is remembering that roots grow over time. A new seedling has shallow roots, whereas an end-of-season plant has deeply established roots. More roots means that the plant can absorb more water from deeper underground. Less roots means less hydration from the soil, so more water is needed at a shallower depth. (Though some vegetables, like corn and lettuce, will always be shallow rooted, and thus aren’t good candidates for less water.)Hothouse plantsAccording to Oregon State University, a tomato plant's need for watering is negated by the deep roots the plants establish over the season. As above, you want to water sufficiently early in the season as roots are established while taking care not to over water, which will result in those roots staying close to the surface. If the plant needs water, those roots will grow deeper in search of moisture. Reducing water greatly, if not cutting it off entirely mid-season, shouldn’t harm your harvest. The lack of surface water will reduce disease spread, and tomatoes will ripen if you reduce their watering. It’s not only tomatoes, either: Squash, which includes zucchini, summer and winter squash, as well as melons, eggplants, and hot peppers all behave the same in terms of water needs and roots. Beans Credit: Amanda Blum Most beans, particularly pole beans, have adapted to drought conditions over time. As such, they can survive and produce flowers and fruit with minimal moisture. Beans require water to germinate, so if you direct sow, ensure the seeds have consistent moisture levels. Once germinated, you can reduce (but not eliminate) water. Since beans have such a short season (usually 60 days or less), they require less water simply by existing for less time. Less moisture is going to reduce common bean problems like powdery mildew, a quickly spreading surface fungus.Chard and okra Credit: Amanda Blum For some heat hardier vegetables like chard and okra, they still require water, but do better with weekly or every-other-weekly deep watering, as opposed to daily drip. Okra is native to drier climates and prefers less water. The deep roots of the plant allow it to draw enough water from the soil to sustain itself. Chard and kale can use their huge leaves to shade the ground, which is an effective form of moisture retention. Occasional deep waterings will be enough for the plant to continue growing.Blueberries prefer less moistureI know, blueberries are a fruit and not a vegetable, but I felt compelled to include the advice here anyway. Consider it a bonus tip. A few years ago, Micah Geiselman, a blueberry farmer from Morning Shade Farm in Canby came to inspect my many bushes, and he had surprising advice: “People over-water their blueberries,” he explained to me. They appreciate good drainage and do better with less water. I’ve since changed the elevation of my blueberries to ensure better drainage and moved watering lines further away—the results were astounding. I experienced better yields, but the berries themselves were plumper and better tasting. This isn’t conclusive, of course, since there are too many variables to account for, but I take the advice of a blueberry expert seriously. 
    المصدر: lifehacker.com
    #these #vegetables #require #less #water #than #most #everything #more #expensive #this #year #and #that #likely #includes #utilities #like #your #billwhile #growing #yard #can #enchanting #empowering #isnt #very #efficient #compared #farms #terms #usagethere #are #number #ways #become #sustainable #including #using #drip #irrigation #but #another #way #only #plant #don039t #need #too #much #begin #withwatering #the #root #keybefore #get #specific #it039s #important #over #few #general #watering #tipsremember #hydration #through #their #roots #which #live #undergroundwatering #from #above #hose #sprinkler #has #problems #youre #getting #plants #wet #creates #conditions #for #disease #spread #precisely #therefore #wasting #impact #against #dirt #causes #droplets #bounce #back #with #whatever #fungus #viruses #also #spreading #diseasewatering #gently #consistently #ground #level #best #option #both #walletto #ensure #efficiently #group #similar #needs #together #garden #you #set #appropriately #lessbut #even #remembering #grow #timea #new #seedling #shallow #whereas #endofseason #deeply #established #rootsmore #means #absorb #deeper #undergroundless #soil #needed #shallower #depththough #some #corn #lettuce #will #always #rooted #thus #arent #good #candidates #waterhothouse #plantsaccording #oregon #state #university #tomato #plant039s #negated #deep #establish #seasonas #want #sufficiently #early #season #while #taking #care #not #result #those #staying #close #surfaceif #search #moisturereducing #greatly #cutting #off #entirely #midseason #shouldnt #harm #harvestthe #lack #surface #reduce #tomatoes #ripen #wateringits #either #squash #zucchini #summer #winter #well #melons #eggplants #hot #peppers #all #behave #same #rootsbeans #credit #amanda #blum #beans #particularly #pole #have #adapted #drought #timeas #such #they #survive #produce #flowers #fruit #minimal #moisturebeans #germinate #direct #sow #seeds #consistent #moisture #levelsonce #germinated #eliminate #watersince #short #usually #days #simply #existing #timeless #going #common #bean #powdery #mildew #quickly #funguschard #okra #heat #hardier #chard #still #better #weekly #everyotherweekly #opposed #daily #dripokra #native #drier #climates #prefers #waterthe #allow #draw #enough #sustain #itselfchard #kale #use #huge #leaves #shade #effective #form #retentionoccasional #waterings #continue #growingblueberries #prefer #moisturei #know #blueberries #vegetable #felt #compelled #include #advice #here #anywayconsider #bonus #tipa #years #ago #micah #geiselman #blueberry #farmer #morning #farm #canby #came #inspect #many #bushes #had #surprising #people #overwater #explained #methey #appreciate #drainage #waterive #since #changed #elevation #moved #lines #further #awaythe #results #were #astoundingi #experienced #yields #berries #themselves #plumper #tastingthis #conclusive #course #there #variables #account #take #expert #seriously
    LIFEHACKER.COM
    These Vegetables Require Less Water Than Most
    Everything is more expensive this year, and that likely includes utilities like your water bill. While growing vegetables in your yard can be enchanting and empowering, it isn’t very efficient (compared to farms) in terms of water usage. There are a number of ways to become more efficient and sustainable, including using drip irrigation, but another way is to only plant vegetables that don't need too much water to begin with. Watering at the root is keyBefore I get to the specific vegetables, it's important to go over a few general watering tips.Remember that vegetables get hydration through their roots, which live underground. Watering from above, like a hose or sprinkler, has problems: you’re getting the plants wet more than the roots, which creates conditions for disease spread; you’re watering less precisely, therefore wasting water; and the impact of the water against the dirt causes droplets to bounce back up with whatever fungus or viruses are in the dirt, also spreading disease. Watering gently and consistently at ground level with drip irrigation is the best option for both the plant and your wallet. To ensure you’re watering efficiently, group plants with similar watering needs together in your garden, so you can set the drip appropriately to water less. But even more important is remembering that roots grow over time. A new seedling has shallow roots, whereas an end-of-season plant has deeply established roots. More roots means that the plant can absorb more water from deeper underground. Less roots means less hydration from the soil, so more water is needed at a shallower depth. (Though some vegetables, like corn and lettuce, will always be shallow rooted, and thus aren’t good candidates for less water.)Hothouse plantsAccording to Oregon State University, a tomato plant's need for watering is negated by the deep roots the plants establish over the season. As above, you want to water sufficiently early in the season as roots are established while taking care not to over water, which will result in those roots staying close to the surface. If the plant needs water, those roots will grow deeper in search of moisture. Reducing water greatly, if not cutting it off entirely mid-season, shouldn’t harm your harvest. The lack of surface water will reduce disease spread, and tomatoes will ripen if you reduce their watering. It’s not only tomatoes, either: Squash, which includes zucchini, summer and winter squash, as well as melons, eggplants, and hot peppers all behave the same in terms of water needs and roots. Beans Credit: Amanda Blum Most beans, particularly pole beans, have adapted to drought conditions over time. As such, they can survive and produce flowers and fruit with minimal moisture. Beans require water to germinate, so if you direct sow, ensure the seeds have consistent moisture levels. Once germinated, you can reduce (but not eliminate) water. Since beans have such a short season (usually 60 days or less), they require less water simply by existing for less time. Less moisture is going to reduce common bean problems like powdery mildew, a quickly spreading surface fungus.Chard and okra Credit: Amanda Blum For some heat hardier vegetables like chard and okra, they still require water, but do better with weekly or every-other-weekly deep watering, as opposed to daily drip. Okra is native to drier climates and prefers less water. The deep roots of the plant allow it to draw enough water from the soil to sustain itself. Chard and kale can use their huge leaves to shade the ground, which is an effective form of moisture retention. Occasional deep waterings will be enough for the plant to continue growing.Blueberries prefer less moistureI know, blueberries are a fruit and not a vegetable, but I felt compelled to include the advice here anyway. Consider it a bonus tip. A few years ago, Micah Geiselman, a blueberry farmer from Morning Shade Farm in Canby came to inspect my many bushes, and he had surprising advice: “People over-water their blueberries,” he explained to me. They appreciate good drainage and do better with less water. I’ve since changed the elevation of my blueberries to ensure better drainage and moved watering lines further away—the results were astounding. I experienced better yields, but the berries themselves were plumper and better tasting. This isn’t conclusive, of course, since there are too many variables to account for, but I take the advice of a blueberry expert seriously. 
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