A Massive Cloud of Ladybugs or Maybe Not?
Weather forecasters at the National Weather Service in San Diego, California, were surprised when a large “blob” appeared on their radar screens, over the San Gabriel Mountains. It was a clear day and there were no other signs of storms or in fact, any clouds in the sky.
Local spotters on the ground reported that the only thing they noticed were ladybugs. Ladybugs are known to gather in large numbers to feed and mate at this time of year.
So, the conclusion is that it was a swarm of ladybugs. To appear as a radar echo, it’s estimated their numbers would be in the millions.
Ladybug specialists are a little skeptical (they have doubts) and no one has been able to confirm a sighting as the blob quickly disappeared from the radar screens. At this time, no one really knows what that blob contained. But we like the idea of a cloud of ladybugs!
Perigee
A supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the moon is closest to the Earth in its elliptical orbit. The effect is to make it look larger than normal. The technical name for this is perigee.
The supermoon on Dec 3, 2017, is shown here with a plane as it takes off from Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. and in the area of the Capitol building.
Two Moons?
NASA says there is another moon orbiting Earth. It is being called a “quasi-satellite” or a “near-Earth companion” because its orbit is apparently irregular and elliptical. It is actually an asteroid called 2016 HO3and is no larger than 40 meters across and about 100 meters wide. It has been hanging around our planet for centuries. It drifts away from time to time but then the Earth’s gravity pulls it back.
It was first discovered in April of 2016 and it is thought that it will orbit Earth for many years to come.
We know plenty of strange facts, keep reading them here!