School Year 1997-1998

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1. This week's question, and the final question of the year, is - Summer means more daylight and if you go far enough north, the Sun is still up at midnight. From the list below, choose the places having the earliest and latest sunsets. Tallahassee, Florida Asheville, North Carolina Chicago, Illinois Phoenix, Arizona Boston, Massachusetts Grand Rapids, Michigan Salt Lake City, Utah Portland, Oregon Kansas City, Missouri Washington, D.C.
2. What climatological factor may have contributed to the demise of the Lost Colony and Jamestown?
3. You may have heard of the roaring twenties and the swinging seventies, but what are the roaring forties and the furious fifties?
4. While you have your eye on the sky, is it possible to see any celestial object during the day (after sunrise and before sunset) other than the moon and the Sun?
5. What is an iridium flare?
6. There has been increasing evidence that stars within a couple hundred light years of the Sun may have solar systems of their own. In which way or ways may these solar systems be similar to ours?
7. At least one deadly F5 tornado (the most powerful) hit Alabama last week. The winds are strongest in these tornadoes, which results in generally more damage and more deaths. Name two other characteristics of F5s which makes them so destructive?
8. The 14th of April will be the 86th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  Was the iceberg that sunk it located in a position where few had been observed before?
9. There will be a full moon on the 11th of April.  Does the fullness of the moon have any effect at all on the Earth's temperatures?
10. With the arrival of warmer weather comes allergies. Are allergies worse when the weather is warm, cool, wet, or dry?
11. With "spring break" arriving, an exodus to the beaches has already begun. The Florida beaches are a prime destination. What makes these beaches so attractive? I'm not referring to the people who go there.
12. Compared to the destiny of the universe, I guess any other question pales in significance, but here goes. There is now a sixth "Great Lake." What is its name and in what ways is it similar to and different from the other Great Lakes?
13. You may know what black holes are, but what is dark matter and why is it important?
14. Name one storm-related problem the west coast has to deal with that the east coast doesn't?
15. If you never move from where you live now, are you likely to see a total Solar eclipse in your lifetime?
16. What geographic and or or climatic concern did some critics have in the selection of Nagano, Japan for hosting the Winter Olympic Games?
17. Of the 48 contiguous states, where are the wintertime temperatures the coldest and the summertime temperatures the coolest (for non mountainous areas)?
18. Why is static electricity more of a problem indoors during the winter than during the summer?
19. Why do hot-air balloonists trying to circle the Earth launch most often during the winter?
20. Why does an ice storm (freezing rain) often cause more damage than a major snowstorm?
21. Earlier this week, NASA launched the Lunar Prospector towards the moon. The launch was successful, but if there would have been a delay of more than two days, the next available launch window would not have occurred until early February. The Earth is always about the same distance from the moon, so why would there have been a need to postpone the mission for a month?
22. We've heard an awful lot about El Nino (probably too much). El Nino is Spanish for the "Christ Child," which refers to the occasional warming of the usually cool Pacific waters off the coast of Peru and Equador this time of year. Which of the following is also a weather-related event and what happens when it occurs? El Chico, La Pinta, La Nina, La Santa Maria, or El Cid.
23. This year, several religious holy days or periods, including Chanukah, Christmas and Ramadan are celebrated at the end of December. Is there an astronomical reason that they all occur about the same time this year?
24. All of the planets are positioned fairly close together in the night sky now. Does this unusual alignment have any influence on anything?
25. It's about that time of year when a lot of people start thinking about winterizing their homes. No, I don't mean putting them on stilts. I'm talking about adding insulation and weather-stripping and repairing and replacing windows. How do thermal windows work?
26. What is permafrost?
27. At the end of October, 20,000 acres of forests were flattened in Colorado. What happened?
28. What are coronas and iridescent clouds, and what causes them?
29. What happens to the temperature once frost or dew forms?
30. Next Friday is Halloween. There will be a new moon, so the night will be particularly dark and spooky. On the 30th of October the old crescent moon will rise where in the sky? Where will the one day old crescent moon rise on the first of November?
31. Earlier in the week, NASA launched a rocket carrying the Cassini spacecraft to explore Saturn and some of its moons, particularly Titan. Why does Titan interest us?
32. What is the difference between civil twilight, nautical twilight and astronomical twilight?
33. Football season is in full swing now, and Major League baseball is finishing up. Of course, the weather effects how these games are played as it does nearly all outdoor sporting or recreational activities. Anything that has to be inflated is especially susceptible to varying atmospheric conditions, such as wind and humidity. What do some race car drivers do to their cars in order to help counteract atmospheric conditions?
34. The threat of hurricanes is usually a major concern this time of year for islands in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. This year, however, another hazard is devastating this particular island. What's the threat, and what's the island?
35. Perhaps you've heard the expression "it's darkest just before dawn." Is this really true?
36. Where in the world have several nations been warning their residents to try to stay indoors because of extreme air pollution?
37. Why did the Pathfinder land at a place a little north of the Martian equator, called the Ares Vallis?

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