Day: September 23, 2015

Supermoon Lunar Eclipse: Why So Rare?

-Morgan O’Halloran 

On Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 10:10 am EDT, there is going to be the first supermoon lunar eclipse since 1982! And it’s going to be the last supermoon lunar eclipse until 2033!  Why?

A supermoon is when a full moon happens at the same time that the moon reaches its closest point on its orbit around the earth. This occurs because, as some of you might know, the moon’s orbit is not perfectly round; it is an ellipse.

What does this mean?  Well, it means that on Sunday the moon is going to appear 14% bigger than usual!  And yes, I know that 14% doesn’t sound like a lot but trust me, it is.

The reason that supermoon lunar eclipses are so rare is because supermoons on their own are very rare but the fact that a supermoon is happening during a lunar eclipse is amazing! A lunar eclipse is when the sun, earth and moon align.  In fact, there is less that a 1/100 chance a supermoon lunar eclipse happens!  A rare event indeed!

So grab your binoculars, telescopes and extra-large magnifying glasses, and say “Hi” to the supermoon!

Permanent link: http://wp.me/p1Tsjm-1J

 

2016 APSA Teaching and Learning Conference Heads to Portland, Oregon

Teaching at Columbia University for more than two decades, Sharyn O’Halloran focuses on political economics. As a professor, Sharyn O’Halloran actively educates herself on the topic by participating in events hosted by the American Political Science Association (APSA).

February 12 marks the first day of the 2016 APSA Teaching and Learning Conference in Portland, Oregon. For three days, attendees will hear presentations and discuss trends related to the theme of “Rethinking the Way We Teach: High-Impact Methods in the Classroom” at the Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront.

APSA aims to coordinate sessions on online education, simulations, civic engagement, and the inclusive classroom. In addition, courses on integrating technology into hybrid courses and teaching democratic theory in modern society may be included. To create an interactive experience, the association plans to host hands-on workshops as well, one of which will cover the 2016 elections.

For more information, interested parties can visit http://www.apsanet.org, where the official agenda will be made public in the future.