January 20, 2023

photo: Beth Kasser

Sweet, coveted Flockers, this is one of my favorite paintings from our collection. The new year has certainly blown in with new storms brewing near and far. So please be safe wherever you are. And remember, this too may pass.

Comet ZTF, imaged on December 19, 2022. Dan Bartlett

As a small child I watched the night sky, especially with my mother. She would point out constellations, falling stars, and comets. This month the green comet, Comet ZTF, will be visible for the first time since the stone age. Its recurring presence is noteworthy in that it comes around every 50,000 years and is visible for about a month. So don't miss your chance to see this celestial visitor. Your best chance to see the comet with the naked eye in the northern hemisphere is just before dawn on January 21 under the new moon. With binoculars or a telescope, it will be visible through early February. 50,000 years is a long time to wait if you miss it.

From: Insider, By: Morgan McFall-Johnsen & Kenneth Niemeyer, January 20, 2023

We could be the last humans to ever see the green comet hurtling past Earth from the outer reaches of the solar system in late January and early February. C/2022 E3 (ZTF), or Comet ZTF for short — the name astronomers gave this space snowball after the Zwicky Transient Facility discovered it in March — hasn't been in our cosmic neighborhood since the last Ice Age.

From: Farmers' Almanac, By: Joe Rao, January 18, 2023

Newly-discovered Comet ZTF is coming the closest to the Earth in 50,000 years, becoming visible to the naked eye, and making big headlines. Some are calling it a “super rare” and “bright green” comet, but will it live up to the hype? We explain.

From: Hindustan Times

photo: Aldebaran S on Upsplash

Astronomy clubs are a great way for kids and adults to keep up on celestial event and to simply enjoy star gazing. The following links will help you find an astronomy club in your area.

Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association

Arizona Astronomy Clubs

US & International Astronomy Clubs

NASA's Club Night Sky

NASA's Science Space Place for Kids

photo: Nick Owuor (astro.nic.visuals) on Unsplash

Each year celestial events can fall on different dates. I thought it would be nice to look at where we were in February 2022, what's around the corner in 2023, and a look ahead to 2024.

Night Sky for February 2022

Night Sky Map for February 2023: Orion, The Hunter

Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events for 2024

photo: Kristen M Caldon/NPS

Ever been stumped when your kids ask questions about what they see in the night sky? You wouldn’t be the first parent to point at a star and call it a planet. Even if you can’t tell Vega from Venus, you can help your child learn about the night sky. Valley astronomy clubs offer opportunities for kids (adults too) to get started in the hobby.

Getting involved in astronomy can spur kids to learn more about math, other sciences, mythology and classic literature. It's also a way of getting them outdoors in the cooler night weather.

These really aren't just toys for kids. What an idea for a theme party for both young and old.

From: The Planets

There's nothing more magical that the solar system, especially in the eyes of a child. The cosmos holds a bevy of secrets that are, quite literally, out of this world. There's a whole universe of things to learn, and thanks to the wonder of childhood, you won't have a problem getting your child interested in the topic.

It's important to remember self.

It's ok just to say I wish I could, but I can't.

photo: Taisiia Stupak on Upsplash

From: Psychology Today, By: Tchiki Davis, PH.D., December 28, 2018

It’s so important to make sure you take good care of your body, mind, and soul every day, not just when you get sick. Learning how to eat right, reduce stress, exercise regularly, and take a time-out when you need it are touchstones of self-care and can help you stay healthy, happy, and resilient.

Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or an omnivore, I wanted to reintroduce some healthy bone and vegetable broths with recipes.

From: Wilco Wellness, By: Willow Curtis, August 12, 2020

Both bone broths and vegetable broths are simple to make and full of nutrients and flavor

Bone broth is a liquid brewed from the bones and connective tissue of chicken, lamb, grass-fed beef, or seafood. As the bones are boiled and cooked down, nutrients and minerals are drawn from the bone and the marrow that are beneficial for the joints, digestive system, and neurological system.

Can a good protein and collagen broth come from a plant-based broth, Vegan style? Absolutely, using only plant-based ingredients is also flavorful and may have a greater range of uses. Creating a vegetable-only broth can also be a good place to start if you are not open to working with bones.

Sal Khan has been working closely with Michael Crow at Arizona State University developing the Khan World School at the ASU Preparatory Academy on the cutting edge of education. Accepting different ideas and opinions and holding them in a positive way to encourage greater thinking and better friendships. A familiar concept to many of us that it's really a small world after all.

From: ASU Preparatory Academy

Students work together solving real-world problems in a unique online school model that rewards curiosity, empowers agency and provides them with the skills and confidence needed to excel in college and careers. Students master core knowledge and dive deeply into society’s most challenging problems with support from peers and world-class learning guides.

photo: Corbis via Getty Images

From: Forbes, By: Michael B. Horn, May 31, 2022

The Khan Academy and Arizona State University Prep Digital’s partnership to launch the Khan World School, a virtual school for high schoolers, brings together two of the powerhouses in digital learning with the promise of creating a breakthrough schooling model.

"We want to be able to have a place where we can have conversations, and teach students, and maybe the world, that there's a way to have conversations and to be able to disagree about these things, but be able to do it respectfully, and learn from each other" 

From: EdSurge, By: Emily Tate Sullivan, April 26, 2021

Sal Khan has been as busy as ever. Over the last year, he’s helped Khan Academy manage a three-fold user increase, has grown and developed an online program geared toward early learners, and launched a new peer-to-peer tutoring platform to keep students connected and learning during the pandemic.

Sal Khan's plan to educate the world | Big Think

Set Sail on “it’s a small world” Virtual Boat Ride

Remember language brings us together, and an easy way to learn a language is to go to Babble, who we visited in an earlier newsletter. They have continued to expand their language courses and now have a special offer of 50% off their courses.

Our very own Flocker Linda Collazo has asked us to promote the Sparks & Wiry Cries 2023 NYC songSLAM Competition. Fellow flock alumnus Brian Wong is a member of one of the fourteen teams competing in the competition. Please give them a visit and cast a vote for your favorite team.

From: Sparks & Wiry Cries

What is a songSLAM?

The Sparks & Wiry Cries songSLAM is a unique and energizing community event for composer/performer teams to premiere new art songs and compete for cash prizes. Each team presents a new song of no more than 5 minutes for voice and piano, in any language, for the voting audience, who—in the poetry slam tradition—will then vote on their favorites and award prize money to the winning competitors!

As you know we have covered Indian culture and heritage. This is just a little aside to keep the flock current and to remind you that we will be covering Indian high fashion with our favorite Grande Dame of Indian fashion Neelam Sethi in a future Flock.

From: BBC, By: Soutik Biswas, September 21, 2021

All religious groups in India have shown major declines in fertility rates, a study from Pew Research Center has found. As a result, there have been only "modest changes" in the religious make-up of the people since 1951. The two largest groups, Hindus and Muslims, make up 94% of India's 1.2 billion people. Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains together make up the remaining 6% of the population.

There's your hint, can you guess where Beth is now? Sen your guesses to The Flock with the link below and we'll let you know if you're correct in the next newsletter.

photo: Alex Kasser

As a child I visited Kennebunkport. Seeing seals sunning and frolicking brought me sweet joys and the sunsets delivered a quiet peace. Here are a few pictures that my niece Alex has chosen to share with The Flock. I'm proud.

photo: Alex Kasser

Snowball is a two and a half year old Miniature English Bull Terrier from Croatia living in Aspen, CO as Petra's service dog. She's loving mountain living in her warm coat! Please share your pets with The Flock and we'll include them in the Pet's Corner.

Little Davie has been adopted. He has a new forever family in Mesa Arizona! He is happy and very much loved and is now in official training to be an emotional bestie to his new family. He also has a backyard pool and Eskies love to swim. You go Davie go!

One of our flockers made 65 this week. Happy birthday Sarah! Yes she is special. She cares about the environment and occasionally writes editorials to the AZ Daily Star. Each are always well researched and point to things that can be fixed through giving back to Tucson. No money necessary, just common sense.

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.

-- Carl Sagan 

Holualoa Ed Fit Wellness & Culture 2

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