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!
Photo credit: Photo credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Check
out these
oddities
and
curiosities
from
around the
world!
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.
Photo courtesy: National Weather Service, San Diego
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 that 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.
12 • Off icialKidsMag.com • AUGUST 2019
