ALERT NEWSLETTER – April 2023

Hi Everyone,

I hope this finds you well during these stormy days.

2023 has proven to be an active tornado year. January was the second most active January on record for tornadoes, with 168 preliminary tornado reports, second only to January 1999, which had 214 tornadoes nationwide. Storms continued through February and March, including a severe weather outbreak on March 2 & 3.

AccuWeather, an American media company that provides commercial weather forecasting services worldwide. predicts 1,055 to 1,200 twisters will touch down across the United States throughout 2023, slightly below the historical average of 1,225.

The devastation we see sin Mississippi and Arkansas goes to underscore the danger and vulnerability we all face from a tornado that season is far from over.

The threat is real and ongoing, so make sure you have a plan in place and a safe place in mind, both at home, school and at work should a tornado threaten you or your loved ones.

Pay attention to forecasts – possible tornado threats are usually forecast many days in advance.

Pay attention Watches and Warnings – have multiple reliable ways to receive them wherever you
may be located, whether at home or at work. Also remember that tornado watches include the wording “in and close to the watch area.” Just because your county is not in the watch doesn’t necessarily mean you should let your guard down.

Pay attention to the conditions around you – brief spin up tornados can occur between radar
scans or in areas of problematic radar coverage, either due to the distance from the radar, signal obstructions or atmospheric conditions affecting the radar returns.

Do understand that with the exception of the NWS, state and local authorities, and local news media, not everyone will give you good valid information or instructions as to what to do in an emergency and social media is perhaps one of the worst sources, as everyone is an “expert” online and on Facebook.

Beware of well-meaning misinformed people.

Heed the advice of learned authorities and reliable sources, as they know what is or may be about to happen and any overriding circumstances and conditions that may be present that may alter the usual recommended actions.

Stay safe!

See: Tornado Safety (Online Tornado FAQ) (noaa.gov)

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Amateur Radio Testing Opportunities

One cloudy day in November 1977 I sat in Jim Bonner, K4UMD’s ham shack nervously scribbling as he sent Morse Code at 5 WPM. He read my chicken scratches, smiled and said “well if anyone ever asks if you passed the 5 WPM test, you can tell them you did.” Then he then handed the written test, which I crawled through and after rereading the tests and my answers, I handed it back to him. He then read the answers and said, “I think you passed, but the FCC has to grade it”.

New hams stress out that the FCC hasn’t issued their license yet. “I mean honestly, it’s been 48 hours since I took the test.”

In 1977 I checked to mailbox every day for a month anxiously waiting for the FCC’s verdict – pass or fail. Then on December 27, 1977, I saw an oblong envelope from the FCC in Gettysburg, PA that said “WD4NYL”.

It seemed miraculous. I really had passed the blooming thing. WD4NYL. I’ve never forgotten the feeling when I saw that, and I guess for sentimental reasons I never changed call signs. It’s “vintage” now.

Getting into ham radio was one of the best decisions I’ve made in life. 99% of the people I have met have been some of the nicest folk you could ever meet. The remaining 1% lunatic portion may have, well, actually there is no “may” about it, have raised my blood pressure and at times tempted me to get a voodoo doll from the French Quarter of New Orleans, but, they couldn’t stop me.

Today, entering ham radio is easier than ever before, with online resources and unlike the 70’s and 80’s where we waited for the FCC’s three visits to Birmingham (“dates to be determined”), or travelling to Atlanta, there are frequent testing opportunities by multiple groups.

If you have never gotten your ham radio license, which you need to legally transmit on a ham radio, and to gain the knowledge of how things do and do not work and how to communicate effectively, there are several opportunities which will be available to you in the near future.

Amateur radio license examinations will be held on the following dates:

April 8, 2023 – Jasper, Walker County
Sponsor: Walker County ARES
Location: American Red Cross
Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

April 15, 2023 – Helena, Shelby County
Sponsor: KF4IOL Fellowship ARC
Location: Helena Sports Complex
Time: 1:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

April 15, 2023 – Pell City, St. Clair County
Sponsor: Pell City VE Team
Location: Pell City Public Library
Time: 11:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

April 22, 2023 – Pinson, Jefferson County
Sponsor: CAVEC
Location: Pinson Valley High School
Time: 9:00 AM
http://www.cavechamexam.com/pinson-al-exam-site-info.html

May 6, 2023 – Columbiana, Shelby County
Sponsor: Central Alabama ARC
Location: Columbiana Church of Nazarene
Time: 2:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

May 13, 2023 – Jasper, Walker County
Sponsor: Walker County ARES
Location: American Red Cross
Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

May 14, 2023 – Birmingham, Jefferson County
Sponsor: ARA Group
Location: BARC Meeting Location – Birmingham
Time: 2:00 PM
https://www.aragroup.org/calendar/calendar.htm

May 15, 2023 – Helena, Shelby County
Sponsor: KF4IOL Fellowship ARC
Location: Helena Sports Complex
Time: 1:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

May 20, 2023 – Pell City, St. Clair County
Sponsor: Pell City VE Team
Location: Pell City Public Library
Time: 11:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

May 27, 2023 – Pinson, Jefferson County
Sponsor: CAVEC
Location: Pinson Valley High School
Time: 9:00 AM
http://www.cavechamexam.com/pinson-al-exam-site-info.html

June 6, 2023 – Columbiana, Shelby County
Sponsor: Central Alabama ARC
Location: Columbiana Church of Nazarene
Time: 2:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

June 10, 2023 – Jasper, Walker County
Sponsor: Walker County ARES
Location: American Red Cross
Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

Jun 11, 2023 – Hoover, Shelby County
Sponsor: ARA Group
Location: Hoover, Shelby County
Time: 2:00 PM
https://www.aragroup.org/calendar/calendar.htm

June 17, 2023 – Helena, Shelby County
Sponsor: KF4IOL Fellowship ARC
Location: Helena Sports Complex
Time: 1:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

June 17, 2023 – Pell City, St. Clair County
Sponsor: Pell City VE Team
Location: Pell City Public Library
Time: 11:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

June 27, 2023 – Pinson, Jefferson County
Sponsor: CAVEC
Location: Pinson Valley High School
Time: 9:00 AM
http://www.cavechamexam.com/pinson-al-exam-site-info.html

July 1, 2023 = Columbiana, Shelby County
Sponsor: Central Alabama ARC
Location: Columbiana Church of Nazarene
Time: 2:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

July 8, 2023 – Jasper, Walker County
Sponsor: Walker County ARES
Location: American Red Cross
Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

Jul 9, 2023 – Birmingham, Jefferson County
Sponsor: ARA Group
Location: BARC Meeting Location – Birmingham
Time: 2:00 PM
https://www.aragroup.org/calendar/calendar.htm

July 15, 2023 – Helena, Shelby County
Sponsor: KF4IOL Fellowship ARC
Location: Helena Sports Complex
Time: 1:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

July 15, 2023 – Pell City, St. Clair County
Sponsor: Pell City VE Team
Location: Pell City Public Library
Time: 11:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Learn More

July 22, 2023 – Pinson, Jefferson County
Sponsor: CAVEC
Location: Pinson Valley High School
Time: 9:00 AM
http://www.cavechamexam.com/pinson-al-exam-site-info.html

The Tuscaloosa County VE Group (not affiliated with TARC) is currently scheduling test sessions on an “as needed” basis.

If you are interested in testing, whether to obtain a new Technician license or to upgrade your existing license, contact us Allan or Bridget Thompson via email ks4yt@yahoo.com or telephone at 205-919-7505.

Tuscaloosa Amateur Radio Club (tclarc.org)

For information on exams near you if you are not in the Jefferson Shelby County areas see:
Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area (arrl.org)

Online Exam sessions do exist, created April 30, 2020, as a byproduct of COVID19 restrictions.

Ham radio license tests are administered by Volunteer Exam Coordinators (VECs) that are approved by the FCC to administer the exam.

There is some setup required with a webcam, a Zoom meeting, and possibly a qualified proctor – it all depends on which VEC you choose to administer your exam. Each VEC will have their own detailed requirements and instructions.

Before you get in touch with a VEC to try to schedule your exam, make sure you have studied for the exam and can easily score the 74% required to pass.

See: https://hamradioprep.com/

The only concern I have about the online approach is that it totally omits mentoring or “Elmering” process / opportunities where hams learn from each other, which in my mind is a two way street. Older hams mentoring the younger hams using their experience and younger hams mentoring us old goats, as the younger hams know how to integrate computer technology in ways us old goats, or at least this old goat, can barely comprehend. We need each other.

That’s were the value of getting involved with the ham radio clubs come in.

That said, online sources, per the ARRL site are:

W9TWJ VETEAM
Contact: Tanner Jones
Email: W9TWJ@arrl.net
Sponsor: Unsponsored
Website: https://w9twj.com/exams/
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/W9TWJ

KA4KBX VETEAM
Contact: Gary Pike
Email: vetesting@yahoo.com
Sponsor: KJ4PJE PARC
Website: https://parcradio.org/pages/online.html
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/KJ4PJE

N0ZRD VETEAM
Contact: Gordon Hanson
Email: N0ZRD@mnyarc.org
Sponsor: MNYARC/KOLTC.org
Website: https://exam.mnyarc.org
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/N0ZRD

KK7GKO VETEAM
Contact: ‘Gene’ Cecil McDole
Email: genemcdole2@gmail.com
Sponsor: PARC-US
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/PARC-US

KB7UTV KC7QJO VETEAM
Contact: Lawrence Simon
Email: larry@simonlj.net
Sponsor: Las Vegas VE Team
Website: https://www.lvhamtest.us/video-supervised-license-exam-sessions/
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/KC7QJO

W4WRE VETEAM
Contact: Rodney Webb
Email: W4WREares@gmail.com
Sponsor: Lakeway ARC – W2IQ
Website: http://www.hamonlinetests.com/
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/W4WRE

NL7CW VETEAM
Contact: Brandin Hess
Email: testing@aarg.club
Sponsor: Last Frontier Volunteer Examiner Club, Inc.
Website: https://aarg.club/?page_id=14
Exam Website: https://hamexamgen.com/schedule.php

WB9ZPH VETEAM
Contact: Janet Crenshaw
Email: wb9zph@gmail.com
Sponsor: WB9ZPH
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/wb9zph
Exam Website: http://hamstudy.org/sessions/wb9zph

AD6ZH VETEAM
Contact: Morris Jones
Email: ad6zh.mj@gmail.com
Sponsor: Silicon Valley VE Group – register on website or email team for an appt.
Website: http://www.svve.org

N9LHS VETEAM
Contact: Linda Straubel
Email: straue75@gmail.com
Sponsor: Daytona Beach ARA – contact team (7:30pm testing Mon-Thurs)
Website: https://www.dbara.org/about/testing-sessions/
Exam Website: https://www.dbara.org/about/testing-sessions/

N2YGK VETEAM
Contact: Alan Crosswell
Email: alan+exams@columbia.edu
Sponsor: Columbia University VE Team ARC
Website: https://www.w2aee.columbia.edu/content/remote-license-exams
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/W2AEE

AH0A VETEAM
Contact: Joseph Speroni
Email: ah0a@arrl.net
Sponsor: Emergency Amateur Radio Club – ZOOM video session
Website: http://earchi.org/
Exam Website: http://hameducation.org/register/

WF9S VETEAM
Contact: Atsunobu Tama
Email: liaison@ve-kobe.matrix.jp
Sponsor: ARRL VE Kobe
Website: http://www.ve-kobe.matrix.jp/
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/wf9s

KM6ZQB VETEAM
Contact: Heather Parker
Email: parker_prince@yahoo.com
Sponsor: San Diego ARRL VE Team
Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/KM6ZQB-D
Exam Website: http://hamstudy.org/sessions/arrl/km6zqb

K4WVZ VETEAM
Contact: David Robinson
Email: davidmrobinson15@gmail.com
Sponsor: Sun City W4SPC – email team for an appointment

KT4V VETEAM
Contact: Ken Zieleck
Email: zieleck@gmail.com
Sponsor: Carteret Cnty ARS – email team for an appointment
Website: http://www.w4ymi.org/

WW1RF VETEAM
Contact: Allan Ryan
Email: testing@barnstableARC.org
Sponsor: Barnstable ARC – on demand testing, EMAIL team for an appointment
Website: https://www.barnstablearc.org/?q=node/12

KD8JBS VETEAM
Contact: Benjamin Murray
Email: kd8jbs@arrl.net
Sponsor: Williams County ARC
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/kd8jbs

K3BV VETEAM
Contact: Peter Dernikos
Email: info@vea.org.au
Sponsor: Book a time slot BEFORE registering on exam website.
Website: http://www.vea.org.au/book-us-online-exam
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/K3BV/

N8JMW VETEAM
Contact: Jacqueline Welch
Email: n8jmw2@gmail.com
Sponsor: Geauga ARA
Website: https://geaugaara.org/
Exam Website: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/N8JMW
Additional ARRL VE Teams
For additional ARRL teams offering remote online exams visit: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/arrl/remote

Becoming a ham operator is one of the wisest decisions I made.

Whether you become a ham due to interests in radio technology, severe weather or emergency preparedness, I invite you to join the fun.

And, with all these testing opportunities available why wait?

For more information see:

Amateur Radio – Becoming A Licensed Operator

https://alertalabama.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/ALERTOperationalMembers/EZqBOkJRHoFKkyTtjXWiCvoBUsxigEGL_NQD1Nv0XLNKqA?e=t7fVrh

Getting Licensed (arrl.org)

I hope to see you on the air!

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Mark’s Almanac

The Romans called April “Aprilis”, probably from the word “aperire”, which means, “to open”. This time of year being when buds open. It was originally the second month of the Roman calendar, before Roman King Numa Pompilius added January & February in 700 BC.

Freezing weather comes to an end as Birmingham’s average last freeze is April 1, while Tuscaloosa’s is March 26. The record for the latest freeze date is April 21, 1953 for Tuscaloosa and April 23, 1986 for Birmingham.

Snowfall is still possible though, as April 3, 1987’s 5 inches proves. The latest trace of snow was April 25, 1910.

April is less wet than March & rain becomes more localized and less widespread in nature. The sun heats the lower atmosphere near the ground and since the upper atmosphere is still cold, the warm air rises, reaches the dew point line, forms clouds & then it may rain. April is the first time in the spring season that favors local convective activity, which is why you have “April Showers”.

North Atlantic Tropical activity remains at a minimum. From 1851 to 2022 there has never been a Hurricane and only two Tropical Storms – Ana in 2003 and Arlene in 2017 which affected only shipping.

April is peak tornado month, with wide scale outbreaks possible. There are 2 ½ times the number of tornadoes as in March. 25% of the year’s tornadoes will have occurred by April 28.

From April 1950 to 2022, 9781 tornadoes were reported. From 1950 – 2022 there were causing, as of 2022, 1946 deaths and as of 2013, 29,090 injuries.

As of 2017, Oklahoma leads the nation in killer violent tornados, having had 64, followed by Iowa with 54, Texas with 53, Kansas with 48 and Alabama 44.

As of 2015, Alabama ranks fourth in the number of April tornadoes, following Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. They along with Illinois belong to the “over 400 club” having had over 400 tornadoes since 1950.

As of 2017 Alabama leads the nation in F5 & EF5 tornadoes, having had 9, followed by Oklahoma and Kansas with 8, and a two-way tie for third between Iowa and Texas with 6.

As of 2016 Alabama leads the nation in tornado deaths with 633, followed by Texas with 552 and Mississippi with 477.

The counties most likely to be struck by violent EF5 tornadoes are Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan, Madison and Marion, all of which have been struck three times.

Tuscaloosa has been stuck by four F4 & EF4 tornadoes including 1932, 1975, 2000 & 2011.

The suburbs of Birmingham, including Oak Grove, Pleasant Grove, McDonald Chapel and Smithfield have been struck by two F4 & EF4 tornadoes in 1956 & 2011 and by two F5 tornadoes in 1977 & 1998.

My Grandfather, who passed away in 1958, once said “someday a big tornado is going to go right up Jones Valley and tear everything up”.

Indeed, there is no logical or climatological reason why and an EF4 or EF5 tornado hasn’t struck or won’t strike the densely populated areas of Birmingham, including the high rises of downtown.

Whether it is due to “Divine Providence” or “random chance” otherwise known as “luck”, Birmingham has been spared.

When will that luck run out?

The Top 10 Counties for Tornadoes from 1950 – 2021 are:

Jefferson 105
Mobile 100
Baldwin 97
Cullman 95
Tuscaloosa 83
Madison 80
Marshall 72
Dekalb 68
Limestone 65
Walker 57

A large percentage of the Mobile and Baldwin County tornadoes were in association with landfalling tropical systems.

There is no basis to the myth that mountains can block tornadoes, and yet there is the strange coincidence that from the southern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains at Tannehill State Park in Tuscaloosa & Bibb Counties northeastward through Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair, Marshall, Etowah, Dekalb and Cherokee Counties there are roughly twice as many tornadoes on the windward side of the Appalachian mountain range than on the leeward side.

But no matter where you might be reading this, always beware of the storms of April.

Days continue to grow longer as the Sun’s angle above the noonday horizon rapidly increases from 61.1 degrees at the beginning of the month to 71.3 degrees at the end. Daylight increases from 12 hours 32 minutes on April 1 to 13 hours 29 minutes on April 30.

Sunrise and sunset times for Birmingham are:

April 1 Sunrise 6:35 AM Sunset 7:08 PM
April 15 Sunrise 6:17 AM Sunset 7:18 PM
April 30 Sunrise 6:00 AM Sunset 7:29 PM

Looking skyward, the Sun, magnitude -26.8 is in Pisces, The Fish.

At the beginning of the month Mercury, magnitude -1.6, is in Pisces, The Fish, lies tow in the evening twilight. He with be half lit, or at “dichotomy” on April 8 and reach his highest point in the sky on April 9.

He reaches high highest point in the sky, or “Greatest Eastern Elongation “, reaching a peak altitude of 18° above the horizon at sunset on April 12 and his greatest visual separation from the Sun also on April 12.

He will then progressively get lower each night until finally disappearing from the night sky by months end.

Venus, magnitude –4.0 in Aries, The Ram, is the brilliant “Evening Star” dominating the Wester skies in the early evening. She becomes visible around 7:30 CDT, 31° above the horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. She will then sink towards the horizon, setting around 10 PM CDT.

Earth, magnitude -4.0, as viewed from the Sun, is in the constellation Virgo, The Virgin.

Mars, magnitude +0.9, in Taurus, The Bull, is an early evening object, becoming visible around 7:30 CDT, 74° above the south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. He then sinks towards the horizon, setting around 2 AM.

Dwarf Planet Ceres, magnitude 6.9 is in Coma Berenices, Berenice’s Hair

Jupiter, magnitude –2.1 in Pisces, The Fish, is sinking steadily towards the western horizon and will soon disappear, literally riding into the sunset. He becomes visible a little after 7 PM CDT, just 8° above the western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness and sets 1 hour after sunset.

He will soon disappear from the evening sky and pass behind the Sun on April 11.

He will reach his furthest point from the Earth, its apogee on April 13.

Saturn, magnitude +0.9, in Aquarius, The Water Bearer, is lost in the glow of the Sun.

Uranus, magnitude +5.8, in Aries, The Ram, is moving ever closer to the sunset, becoming visible around 8 PM CDT, 28° above the western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. He then sink towards the horizon, around 10:30.

Neptune, magnitude +7.8 in Pisces, The Fish, is hidden in the glow of the Sun.

Dwarf Planet Pluto, with his five moons shines at a dim 14.5 in Capricorn, The Sea Goat..

Dwarf Planet 136108 Haumea, her ring and moons Hiʻiaka and Namaka, shines at a faint magnitude of 17.3 in Bootes, The Herdsman

Dwarf Planet 136472 Makemake with his moon S/2015 (136472) faintly shines at magnitude 17.1 in Coma Berenices.

Dwarf Planet 136199 Eris and her moon Dysnomia is barely visible in the most powerful telescopes at magnitude 18.7 in Cetus the Sea Monster.

At least five additional bodies with the preliminary criteria for identifying dwarf planets, and though not “officially” declared as such, are generally called dwarf planets by astronomers as well.

90482 Orcus, and his moon Vanth shines at magnitude 19.1 between Hydra, the Sea Monster and Serpens, The Snake.

50000 Quaoar,and his moon Waywot shines at magnitude +18.6 in Ophiucus, The Serpent Bearer,

90377 Sedna, the coldest, and at one time, the most distant known place in the Solar System, glows faintly at magnitude +20.9 in Taurus, The Bull.

225088 Gonggong, and his moon Xiangli glows dimly at +21.5 magnitude in Aquarius, The Water Bearer.

Unnamed Dwarf Planet 2014 UZ224, nicknamed “DeeDee” for “Distant Dwarf” is 8.5 billion miles from the Sun, at magnitude +23.1 in Eridanus, The River.

Currently the most distant observable known object in the Solar System, and asteroid unofficially called Asteroid 2018 AG37, and nicknamed FarFarOut, glows at a barely detectable +25.5 magnitude in Lynx.

FarFarOut is 12,246,241,135 miles or in Light Time, 18 hours, 15 minutes and 40.1951 seconds from Earth.

This object was discovered during an ongoing search for the source of the “gravity well” or the pull of gravity of a large body in space beyond Neptune that is apparently altering the path of objects in the outer solar system. The yet to be discovered Planet X, presumably is a Neptune sized planet tracing an unusual, elongated orbit in the outer solar system 20 times more distant from the Sun than Neptune.

There are 1,273,729 known asteroids as of March 22, per NASA.

5312 planets beyond our solar system have now been confirmed as of March 16, per NASA’s Exoplanet Archive http://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/

April’s Full Moon will occur on April 5 at 11:37 PM CST or 04:37 UTC April 6. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Pink Moon because it marked the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the first spring flowers. This moon has also been known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Growing Moon, and the Egg Moon. Many coastal tribes called it the Fish Moon because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.

This moon has also been known as the Full Crow Moon, the Full Crust Moon, the Full Sap Moon, and the Lenten Moon.

During a Full Moon the Moon’s magnitude is -12.7.

Last Quarter Moon, or when the moon has only the Eastern side illuminated, will occur April 13 at 4:12 AM CDT or 09:12 UTC.

During the Quarter Moons the Moon’s magnitude is -10.0

The Moon will be at Perigee or her closest approach to Earth on April 15, when she will be 228,644 miles from Earth.

New Moon will occur on April 19 at 11:14 PM CDT or 04:15 UTC April 20. The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

A Hybrid Solar Eclipse, which is an eclipse which occurs when the Moon is almost too close to the Earth to completely block the Sun and appears as a total eclipse to some parts of the world and an annular to others, will occur April 20.

The eclipse path will begin in the southern Indian Ocean and move across parts of western Australia and southern Indonesia. A partial eclipse will be visible throughout most of Indonesia and Australia.

While we are on the topic of eclipses, you should absolutely mark April 8, 2024 on your calendars, For on that date there will be a total eclipse which will pass through Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and New England. It will be a very deep partial eclipse in Alabama, Deeper than the eclipse of 2017. Two Total Eclipses will pass directly over South Alabama in 2045 & 2079, if you want to wait for them. I plan to anyway.

The Lyrid Meteor Shower which, runs annually from April 16 – 25, peaks on the evening of April 22 and morning of April 23. This is a minor shower, with only 12 to 24 meteors per hour. These meteors sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds.

This shower is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861.

The thin crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra but can appear anywhere in the sky.

First Quarter Moon, or when the moon has only the Western side illuminated, will occur April 9 at 9:21 PM or 21:21 UTC.

During the Quarter Moons the Moon’s magnitude is -10.0

The Moon will be at Apogee or its farthest distance from Earth on April 28, when she will be 251,220 miles from Earth.

Evenings in early April offer an excellent opportunity to view the zodiacal light. Zodiacal light is a faint, roughly triangular whitish glow seen in the night sky which appears to extend up from the vicinity of the sun along the ecliptical plane. It is caused by sunlight scattered by space dust in the orbital plane of the Earth.

From the Northern Hemisphere, early spring is the best time of year to observe this elusive glow after sunset. It appears slightly fainter than the Milky Way, so you’ll need a clear moonless sky and an observing site located far from the city. Look for the cone-shaped glow, which points nearly straight up from the western horizon, after the last vestiges of twilight have faded away.

This is the time of year when the dim Little Dipper – Ursa Minor – juts to the right from the North Star, Polaris, which is the end of the Little Dipper’s handle, during late evening. The much brighter Big Dipper curls over high above it, “dumping water” into it. They do the reverse in the fall.

Now that it’s spring, the signature fall-and-winter constellation Cassiopeia is retreating down after dark. But for mid-northern latitudes Cassiopeia is circumpolar, never going away completely. Look for it fairly low in the north-northwest these evenings. It’s standing nearly on end.

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I am looking for articles and items for the Newsletter. One might say “the wellspring of ideas runneth dry”. Put, another way, I NEED HELP!

Any items will be appreciated. Send to wd4nyl@bellsoth.net

Thanks in advance!

This month’s meeting will be on April 11 at 7PM.

The meeting will held at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Calera and remotely as was last month’s meeting. Details and instructions will be issued as the time nears.

I hope to see you there!

Mark Wells
WD4NYL
Editor
ALERT Newsletter

Mark’s Weatherlynx
Weather Resource Database
www.freewebs.com/weatherlynx