NEWS
Lunar trifecta coming early morning on Jan. 31
Skywatchers will see something of a “lunar trifecta” the morning of Jan 31, a pre-dawn “Super Blue Blood Moon.”
As January closes the moon will do something it hasn’t since 1866. These lunar events are not uncommon separately, but it is rare for all three to occur at the same time. It should be a rare treat to observe, but it starts early.
The Jan. 31 full moon is special for three reasons: It’s the third in a series of “supermoons,” when the moon is closer to earth in its orbit and about 14 percent brighter than usual.
It’s also the second full moon of the month, commonly known as a “blue moon.” The super blue moon will pass through Earth’s shadow to give viewers in the right location a total lunar eclipse. While the Moon is in the Earth’s shadow it will take on a reddish tint, known as a “blood moon.”
Beginning at 5:30 a.m. EST on Jan. 31, a live feed of the moon will be offered on NASA TV and NASA.gov/live. You can also follow at @NASAMoon.
Time frame for north Texas
Partial eclipse starts about 4:51 a.m.
Total eclipse starts 6:51
Moon sets on the horizon at 7:23 a.m.
A blue moon occurs about every two and a half years. While the moon does not actually appear blue, “Blue Moon” is another term for the second full moon in a single calendar month. January’s first full moon was on Jan. 1. The last blue moon was in July 2015 and the next will be on March 31.
According to the National Aeronautica and Space Administration, the exact moment of the full moon is 8:37 a.m. on Jan. 31, but the moon will appear very full one or two days before and after.
The lunar eclipse will be visible early in the morning of Jan. 31 from western North America. In the central and eastern U.S. only a partial eclipse will be visible since the moon will set before totality.
The eclipse will last almost three and a half hours from the beginning of the partial phase at 3:48 a.m. pacific time and ends at 7:12 p.m. pacific time. Totality according NASA last about 77 minutes from 4:51 a.m. to 6:08 a.m. pacific time.
Blood moon refers to a lunar eclipse where the moon will glow a spectacular red for many viewers. NASA officials explain the sun, earth and moon will line up in such a way that our planet cuts off the moon’s sunlight supply. It will drift into the earth’s shadow and begin to glow a warm, orange-red as light passes through the earth’s atmosphere.
A supermoon glows brighter than the average moon and occurs when the moon is closer to the earth in its orbit. When the moon’s closest approach coincides with a full moon, it can look bigger and brighter, generally about 30 percent. Jan. 31 will be the last chance to see a supermoon this year. It is suggested to look to the skies just after sunset because the lower the moon sits in the ski, the larger it appears, called “moon illusion.”

NEWS
Amon Carter Lake Board to meet
Members of the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on May 26 in the office at 607A Lindsey for a monthly meeting.
Items on the agenda include a consent agenda and minutes and financials. Possible discussion/action may be considered on the following topics: Treasurer’s report, review of finance and current loans; president’s report as to the written agreements with contractual employees; consider current water rates and a possible increase; and review of expenses and areas that need amendment.
An executive session may be entered to discuss personnel issues.
NEWS
Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal
The City of Saint Jo has a new fire marshal as the city council made the appointment during its May 13 meeting.
Gary Hines, a retired professional firefighter and certified fire investigator, will take the position. City Secretary Debbie Dennis said the post is required by ordinance but has not been filled for a long period.
The council set dates for a budget workshop for 2 p.m. on June 14 and 2 p.m. on June 28 for the ordinance workshop, as the council works to update its rules.
Aldermen gave their support to a proposition by Councilman Jack Dunn who is asking the Legislature to allow Texas’ smallest cities, those with 2,500 or few in population, to receive an additional share of sales and use tax. He would like to see the funds used in these communities to repair and replace aging infrastructure without new taxes or reliance on state grants.
In letter to State Rep. David Spiller, whom Dunn will meet with on June 1, the alderman explains much of the state’s 6.25% share generated locally flows into general funds and is spent on other priorities. He would like Spiller to author this legislation. Dunn gave the letter to the council along with a powerpoint on the plan.
“A single water treatment plant upgrade or sewer rehab carries massive, fixed costs that do not shrink with population size. These communities, often with only a few hundred or a couple thousands residents, simply cannot spread those costs across enough ratepayers or a broad tax based,” the letter states.
Dunn suggests a “graduated sales tax retention policy:” 1% additional share for cities with 2,500 or fewer residents; .75% for those 2,500 and 5,000; and .50% for cities between 5,001 and 10,000. It would be dedicated to infrastructure. Dunn says the overall statewide fiscal impact would be negligible, but could help sustain small, rural cities.
NEWS
City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair
The Nocona City Council approved a bid for a new 203,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water at the water plant and learned a slide repair to the lake dam is going to be pretty costly.
At its May 12 session the council received three bids on the tank and went with one from Tank Depot of Cleburne for $193,923. It is for a a 217,600 gallon tank usable for 203,000 gallons. The price could change slightly since it was based on estimate freight costs.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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