The rescue operations are suspended temporarily due to the rising level of methane gas which could lead to another blast. In order to monitor the gas levels for safe entry into the chamber, there is a plan to drill borehole from the ground. Rescuers are doing their best to reach the trapped miners, but some of them were already found dead.

U.S President Obama expressed his condolence for the people who lost their lives. He also ensured that the federal government will provide their best effort to rescue the remaining people trapped in the mine.  Amy Louviere, a U.S spokeswoman stated about the incident: “At approximately 3:30 PM, the Mine Safety & Health Administration was informed about the explosion in Massey Energy coal mine. Rescue operations are undergoing”

As per the file disclosed with MSHA, the company employs about 200 workers and produced about 1.2 million tons of coal last year. The mine uses an advanced longwall mining operation. The safety record for Massey Energy is also not the best. Records also reveal that the company has paid the highest fine in coal industry for a fire which broke up in West Virginia causing life of 2 miners.

According to MSHA statistics, the non-fatal injury rate is higher than the national average for similar operations in 7 of the last 10 years. In July 2003, one miner was killed by electrocution and in March 2001 another by roof falls as stated by MSHA statistics.

West Virginia Mine Explosion is a post from: Universal Ramblings

The periodicity and recurrence of solar (and lunar) eclipses is governed by the Saros cycle. It is a period of approximately 6,585.3 days (about 18 years 11 days 8 hours.) When two eclipses are separated by a period of one Saros, they almost share the same geometry. The eclipses occur at the same node with the Moon at nearly the same distance from Earth and at the same time of the year, except that the eclipse’s path will moves a third of the way west and a little north, on the Earth’s surface from the last eclipse occurrence. Thus, the Saros is useful for organizing eclipses into families or series. Each series typically last about 12 to 13 centuries and contains 70 or more eclipses.

The total solar eclipse of July 22, 2009 is the 37th member of Saros 136. The first eclipse of this cycle began with a small partial eclipse on June 14, 1360 off the coast of Antarctica. Throughout the 20th century, Saros 136 continued to produce exceptionally long duration total solar eclipse, with tracks passing across the equator. The eclipse of May 29, 1919 was particularly noteworthy and interesting because it was the first solar eclipse used to measure the gravitational deflection of starlight by the Sun as predicted by Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

The June 20, 1955 total solar eclipse was particularly interesting to all of us here because it is the longest duration of all total solar eclipses belonging to the Saros 136 with a maximum duration of 7 minutes 8 seconds, and which passed over the Philippines, including Manila. This eclipse is the longest recorded total solar eclipse. The 2009 eclipse has a maximum duration of 6 minutes 39 seconds although it will occur in the Pacific Ocean. So I have decided to lead the ALP team to Wuhan, China as I think this is the best area to observe this eclipse although at the expense of a much shorter duration but with a better chance of clear sky during the eclipse duration.

As the partial eclipse progress, the temperature drops noticeably. This can also affect the focus of cameras and telescopes which should be checked once in a while as totality approaches.

The total phase of an eclipse is accompanied by the onset of a rapidly darkening sky whose appearance resembles evening twilight about half an hour after sunset. It gives an observer an excellent opportunity to view some planets as well as bright stars in the daytime sky.

A total solar eclipse is probably the best and most spectacular astronomical event that many people will experience in their lifetime! There is a great deal of interest in observing solar eclipses, and thousands of astronomers (both amateur and professional) travel around the world just to observe and photograph them.

A solar eclipse can offer us an opportunity to see a natural phenomenon that illustrates the basic principles of science and mathematics. Some examples are the use of pinhole cameras as well as telescopes or binoculars leads to an understanding of how optics work in these devices; the rise and fall of environmental light levels during an eclipse illustrate the principles of radiometry and photometry; the observation of how plants and animals behave during the eclipse’s entire duration; and, the monitoring of the rise and fall of temperature during the entire eclipse period, etc.

Observing the Sun, however, can be dangerous if proper precautions are not taken into account. The solar radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface ranges from ultraviolet (UV) radiation at wavelengths longer than 290nm to radio waves in the meter range.

The tissues in the eye transmit a substantial part of the radiation in between 380-400nm to the light sensitive retina at the back of our eye. While environmental exposure to UV radiation is known to cause accelerated aging of the outer layers of the eye and the development of cataracts, the primary concern over improper viewing of the Sun during an eclipse is the development of eclipse blindness or retinal burns. The result can be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the damage.

When one looks repeatedly, or for a long duration of time, at the Sun without proper eye protection, this can cause retinal damage accompanied by thermal injury – the high level of visible and near-infrared radiation causes heating that literally cooks the exposed tissue. This thermal injury destroys the rods and cones, creating a small blind area! The great danger to vision is significant because of the fact that the injuries occur without nay feeling of pain (the retina doesn’t have any pain receptors) and the visual effects do not become obvious for at least several hours after the damage is done! Viewing through the telescope and binoculars without proper filtration can result in immediate or instant eye damage because of the high irradiance level in the magnified image.

The only time that the Sun can be viewed safely with the naked eye is during TOTALITY only. It is NEVER SAFE TO LOOK AT THE SUN DURING PARTIAL OR ANNULAR ECLIPSES, OR PARTIAL PHASES OF A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE!!!! So what are the safe ways or techniques to observe the solar eclipse?

Solar Eclipse 2009 is a post from: Universal Ramblings

Q: Does the Cash for Clunkers bill apply to used car purchases?

A: Currently, the language of the proposed bill is only for new car purchases. If you are looking for a used car, click here.

Q: If I already purchased a new car, in the last few months, can the voucher apply to my past purchase?

A: We can not answer that question until the final bill is signed into law but…the answer looks like a NO. This is because all cars traded in for the program will be sent to the scrapyard. If you already traded in your car, there is no guarantee that it is off the road.

Q: If I want to buy a new car now and have a clunker that qualifies, can I get the voucher credit once the bill goes into effect by bringing in the old car to the dealership where I purchased my new car?

A: Again, we can’t answer that question until we see how the bill is implemented. If you can hold off until further information is available, it may be the best choice. If you need a car now, that is a chance you have to take.

Q: If my car is worth more than $4,500, how would the Cash for Clunker voucher work?

A: The program would not provide any benefit if a car dealer would give you more than $4,500 for your trade-in. If you want to purchase a new car, do not wait on this bill if your trade is worth more than $4,500 since it will not provide any upside relief.

Q: If dealers are offering cash incentives toward a new car purchase, would that be in addition to this voucher?

A: The program is independent from manufacturer buying incentives. For example, if a car dealer is offering $3,000 off the list price of a car and you qualified for a $4,500 voucher from your trade, then the total reduction off the MSRP would be $7,500. You should always shop for the best deals before buying a car.

Q: I have two old clunkers, can I trade-in both cars for a $9,000 voucher toward a new car purchase?

A: The current wording of the bill would seem to indicate that only ONE voucher can be applied to a new car purchase.

Q: How do I know if I qualify for a $3,500 voucher or a $4,500 voucher?

A: We need to wait on the final wording of the bill. Since there are various versions of the measure in play, we will notify everyone on our email list when the final bill language is signed into law? The amount will depend on the car you purchase and the increase in average MPG.

Q: How do I find a local Cash for Clunkers Participating Dealer?

A: If you will be purchasing a new car if the bill is signed into law, complete the form on the left. We will have a local dealer in your state contact you and get all your trade-in information now. This will allow you to be prepared when the bill is signed into law.

Be at the head of the line for the car you want because popular fuel efficient cars will be moving off dealer lots quickly. Since there will be a large “rush” when the bill is signed, getting all your paperwork and loan approvals in place in advance could get you to the head of the paperwork line.

Q: Can I go to the junkyard a buy an old car and use it for a trade?

A: The final language of the bill is still to be decided but it seems that you will have to show that the car is operational and that you have owned the car for a period of time. Right now, that may be a one-year period.

Q: What will happen to the car I trade in?

A: Once again, we have to wait for the final language but it would seem that the car would be recycled so cars that are worth more than $4,500 on a trade would not be viable for this program.

Q: My car is old and originally got more than 18 mpg, but now it gets 14 mpg. Will it qualify?

A: That is another popular question. We will have to wait and see if the bill provides a reasonable assessment of current MPG versus original manufacturer EPA MPG.

Q: How long will the program last?

A: That is still unknown. Some insiders were hoping to get funding that would keep the program running for one year. However, if funding is reduced, the program may only last a few months. That is why we encourage all consumers to connect with a Cash for Clunkers Participating Dealer now, so your paperwork can be lined up when the bill is signed into law.

Q: Are there restriction on the year of my trade-in?

A: The car can not be any older than a 1984 model year vehicle?

Q: Why would some trades qualify for $3,500 and other trades get $4,500?

A: The difference in vouchers depends on the improved gas mileage as compared to your trade. For example, if your new car purchase gets 4 mpg more than your trade you get $3,500. If the new car gets 10 mpg better than your trade you get $4,500.

Q: What if my trade-in is worth more than $4,500?

A: This program does not apply to you because you will be better off trading the car in through traditional channels. All cars that are part of the Cash for Clunkers bill we be sent to the scrapyard.

Q: I have an old clunker truck that gets under 18 mpg. Can I trade that in for a car that gets over 22 MPG?

A: It would seem that you will be able to trade it in. We will wait on the final wording on the bill since this is a very popular question.

Q: My parents own an old clunker. Can I transfer the title into my name and use it for a Cash for Clunkers trade-in?

A: It would seem that unless you have the car register in your name for at least a year, the answer would be no.

Q: Can I buy any new car and still qualify? Does it have to be an American manufacturer?

A: You can buy any new car: foreign or domestic.

Info on ‘Cash For Clunkers 2009′ Program is a post from: Universal Ramblings