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Stalemate Deepens as Government Shutdown Hits Historic Length

House Speaker Mike Johnson, joined at left by Rep. Andrew Garbarino, answers questions at a news conference at the Capitol on day 16 of the government shutdown.  The federal government shutdown has now stretched into its 20th day, officially becoming the third-longest in U.S. history. With no breakthrough in sight, the standoff between Democrats and Republicans continues to paralyze Washington. The Senate is scheduled to vote yet again on a funding measure, marking the 11th attempt to end the impasse. However, both sides remain entrenched: Republicans are pushing for a stopgap bill to extend funding at current levels, while Democrats insist on restoring cuts to Medicaid and securing health care subsidies before reopening the government. The shutdown, which began on October 1, has already furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal workers and disrupted key services. If it continues past October 22, it will surpass the 1995-1996 standoff to become the second-longest in U.S. histo...

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Look Up Tuesday Night for the Full Pink Moon

 

The Pink Moon is set to grace the night sky this week, and it’s a celestial event worth observing. On Tuesday night, precisely at 7:49 p.m. EDT, the Moon will be in its full phase, marking April’s Full Moon. However, according to NASA, observers will notice that the Moon appears full for approximately three days, from Monday morning through Thursday morning.

Why Is It Called the Pink Moon?

Contrary to what the name suggests, the Pink Moon isn’t named for the Moon’s color. Instead, it derives its name from wild ground phlox, also known as pink moss. This early-blooming wildflower is one of the first to grace the landscape in the US Northeast during spring. The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which has been recording lunar names for close to a century, associated this April Full Moon with the pink blossoms of ground phlox.

Gibbous Phase and Observing Tips

While the Moon will appear full for several days, keen observers can still notice subtle differences. On Monday night and Wednesday night, focus on the Moon’s face a bit longer. You might observe that one side looks “fuzzy” compared to the crisp edge on the other side. This reveals that the Moon is actually in its Gibbous phase during those times. If you have binoculars or a telescope, it’ll be even easier to spot this phenomenon1.

So, mark your calendars and take a moment to appreciate the Pink Moon’s beauty as it graces our night sky this week!


Feel free to share this information with fellow stargazers and enjoy the celestial spectacle! If you have any more questions or need further details, feel free to ask. 😊🌠1

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