Identifying Planets

It's only recently, through observation of the sky (and involvement with my kids) that I realized that you can identify planets at night partly because they are (generally? - besides the moon, not sure if there are other exceptions) the first objects you can see after the sun goes down.

I don't usually do a lot of observation in the pre-dawn sky, but I happened to be up early and had to take a peek. A really bright object was in the southeastern sky - it seemed almost too bright to be a planet.

Turns out it was Venus. Wow!

Here is a website to help you identify what planets are visible according to time-of-year.

Mathematics and the One True God

Nice post from Cottage Blessings

Wild Monthly, Part Two

If you would like to see MacBeth's Wild Monthly newsletter without joining the Yahoo group, there is a website: http://charlottemason.tripod.com/newsletter.html

Great Post on DNA and the "Language of Life"

Read here

Wild Monthly

This is a fairly new email newsletter from MacBeth Derham that I just love. It's only one email a month, but packed full of ideas. Here is MacBeth's description at Wild Monthly:

This monthly newsletter is for families interested in mini science units. The newsletter will include links, so use HTML if you join.

The newsletter is not in-depth, but should provide a launching point for exploring the topic of the month, with web site links and book suggestions included. As I take photos of outdoor activities with my own family, they will be posted in the photos section. Be sure to check it from time to time.

This is a "read only" forum. While comments and suggestions are very welcome, all replies to the newsletter are forwarded directly to me, and are not posted.

I hope you enjoy reading Wild Monthly as much as I enjoy writing it!

I saw MacBeth speak at the Austin Conference last year and loved the "show and tell" part which was a slide show of her outdoor activities with her children. It certainly inspired me in teaching natural science to my children.

Check out Wild Monthly at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wildmonthly.

Michael Behe and Intelligent Design

Godspy always has the most interesting articles, imo. Here is one on Intelligent Design that you just can't pass up: After Dover: An Interview with Michael Behe. (Hat tip to Amy Welborn.)

Michael Behe wrote the very good Darwin's Black Box.: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution which delves into the theory of evolution and the origin of life. Behe, a biochemist, provides scientific arguments for the existence of God.

He is also a contributing author to Science and Evidence for Design in the Universe which was published by Ignatius Press, and explores the possibility of Intelligent Design.