July's full moon rises tonight. Here's what to know
Tonight, stargazers can expect an eye-popping sight in the night sky. July's full moon, sometimes called the Buck Moon, is rising.
So-named because it lines up with summer antler-growing season each year, the Buck Moon will reach its brightest at 4:37 p.m. ET on Thursday afternoon, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, though it notes the moon won't actually be visible in the skies over North America until later this evening.
Coming into view between 9 and 11 p.m. local time tonight, the moon is expected to rise full, warm and bright.
You can check your local forecast for stargazing conditions at CTVNews.ca's weather hub.
Judging by the photos circulating on social media last night, which still only showed the moon in its dimmer, waxing phase, stargazers could be in for a sight to behold when the Buck reaches its peak.
Other names for the Buck Moon, the almanac notes, include the Thunder Moon, Halfway Summer Moon, Feather Moulting Moon, Salmon Moon, Berry Moon, Raspberry Moon, Month of the Ripe Corn Moon and Moon When the Chokecherries are Ripe.
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CTV News
12 hours ago
- CTV News
The gruelling 135-mile journey of a 66-year-old runner through one of the hottest places on Earth
Danny Westergaard, left, runs with pacing help from daughter Madison Westergaard as the sun rises during the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Death Valley National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — When the running gets hard in this desert dubbed 'hell on Earth,' Danny Westergaard tells himself: 'Slow and steady' or 'smooth as butter.' For 18 years, Westergaard, 66, has braved the scorching summer heat of California's Death Valley in an ultramarathon billed as the world's toughest. Last week, 99 runners from across the globe embarked on a grueling 135 mile (217.26 kilometre) competition from the lowest point below sea level of North America to the trailhead of the highest peak in the contiguous U.S. They had 48 hours to do it. Few have completed the competition as many times as Westergaard, a retired aerospace project manager, though finishing is not a given. 'It's just become like a summer ritual and a family reunion,' he said. 'I feel at home when I'm here. It's my tribe.' For the 37th year, the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon challenged athletes to withstand stretches of this dry, searing desert. The race takes place in July, when temperatures have soared into the 130s F (54.44s C). Even as a place of extremes, Death Valley is not immune to global warming. Seven of its hottest summers have occurred in the past 10 years, according to the National Park Service. And if planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current pace, more places could experience its broiling temperatures. Over two days, Westergaard would trek up and down mountain ranges, past sand dunes and salt flats, through quaint towns and vast desertscapes amid temperatures as high as 117 F (47.22 C). He tried to smile throughout, even when he felt miserable. 'It just lifts you up,' he said of smiling so others smile back. First night: The race begins At 8 p.m., the first wave of runners take off. Westergaard jogs up a ramp into the pale light of dusk. It's 113 F (45 C), and it feels like a blow dryer to the face. Leap frogging in a van behind him is his cheer squad and support crew – Jennifer Drain, his smiley cousin back for the 17th year, and daughters Meagan, who has attended before, and Madison, a first timer. The crew, who playfully call Westergaard 'wiener dog,' are hauling everything he needs: food, ice, water, electrolytes. This heat can kill. Soaring body temperatures can lead to organ failure and strain the heart, especially for people with heart disease, and cause heat stroke. To prevent that they keep him cool. They spray mist on him and pour ice into his hat and a bandana wrapped around his neck. His drinking water is ice cold. A few hours in, Meagan asks her dad if he's peed. 'Long stream,' he responded of his amount of urine. Staying hydrated is critical. As he sweats, he's losing liquids that can critically stress kidneys if not replenished. Dehydration can cause organs to fail from lack of blood, oxygen and nutrients, leading to seizures and death. No runners have died doing the competition, but heat-related issues are common, said Megan Dell, the race's medical director. Stomach issues can lead to vomiting and dehydration. Hyponatremia — which happens when your blood's sodium is too low — has sent runners to the hospital. Westergaard has learned to embrace the rollercoaster. One moment he feels like Superman — the next he could be throwing up on the side of the road, questioning if he'll make it. 'You just suck it up, just like in life, and get through the lows, and it always gets better.' The next day: Running through 'the oven' The runners dash toward mile 50.8 (81.75 kilometres), the critical cut off point they must get to by 10 a.m. or be eliminated. The sun is peaking over the mountains, casting a warm glow over dune fields. It's 85 F (29.44 C). 'Living the dream, ey?' Westergaard said with a smile, his perky strut now a droopy shuffle. He pours water on his face and arms and munches some watermelon. Madison paces behind him as they crack jokes. 'Get er done! Junior wiener in training!' Meagan yelled. Westergaard makes it to the cut off point before 9 a.m. It's 90 F (32.2 C). Mile 56 (90.12 kilometres): After moving for 14 hours straight, Westergaard rests and eats some avocado toast. 'Great! Let's motor!' he said after 10 minutes sitting on a chair. Miles later, he begins his descent into 'the oven' that is Panamint Valley, usually the hottest part of the race during the hottest part of the day. It's 96 F (35.56 C) and the heat sizzles from above and below. Westergaard runs on the white line on the road because it's cooler. In hotter years, the asphalt got so hot the bottoms of his shoes felt sticky on the ground. Westergaard trains year round to acclimate to the heat. As he gets older, he doesn't tolerate heat as well and has slowed down. His two-hour sauna sessions are now one, and he runs a few times a week instead of daily. 'I'm just out there longer,' he said, 'but still getting it done.' Tony Wolf, kinesiology professor at the University of Georgia, said aging adults generally have reduced heart function compared to younger adults. When combined with the cardiovascular demand of exercise and heat stress, it can cause difficulties. There isn't much research about how the bodies of fit older adults, including competitive athletes, regulate internal temperature. 'There aren't a ton of people in their 60s and older who are doing those kinds of events,' said Wolf. Studies focused on adults before and after a training program found that exercise improved heart function and thermoregulation. That could suggest that the heart and thermoregulation impairments linked to aging are largely mitigated by lifelong fitness, Wolf said. Second night: Sleepy hallucinations The runners are spread out now, their flashing lights twinkling in the distance. This night is the toughest for Westergaard as sleep deprivation sets in. He zigzags on the road, barely awake. The runners ahead of him look like they're running toward him. In past years, his hallucinations have included people luring him to rest on couches that were actually bushes. Another time, he struck up a conversation with a kid skateboarding by him with a dog. And once, he watched for hours as a guy swung off the edge of the crescent moon, waving down at him. 'It was just clear as day,' Westergaard said of the hallucination. At 3:10 a.m. at mile 98 (157.72 kilometres), he sleeps for 15 minutes under the moonlight. 'No one really quite understands' why he does this, said Madison. Final day: The push toward the finish At 11:50 a.m. and around mile 123 (197.95 kilometres), Westergaard shuffles through the town of Lone Pine. Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the continental U.S., soars some 14,500 feet (4,420 metres) into the blue sky. A crowd claps and cheers as he runs by. 'Go Danny, go!' yelled a man. It's 92 F (33.33 C) as he approaches the final 4,750 foot (1,447.8 metres) mountain ascent to the finish line. Westergaard is walking at a snail's pace and says he's falling asleep. But his smile hasn't waned. 'We've come a long way,' Westergaard said, Madison pacing behind and spraying him. 'Long way for a burger!' she responded. They giggle while thinking about the veggie burger they'll buy upon finishing. Then he does, crossing the finish line with his crew at exactly 45 hours and 29 minutes. It was his most special Badwater 135 race by far, he says misty eyed, having Meagan and Madison at his side. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Dorany Pineda, Ty O'neil And John Locher, The Associated Press
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Toronto Sun
The biggest piece of Mars on Earth is going up for auction in New York
Published Jul 13, 2025 • 3 minute read A Martian meteorite, weighing 54.388 lbs. (24.67 kg), said to be the largest piece of Mars on Earth, estimated at $2 - 4 million, is displayed at Sotheby's, in New York, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, part of their Geek Week auction, July 16, 2025. Photo by Richard Drew / AP Photo NEW YORK — For sale: A 54-pound (25-kilogram) rock. Estimated auction price: $2 million to $4 million. Why so expensive? It's the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Sotheby's in New York will be auctioning what's known as NWA 16788 on Wednesday as part of a natural history-themed sale that also includes a juvenile Ceratosaurus dinosaur skeleton that's more than 6 feet (2 metres) tall and nearly 11 feet (3 metres) long. According to the auction house, the meteorite is believed to have been blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike before traveling 140 million miles (225 million kilometres) to Earth, where it crashed into the Sahara. A meteorite hunter found it in Niger in November 2023, Sotheby's says. The red, brown and gray hunk is about 70% larger than the next largest piece of Mars found on Earth and represents nearly 7% of all the Martian material currently on this planet, Sotheby's says. It measures nearly 15 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches (375 millimetres by 279 millimetres by 152 millimetres). Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever found by a long shot,' Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman for science and natural history at Sotheby's, said in an interview. 'So it's more than double the size of what we previously thought was the largest piece of Mars.' It is also a rare find. There are only 400 Martian meteorites out of the more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites found on Earth, Sotheby's says. Hatton said a small piece of the red planet remnant was removed and sent to a specialized lab that confirmed it is from Mars. It was compared with the distinct chemical composition of Martian meteorites discovered during the Viking space probe that landed on Mars in 1976, she said. The examination found that it is an 'olivine-microgabbroic shergottite,' a type of Martian rock formed from the slow cooling of Martian magma. It has a course-grained texture and contains the minerals pyroxene and olivine, Sotheby's says. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It also has a glassy surface, likely due to the high heat that burned it when it fell through Earth's atmosphere, Hatton said. 'So that was their first clue that this wasn't just some big rock on the ground,' she said. The meteorite previously was on exhibit at the Italian Space Agency in Rome. Sotheby's did not disclose the owner. It's not clear exactly when the meteorite hit Earth, but testing shows it probably happened in recent years, Sotheby's said. The juvenile Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeleton was found in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, at Bone Cabin Quarry, a gold mine for dinosaur bones. Specialists assembled nearly 140 fossil bones with some sculpted materials to recreate the skeleton and mounted it so it's ready to exhibit, Sotheby's says. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The skeleton is believed to be from the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago, Sotheby's says. It's auction estimate is $4 million to $6 million. Ceratosaurus dinosaurs were bipeds with short arms that appear similar to the Tyrannosaurus rex, but smaller. Ceratosaurus dinosaurs could grow up to 25 feet (7.6 metres) long, while the Tyrannosaurs rex could be 40 feet (12 metres) long. The skeleton was acquired last year by Fossilogic, a Utah-based fossil preparation and mounting company. Wednesday's auction is part of Sotheby's Geek Week 2025 and features 122 items, including other meteorites, fossils and gem-quality minerals. — Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut. Golf Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Toronto Raptors Toronto & GTA
Toronto Sun
5 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Hungary's oldest library is fighting to save 100,000 books from a beetle infestation
Published Jul 13, 2025 • 3 minute read Books are kept in hermetically sealed plastic sacks for disinfection, at the Pannonhalma Archabbey's library in Pannonhalma, Hungary, Thursday, July 3, 2025, as a beetle infestation threatens its ancient collection. Photo by Bela Szandelszky / AP Photo PANNONHALMA, Hungary — Tens of thousands of centuries-old books are being pulled from the shelves of a medieval abbey in Hungary in an effort to save them from a beetle infestation that could wipe out centuries of history. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The 1,000-year-old Pannonhalma Archabbey is a sprawling Benedictine monastery that is one of Hungary's oldest centres of learning and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Restoration workers are removing about 100,000 handbound books from their shelves and carefully placing them in crates, the start of a disinfection process that aims to kill the tiny beetles burrowed into them. The drugstore beetle, also known as the bread beetle, is often found among dried foodstuffs like grains, flour and spices. But they also are attracted to the gelatin and starch-based adhesives found in books. They have been found in a section of the library housing around a quarter of the abbey's 400,000 volumes. 'This is an advanced insect infestation which has been detected in several parts of the library, so the entire collection is classified as infected and must be treated all at the same time,' said Zsofia Edit Hajdu, the chief restorer on the project. 'We've never encountered such a degree of infection before.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The beetle invasion was first detected during a routine library cleaning. Employees noticed unusual layers of dust on the shelves and then saw that holes had been burrowed into some of the book spines. Upon opening the volumes, burrow holes could be seen in the paper where the beetles chewed through. The abbey at Pannonhalma was founded in 996, four years before the establishment of the Kingdom of Hungary. Sitting upon a tall hill in northwestern Hungary, the abbey houses the country's oldest collection of books, as well as many of its earliest and most important written records. For over 1,000 years, the abbey has been among the most prominent religious and cultural sites in Hungary and all of Central Europe, surviving centuries of wars and foreign incursions such as the Ottoman invasion and occupation of Hungary in the 16th century. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ilona Asvanyi, director of the Pannonhalma Archabbey library, said she is 'humbled' by the historical and cultural treasures the collection holds whenever she enters. 'It is dizzying to think that there was a library here a thousand years ago, and that we are the keepers of the first book catalogue in Hungary,' she said. Among the library's most outstanding works are 19 codices, including a complete Bible from the 13th century. It also houses several hundred manuscripts predating the invention of the printing press in the mid-15th century and tens of thousands of books from the 16th century. While the oldest and rarest prints and books are stored separately and have not been infected, Asvanyi said any damage to the collection represents a blow to cultural, historical and religious heritage. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'When I see a book chewed up by a beetle or infected in any other way, I feel that no matter how many copies are published and how replaceable the book is, a piece of culture has been lost,' she said. Books will spend weeks in an oxygen-free environment To kill the beetles, the crates of books are being placed into tall, hermetically sealed plastic sacks from which all oxygen is removed. After six weeks in the pure nitrogen environment, the abbey hopes all the beetles will be destroyed. Before being reshelved, each book will be individually inspected and vacuumed. Any book damaged by the pests will be set aside for later restoration work. Climate change may have contributed The abbey, which hopes to reopen the library at the beginning of next year, believes the effects of climate change played a role in spurring the beetle infestation as average temperatures rise rapidly in Hungary. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hajdu, the chief restorer, said higher temperatures have allowed the beetles to undergo several more development cycles annually than they could in cooler weather. 'Higher temperatures are favourable for the life of insects,' she said. 'So far we've mostly dealt with mold damage in both depositories and in open collections. But now I think more and more insect infestations will appear due to global warming.' The library's director said life in a Benedictine abbey is governed by a set of rules in use for nearly 15 centuries, a code that obliges them to do everything possible to save its vast collection. 'It says in the Rule of Saint Benedict that all the property of the monastery should be considered as of the same value as the sacred vessel of the altar,' Asvanyi said. 'I feel the responsibility of what this preservation and conservation really means.' Golf NHL Toronto & GTA World Editorial Cartoons
