Why
do stars Twinkle???
Did
you know....
Stars closer
to the horizon appear to twinkle more than stars that are overhead -
because the light of stars near the horizon has to travel through more
air than the light of stars overhead and therefore subject to more refraction.
Also, planets do not usually twinkle, because they are so close to us;
they appear big enough that the twinkling is not noticeable (except
when the air is extremely turbulent).
Stars would
not appear to twinkle if we looked at them from outer space (or from
a planet/moon that didn't have an atmosphere). Maybe that's why the
first Star Marina fell to the sea - to be able to see stars twinkle!
Little
known facts about the ocean, etc.
Did
you know....
80% of
all life on earth is found under the ocean surface and the oceans contain
99% of the living space on the planet. 85% of the area and 90% of the
volume constitute the dark, cold environment we call the deep sea. The
average depth of the ocean is 3,795 m or 3.8 km (12,451 ft or 2.4 miles).
The average height of the land is 840 m (2,756 ft).
Learn more: www.marinebio.com/MarineBio/Facts/
Luminous
lanterneye fish are on only known fish that have the ability to turn
their lights off and on at will.
The comet
fish has an 'eye' near its tail. If a predator strikes there, the comet
fish is in less danger than if it struck its real eye.
Did
you know:
- A starfish
isn't really a fish at all. It's part of a group of creatures called
echinoderms.
- Starfish
are also sometimes called seastars.
- Starfish
don't always have 5 arms. Some have four, six and even more!
-Starfish
can regrow an arm if it is torn off or damaged. Sometimes, a whole new
starfish will grow!
- Starfish
are meat eaters. The "crown of thorns seastar" eats coral
reefs and has become very destructive in some places. Some eat other
starfish
- Starfish
are very slow moving, but can move in any direction.
- Starfish
have no brain.
- Starfish
can change color.
- Starfish
arms are covered in little tube feet and use them to eat, hunt and move.
The feet are made of suction cups.
- There
are more that 2,000 species (types) of starfish.
- The smallest
starfish is only 1-2 cm wide. The largest are more than 60 cm wide!
- And most
important to Marina and her friends - starfish dry out VERY fast if
out of the water. So, if you find a starfish lying out on the beach,
get it into the water quickly. And if you find one in a tidal pool -
when you finish saying hello, please remember to put it back in the
water.
The
Seahorse
Pegasus
and his mares come in a variety of different colors. Real seahorses
come in different colors and can change color to help them blend into
their surroundings for safety. Read on to find out more about these
legendary little sea creatures.
Seahorses
don't really light up, but they do some pretty amazing things.
Did
you know:
- A seahorse
is a true fish. It uses its fins to move, just like other fish, and
is related to the pipefish.
- There
are about 35 species of seahorse. They all live in warm or tropical
water.
- Seahorses
like to live near the shore, often in beds of seaweed, seagrass or coral.
- Seahorses
use their tails to attach themselves to grass, coral or seagrass so
they won't float away.
- Seahorses
swim upright.
- Seahorses
have no teeth! They use their snouts to suck up plankton, brine shrimp
and fish larva, and swallow them whole.
- The smallest
seahorse is only 2 inches in length; the largest is 14 inches long.
- The most
amazing fact - (just ask Pegasus) - the male has a pouch like a kangaroo
where the baby seahorses grow until it is time for them to be born.
It is the male, not the female seahorse who gives birth and cares for
the young seahorses!
- And the
most important fact for Pegasus and his friends - seahorses living in
the ocean are wild creatures. They may be cute, but should never be
handled. They are fish - not horses- so if you see them - look, but
don't touch!
