An event resembling an exploding star coincides with the lineup of three rising planets early Tuesday.
The shiny antennas of the Iridium-66 satellite will reflect the rays of the sun down to Hawaii if the weather cooperates.
This flare will occur just before 6:31 a.m. when the satellite is high in the north, very near the top of the sky.
Above the horizon in the east-southeast will be Venus, Jupiter and Mars, in that order, with the red planet just to the left of Spica, or Hikianalia, the brightest star in Virgo. In the east will be another star valuable to noninstrument navigation, Arcturus, or Hokule‘a.
Arcturus and Spica can be found by following the handle of the Big Dipper. Extend the arc of the handle to find Arcturus, then “straight on to Spica,” as the saying goes among amateur astronomers.
Hawaii island
Search resumes for male who swam near Rainbow Falls
Hawaii island firefighters resumed searching Sunday for a male who went missing a day earlier in a pond above Rainbow Falls along the Wailuku River in Hilo.
Firefighters responded to the incident at about 12:40 p.m. Saturday after witnesses reported a male and a female having difficulty swimming in a pond above the falls. Witnesses saw the two go underwater and not resurface, Big Island firefighters said.
Firefighters found the female unconscious in the water below the falls. She was taken by helicopter to an awaiting medical unit that took her to Hilo Medical Center while performing CPR. Police said she later died. Her identity was not immediately released.
Firefighters searched Saturday from the air and ground for the male in the pond and downstream areas. Divers also searched underwater.
Firefighters suspended their search at nightfall. Fire officials said the search would resume today.
Maui
Public hearing today on windmills, hoary bats, nene
A hearing on a windmill’s deadly effects on hoary bats and nene will be held at 6 p.m. today in Kihei.
The state Division of Forestry and Wildlife will hold the hearing at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary Visitor Center, 726 S. Kihei Road.
The state invites testimony on amendments to the draft habitat conservation plan for the Kaheawa Wind Farm II project.
Based on data since the start of operations, the windmill is projected to kill more bats and geese than currently allowed, which requires an amendment to the plan, the state said by email Friday. Both populations are endangered.
Comments also can be sent to the division at 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813; or to glenn.m.metzler@ hawaii.gov. The deadline is Dec. 7.
