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24 | THE COLONY NEWS | AUGUST 2024 | By Mike Vergara, 951-473-5806 A planet! There's finally a planet back in the evening sky! That is, there will be when Saturn finally clears the eastern horizon around the 20th. On that day, the moon and Saturn will be very close together in the sky. Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun in our solar system. It's the second-largest planet in the system, surpassed only by Jupiter. It is a "gas giant," which means it does not have a hard surface like Earth or Mars, but instead is a massive ball of hydrogen and helium. While it is 95 times the mass of Earth, it is less dense than our planet! In fact, if you could find a bathtub big enough, Saturn would float! Saturn's atmosphere looks smooth as we observe it, but that smoothness is deceptive. Saturn is nine times the diameter of Earth, but a day on Saturn is only 10½ hours long. This fast rotation causes winds of over 1,100 mph along its equator. Saturn's most notable feature, of course, are its rings. All the outer planets have ring systems, but Saturn's rings are the only ones visible with a telescope. It was Galileo Galilei who first observed the rings in 1610. He thought he was seeing handles or arms! It wasn't until 1655 when another astronomer, Christiaan Huygens, could determine that they were indeed rings. The rings are very thin, about 50 meters thick on average, but spacecraft that have visited Saturn have determined that the rings are thinner in some places and up to 2 miles thick in others. If you come visit the Palomar College Planetarium (on a night when I'm working), I will fly you through the rings! This month's full moon, which occurs on the 19th, was known as the "Full Sturgeon Moon." Sounds fishy, but this species was a staple for indigenous peoples living along the Great Lakes and many of the Midwestern rivers. To find where the planets and constellations are, visit http:// skymaps.com/index.html. From there you can print your own map of the sky for the month. Clear skies! August Sky August Sky July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month, which provides an opportunity to recognize and support those who have lost a child. For most people, it is difficult to talk openly about grief and this is especially true for parents who have lost a child. The loss of a child is more common than you might think. By age 70 about 15% of adults will experience the loss of a child. If you know a parent who is grieving, it is important to remember that grief is a normal response to loss and there is not a right or wrong way to grieve. Below are suggestions from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization regarding how to support a grieving friend or family member (caringinfo.org/planning/grief-and-loss/): Acknowledge all feelings. Their grief reactions are natural and necessary. Do not pass judgment on how well they are or are not coping. Understand and accept cultural and religious perspectives about illness and death that may be different from your own. For example, if a family has decided to not allow their children to attend the funeral because of their beliefs that children should not be exposed to death, support their decision even if this may not be what you would do. Acknowledge that life won't "feel the same" and the person may not be able to "get back to normal." Help the person to renew interest in past activities and hobbies, when they are ready, or to discover new areas of interest. Be willing to stay engaged for a long time. Your friend or family member will need your support and presence in the weeks and months to come after most others will have withdrawn. Be specific in your willingness to help. Offer to help with chores such as childcare or meals. For example, suggest, "I'll bring dinner on Thursday; how many people will be there?" Identify friends who might be willing to help with specific tasks on a regular basis. Performing tasks such as picking up the kids from school or refilling prescriptions can be a big help. Check on your friend or relative as time passes and months go by. Periodic check-ins can be helpful throughout the first two years after the death. Stay in touch by writing a note, calling, stopping by to visit, or perhaps bringing flowers. Be sensitive to holidays and special days. For someone grieving a death, certain days may be more difficult and can magnify the sense of loss. Anniversaries and birthdays can be especially hard. Some people find it helpful to be with family and friends, others may wish to avoid traditions and try something different. Extend an invitation to someone who might otherwise spend time alone during a holiday or special day and recognize that they may or may not accept your offer. Hospice of the Valleys has been serving our Community since 1982 and our Mission Statement affirms our commitment to foster reverence for life and to provide relief of suffering and compassion during loss. As a non- profit organization, Hospice of the Valleys provides regular grief support groups which are open to members of the community to attend at no cost. If you would like to learn more about our grief support groups, please call our office at 951-200-7800 and ask to speak with our bereavement coordinator. Bereaved Parents Awareness Month By Leslee B. Cochrane, MD, Executive Medical Director – Hospice of the Valleys, 951-200-7800

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