3.2 Magnitude Earthquake Reported In North Carolina

This is a town that seems all too familiar with the earth rumbling.  A 3.2 magnitude earthquake was reported early Sunday morning in North Carolina. The United States Geological Survey says the earthquake happened near Canton, North Carolina. Canton is a city near Asheville.  The quake reportedly happened around 6 a.m. according to Channel 9 in Charlotte.

It is unclear at this time if the earthquake caused any injuries.  It is a developing story. Just a few weeks ago Canton experienced an earthquake but that one was of a smaller magnitude.  To learn more about this story and about other recent earthquakes near North Carolina, get details from the United States Geological Survey right here. According to officials, the Canton area may be feeling the effects of the Brevard fault zone.  That extends from Alabama to Virginia across North Carolina.  Another major fault in the area is the Linville Falls fault.

What causes an earthquake to happen in the first place?  According to the United States Geological Survey, an earthquake occurs when there is a sudden slip on a fault. This is the scientific explanation by the USGS " The tectonic plates are always slowly moving, but they get stuck at their edges due to friction. When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the earth's crust and cause the shaking that we feel."

June is here, and guess what? There are some cool astronomical events coming your way, right above you, as we transition from spring to summer. In June, there are several fascinating celestial events to look forward to. One notable event is the Summer solstice, which marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. It's the day with the longest daylight and shortest night of the year.

Additionally, June often brings a variety of meteor showers, such as the Arietids and the Bootids. These meteor showers offer the opportunity to witness shooting stars streaking across the night sky. Depending on your location and timing, there may be planets visible in the evening or morning sky, such as Jupiter, Saturn, or Venus.

Some people are deeply fascinated with the ever-changing phases of the moon and the breathtaking displays of meteor showers. For them, these celestial events are like magical experiences. These stargazing and astronomy enthusiasts eagerly mark their calendars, ready to immerse themselves in the beauty and wonder of these celestial phenomena whenever they occur.

Get ready to witness these four celestial happenings over the next few weeks.

We're in for a treat on June 3 at 11:42 p.m. It's going to be the brightest full moon of the season, which is called the Strawberry Moon. The name was given by the Algonquin tribes. It can be seen from the evening of Friday, June 2, all the way till the morning of Monday, June 5, as NASA says.

The Arietid meteor shower is happening, and it's going on until June 17. But here's the exciting part, it will reach its peak on June 7, says the International Meteor Organization (IMO). It's a daytime meteor shower, but spotting them might be a bit challenging. These meteors streak across the sky while the sun is shining. But no worries, NASA says if you're up for the challenge, try looking towards the Aries constellation right before dawn. You might just catch a few of these elusive shooting stars.

Also, coming up in June is the zeta Perseids. They're going to hit their peak on June 10, according to the IMO. Like many others, this meteor shower may be difficult to see. NASA says you should try gazing 5 degrees above the horizon at sunrise. You might be able to catch a few meteors streaking through the sky.

It's not only the official beginning of the summer season on June 21, but it's also one of the longest days of the year. It's called the summer solstice. This is when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and starts heading south as the year goes on.