Friday the 13th; so far, so good
Aside from waking up with windows open, 41 degrees at the weather station outside, and heat pump cranking futilely to warm the place up inside, this Friday the 13th has gone OK so far.
Cheer up: It's the only Friday the 13th on tap in 2005. That happens 42 or 44 times per century, according to Guy Ottewell's Astronomical Calendar. Most of the rest of the time there are two. But there can be three Fridays the 13th in non-Leap-Years that begin on a Thursday. That happens 14 or 15 times per century, the next in 2009. When Leap Years start on a Sunday, there are also three Fridays the 13th. That happens next in 2012.
The Friday the 13th that falls in April 2029, may be especially scary, as an asteroid makes what scientists say will be an extraordinarily close - but safe - pass by the Earth. Check it out.
Whatever happens today, there is no avoiding the date. Ottewell says Friday falls on the 13th more often than any other day. So, all you paraskevidekatriaphobics: Be careful out there.
