March Skies

This month heralds the coming of spring and although it is still cold, the days are lengthening, the birds are singing & the daffodils and crocus are lifting their heads to face the strengthening sun.
In the heavens we are able to see the stunning Saturn early in the morning in the South West and lovely Jupiter which is the brightest object in the sky after the moon and visible in the evening.
The new moon is on the 11th at 19.51 and the full moon is on the 27th at 9.27. Meanwhile we have the Spring Equinox & therefore the first day of spring to celebrate on the 20th at 11.01, the festival of the Saxon Goddess Eostre or Ostara on the 27th and the Christian festival of Easter on 31st.
What better excuses for chocolate do we need? May the March winds blow many blessings your way.
Read more 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

New year skies

The sky is well worth a look this month.
Tonight and tomorrow night bring us the Quadrantids meteor shower - it's short and sharp as it only lasts for about an hour each night (3rd and 4th) and is best seen in the north east after midnight. It will however treat us to around 40 or so fast blue meteors.
The planets are a real treat as saturn can be seen in the south east around 3.30 in the morning  with a small telescope and the rings are actually visible (7th is best).
On the 10tn venus is a delight just before sun rise and by the 22nd jupiter will make good viewing low in the north west sky, when at least 4 of its 28 moons should be visible with a small telescope.
The new moon is on the 11th and the full on the 27.
For more information on the moon read 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

December Skies

What an exciting month lies in store across the heavens.
Tomorrow sees Jupiter at its closest approach to earth and it will be visible all night. On the 11th Mercury is at its greatest brightness and, along with Venus is visible in the early morning sky.
On the 12th the asteroid Toutatis comes close to earth, although it still remains 180 x further away than the moon. It is moving gradually towards Jupiter and can be seen with a small telescope in the early evening.
The 13th and 14th sees the Geminids meteor shower, with a multicoloured display, although meteors should be on view between 6th and 19th. View in the east after midnight. the 13th is also the date of the new moon.
The 21st heralds the return of the light and is the date we have all either been waiting for or feel apprehensive about as it heralds the end of the longest calendar of days in the Mayan calendar and has many pieces of folklore attached to it, from the end of the world to a substantial shift in consciousness.
Whatever the end of 2012 brings may it help to put you in touch with your true life's purpose.

Heavenly October

Another exciting month in the heavens is in store as the Orionids meteor shower explodes across the early morning skies after midnight on the 20/21st October. This is however a difficult shower to predict and may be visible any time between the 17 th and the 25th. It produces around 20 meteors per hour of yellow and green which often appear as fireballs.

Jupiter can be seen in the east from the 13th just below the moon as it sets, but on the 27th it reaches its closest point to earth, therefore through a telescope some of its largest moons may be visible.

It is a month which sees the end of British summertime as we move back to GMT and also one which heralds the end of the old Celtic Year at the festival of Samhain (Halloween) . This is a time to put to rest all that no longer serves us and one which offers us the opportunity to create a new and fertile space in which to live and thrive.

A Heavenly Treat

Today sees the last day of the Roman festival of Kalendae, a time when gifts of sweet foods and coins were exchanged to bring luck for the following year, a good excuse no doubt for us to eat up all the sweet meats that are left over from the seasonal festivities.

In the heavens, the next few days are particularly exciting, with a spectacular meteor shower visible tonight and tomorrow in the area of the constellation of Bootes, although it will be best after midnight.

Tomorrow (4th) there will be a partial solar eclipse visible as the sun rises in Northern Europe, Asia and Africa and of course for this to happen it has to be a new moon, a time of new beginnings. Also tomorrow two of the largest moons of Jupiter are visible with a good pair of binoculars; namely Callisto and Ganymede.

What a heavenly treat! Make the most of it, enjoy the view and prepare for exciting times ahead.

The Oak Moon

Today (5th December) welcomes the new Oak Moon. For the Celts this moon heralded the end of their 13 moon lunar cycle and personified strength, stamina, life, death and rebirth. The oak was sacred to the Celtic Druids as many of their ceremonies were carried out beneath oak lined groves and it was also the sacred tree of Jupiter, Zeus, and Thor.

Often struck and split by lightning, it is actually thought to protect those who shelter beneath it from the same fate. To the ancient Greeks the rustling of the leaves were thought to be the voice of the Gods, whilst to the Irish, the oak was one of seven 'noble' trees, often referred to as 'Jove's tree'.

After the battle of Worcester in 1651, Charles 11 hid in the Boscobel oak tree when escaping from his parliamentarian enemies. In celebration of his restoration to the English throne, May 29th was known as 'Oak Apple Day' in honour of the tree that had saved his life. It became a public holiday for many years when everyone was expected to wear an oak leaf out of respect. Many pubs were subsequently named the 'Royal Oak' and still carry the name today.

The arrival of Jupiter

Tomorrow (21st September) Jupiter's approach comes closest to the earth and as such it is the best time to view both the planet and its moons.

In our solar system there are approximately 140 known moons of which Jupiter has the lion's share at sixty two, four of which are the largest around any planet.

1. Callisto: The outermost of the four and the most heavily cratered. It is thought to hold a body of water.
2. Io: The innermost moon and the most sulphurous and volcanic, with hundreds of eruptions at any one time. It also appears to have an atmosphere.
3. Europa: This has an icy surface which may cover liquid water.
4. Ganymede: The largest moon in the solar system being larger in diameter than Mercury and has its own magnetic field.

Resurrect your telescope and enjoy the view!

Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries will provide more detail on the planets and their fascinating moons.