Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2015 November 13

The Tadpoles of IC 410
Image Credit & Copyright: Steven Coates

Explanation: This telescopic close-up shows off the otherwise faint emission nebula IC 410. It also features two remarkable inhabitants of the cosmic pond of gas and dust below and right of center, the tadpoles of IC 410. Partly obscured by foreground dust, the nebula itself surrounds NGC 1893, a young galactic cluster of stars. Formed in the interstellar cloud a mere 4 million years ago, the intensely hot, bright cluster stars energize the glowing gas. Composed of denser cooler gas and dust, the tadpoles are around 10 light-years long and are likely sites of ongoing star formation. Sculpted by winds and radiation from the cluster stars, their heads are outlined by bright ridges of ionized gas while their tails trail away from the cluster’s central region. IC 410 lies some 10,000 light-years away, toward the nebula-rich constellation Auriga.

Another chance! Moon and Saturn

Tonight – November 13, 2014 – shortly after sunset, look for the young and slender waxing crescent moon. From mid-northern latitudes, its illuminated portion will point in the direction of the setting sun – and also toward the planet Saturn, which resides on our sky’s dome between the sunset and moon on this date. From our latitudes, Saturn will follow the sun below the horizon before nightfall, setting about an hour after sunset. Thus Saturn will be extremely hard to see in the glare of evening twilight.

From mid-Southern Hemisphere latitudes: You might glimpse Saturn, too, if you have an unobstructed horizon and clear sky on this date. For you, Saturn’s setting time after sunset is a few minutes later … but not enough to make much difference. Notice that, if you’re at mid-latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, the illuminated part of the crescent moon points to the left, not the right. Sweep with your binoculars near the crescent moon to find Saturn.

No matter where you are on Earth, you’ll most likely need binoculars for any chance of catching Saturn in the November evening sky. Catch the moon first, and let it guide you to the planet.

While you’re out there, be sure to look for earthshine on the waxing crescent moon itself. It’s always a beautiful sight.

And so it’ll be a great night to stand under a darkening sky … Saturn or no Saturn.

Saturn is the lone visible planet in the evening sky at present. It will pass behind the sun from Earth on November 30, and thus move officially into our morning sky. You’ll need to wait a few weeks for Earth to speed along in its smaller, faster orbit around the sun. In a few weeks, we’ll turn a corner, so to speak, in the vast space of our solar system, bringing Saturn into view once more before sunrise. You should spot it again before sunrise before the year ends.

Bottom line: So long, Saturn! Only the sharpest-eyed observers on Earth on the evening of November 13, 2015 will catch this world near the sunset. On this date, the bright portion of the waxing crescent moon points to Saturn. Binoculars will help you spot this world, as it leaves our evening sky.

The Words of Confucius

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

Your Daily Influences

November 13, 2015

Five of Cups Reversed
Joy and happiness resurface. New friends and relationships are born. Old friends and loved ones return.

Tiwaz
Tiwaz is the Warrior Rune. It represents pure, masculine power and the ability to successfully fight to meet your goals. However, you must be careful that costs of attaining your goals overshadow their values.

The Tau Cross
A journey that you or someone close to you must make will have a positive influence on this aspect. This trip may be over a great distance.

Your Daily Influences represent events and challenges the current day will present for you. They may represent opportunities you should be ready to seize. Or they may forewarn you of problems you may be able to avoid or lessen. Generally it is best to use them as tips to help you manage your day and nothing more.

Shuffling The Cards

Using The Ancient Symbol Deck for Today

 
Past Influence whose impact on your life is waning.

Futility

Sadly sometimes our desires lead us down paths which have no end and offer us no chance of achieving the results we want. If we persist we end up like Sisyphus: forever rolling a boulder uphill only to have it roll back downhill before we ever get to the top. Futility suggest the existence of just such a situation–we are chasing a prize that will never be ours. Futility indicates a need to rethink our ambitions and direct our energies towards a goal or goals that can be attained.

 
Present Influence whose impact on your life is very strong.

The Tower

As in the game of chess, where the towers stand guard at the corners of the battlefield, The Tower represents a defense and stronghold, perhaps at the edge of life, of change, of sanity. The tower rises out of solid bedrock and is a place to take refuge, to recoup, to meditate upon the next step. United as it is with solid earth, it also rises into the heavens, and it is there the answers appear to us, when we have climbed above daily worldly matters into a higher consciousness. When the Tower appears, seek solitude and cultivate inner strength, prepare for coming challenges.

Future influence whose impact on your life is growing and will be very strong in the future.

Chance

The Chance card denotes a period in which taking risks may produce positive results. This doesn’t mean head off to a casino with your life’s savings! What is suggested is that you should make gains by taking a well calculated risk. For the power of Chance to be fully realized it is essential that you pick your risk carefully, move forward with conviction, and above all else don’t get greedy!

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Crystal

The Crystal glows with the power of mystical truths transformed into material realities. The Crystal denotes a self with a powerful connection to the spiritual world that allows them to literally soak up cosmic wisdom and apply it favorably to their everyday life. It suggest a tremendous growth of one’s spiritual self that will greatly impact the querant’s secular life.

As a daily card, The Crystal indicates a time when you are likely to be well served by allowing your spiritual self to guide your day to day behavior.

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

The Lovers

The Lovers indicates both the most powerful of unions and the most of challenging conflicts humans must face. On one side The Lover’s embodies love and union on a cosmic scale—a love so strong, so inherently good that it actually makes the lovers better, more than they really are. All of the elements are there for the perfect union. The Lovers represent all powerful unions in general, and the elements that create/sustain them. The problem The Lovers face is temptation and the decision to act morally or abandon their ethics to take advantage of other opportunities that would be defined as transgressions.

Get A Jump On Tomorrow…..

Your Horoscopes for Saturday, November 14th

by Rick Levine

General Horoscope
Our lives are rich with possibilities until the Moon enters pragmatic Capricorn at 7:21 pm EST. Instead of seeing distant horizons, impenetrable walls block our view. We concentrate on achieving mundane goals while the Capricorn Moon restricts our feelings. But love is a confusing game when sensual Venus rubs spiritual Neptune the wrong way. Meanwhile, a challenging Sun-Pluto aspect prompts us to worry us about things that are beyond our control.

Aries Horoscope Mar 21 – Apr 19
Impulsive behavior may not bring you what you want today, especially if you irritate someone with your emotional intensity. You might choose to withdraw from the social scene in self-defense, but you won’t resolve anything by overcompensating later in the day. Pay attention to your audience since they will tell you when to lighten up. It never hurts to look beyond your inclination to spontaneously share what’s on your mind. Setting aside time for contemplation before you create an awkward situation is smarter than trying to clean up a big mess afterward.

Taurus Horoscope Apr 20 – May 20
It’s beneficial to stand back for a bit in order to gain a healthy perspective on where the cosmic currents are taking you today. Thankfully, you can continue on your merry way if you are happy with your progress. However, you could always modify your direction if you grow dissatisfied with your personal trajectory. Instead of demonstrating your infamous dogged persistence, switching up your approach enables you to accomplish more. A change will do you good.

Gemini Horoscope May 21 – Jun 20
You may long for the return of the good old days — a simpler time that seems to have slipped through your fingers. But there’s no need to lose hope because your life is still in major transition mode now. The fun times aren’t over just because a current situation demands your attention. Work through your intense feelings today, even if they aren’t as pleasant as you prefer. The only way out of your current predicament is through the center of the storm.

Cancer Horoscope Jun 21 – Jul 22
A close friend or relative could be a source of annoying resistance today. Unfortunately, it may be nearly impossible to put your finger on the origin of the conflict now. Be careful; your investigation might put others on the defense, which only adds to the subtle negativity in the air. Instead of pretending you can figure everything out on your own, it’s better to wait and see how the situation unfolds. You’ll have a much better grasp of your options after the dust settles and your clarity returns.

Leo Horoscope Jul 23 – Aug 22
You would like to speak your mind today, but you may choose to withhold your thoughts for just a little while longer. You’re not afraid to stir up powerful reactions in your coworkers, although you might not see any point in dredging up past mistakes just to provoke anyone. Nevertheless, finding a way to productively channel your own negative emotions lessens the pressure during this critical point. Approaching the subject from a more objective perspective gives everyone a chance to co-exist in a drama-free environment.

Virgo Horoscope Aug 23 – Sep 22
Reexamining your assumptions about love could shed new light on an important relationship. Or, if you’re involved with a social group today, it may be necessary to balance your agenda with everyone else’s goals. But there’s no need to be afraid of raising any subject now, no matter how controversial. Discussing what you learn in this process with your friends could actually bring you closer together. Demonstrating your vulnerability inspires others to follow your lead and open their hearts, too.

Libra Horoscope Sep 23 – Oct 22
Someone may place demands on you today, complicating your schedule because you can’t say no. It’s challenging to think about letting anyone down, especially since you want your friends to come through for you whenever you need them in return. But it doesn’t matter what your motivation is for saying yes; take this cosmic opportunity and conquer your own insecurities. Make decisions based on the wishes of your heart and not on the expectations of anyone else. Living life without regret is an admirable goal.

Scorpio Horoscope Oct 23 – Nov 21
You have an unexpected chance today to see things that are usually buried far out of sight. Instead of resisting the truth, you can integrate what you discover when shadowy Pluto receives an illuminating glance from the Sun. Your personal power increases as long as you let your newly found knowledge transform your current perspective. Anything is possible if you’re willing to acknowledge you don’t have all the answers. Paradoxically, adopting a beginner’s mind enables you to be a master of the unknown.

Sagittarius Horoscope Nov 22 – Dec 21
A sentimental journey down Memory Lane today puts you back in touch with all the changes you experienced over the past several years. Your personal evolutionary process has transformed you from a lowly caterpillar into a magnificent butterfly. Regardless of how much you have already grown, this transition is still in process. Use your emotions to fuel the ongoing metamorphosis, but keep bringing your thoughts back to the present moment; you have important work to do now before moving on.

Capricorn Horoscope Dec 22 – Jan 19
You can’t escape the pressure of change today, even if you face it indirectly through a relationship with another person. You’re not necessarily exempt from the planetary intensity of the day, but others appear to be even more overwhelmed by the prospects of relentless transformation. Don’t become overly complacent just because life isn’t a big struggle these days. Consider yourself lucky and offer support wherever it’s needed the most. For of those to whom much is given, much is required.

Aquarius Horoscope Jan 20 – Feb 18
You’re not interested in defending your feelings against attack today because it’s stressful enough just to understand them yourself. As a general rule, your irrational emotions aren’t always comfortable intermingling with your rational thoughts. Nevertheless, you realize something big is at stake and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to manifest your dreams. Remember, cool logic won’t help you now as much as simply honoring what’s in your heart.

Pisces Horoscope Feb 19 – Mar 20
As the days grow shorter and shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, you might find yourself traversing your own dark night of the soul as you question the purpose of your life. Thankfully, this spiritual wandering won’t last long, enabling you to return to more practical issues that need your attention. If you are doubting yourself or your goals today, exercise patience before making any rash decisions. Keep the faith; you will see the world in a brand new light in a few days.

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