Day: May 23, 2016

The Element Fire

fire element

FIRE

Fire represents passion, enthusiasm, desire and courage, force, lust, fertility and virility, initiative and rejuvenation. It represents both light and heat. The light of intelligence and the courage to follow it. A low fire person is usually cold, slow to act, without enthusiasm for life or himself. A high fire person is bold, dramatic and passionate in all areas within himself, however this person must be careful as fire can destroy everything in it’s path. Fire magick can bring on the new, bring on courage and passion and destroy the old.

It’s feelings are hot and dry, it’s season is Summer and direction is South/Energy. It’s symbol is the Athame/Sword, Candle and the Burner; it’s colors are Reds, Oranges and Golds. The moon phase is the second quarter and it’s time is high Noon.

The different types of Fire Magick are Bonfire Magick, which usually involves burning something such as an herb or flower, or a piece of paper or petition on which you have written your desire. It is used for banishing, ridding or destroying negative influences in your life.

Another is Candle Magick, a simple, easy and useful method in bringing about your desires. A color for the candle is chosen and can also include the correct scent in relation to your desire and lit sometimes for up to seven days. This type of Fire Magick is usually for any type of desire.

Another is Sun Magick. Using the Sun in our desires is a beautiful way in which to enhance new beginnings in love, health, work and home, awaken subtle powers and aid in attraction desires.

Astronomy Picture of the Day – Inside a Daya Bay Antineutrino Detector

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.

2016 May 23

Inside a Daya Bay Antineutrino Detector
Image Credit & Copyright: DOE, Berkeley Lab – Roy Kaltschmidt, photographer

 

Explanation: Why is there more matter than antimatter in the Universe? To better understand this facet of basic physics, energy departments in China and the USA led in the creation of the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment. Located under thick rock about 50 kilometers northeast of Hong Kong, China, eight Daya Bay detectors monitor antineutrinos emitted by six nearby nuclear reactors. Featured here, a camera looks along one of the Daya Bay detectors, imaging photon sensors that pick up faint light emitted by antineutrinos interacting with fluids in the detector. Early results indicate an unexpectedly high rate of one type of antineutrino changing into another, a rate which, if confirmed, could imply the existence of a previously undetected type of neutrino as well as impact humanity’s comprehension of fundamental particle reactions that occurred within the first few seconds of the Big Bang.

Earth Sky News for May 23: Close and far Martian oppositions

Close and far Martian oppositions

Above Mars image via Hubblesite

Tonight – May 23, 2016 – we’re just one day past Mars once-in-26-months opposition. In other words, yesterday Earth flew between Mars and the sun. What a wonderful event!

When Mars is at opposition, the red planet lies opposite the sun in Earth’s sky. At such times, Mars rises in the east around sunset, climbs highest up in the sky around midnight, and sets in the west around sunrise. If you look for Mars tonight, you’ll see that’s still happening and will continue to happen for some weeks to come. Mars is now ascending in the east as the sun is sinking below the western horizon.

Mars comes closest to Earth every other year, around the time of opposition. Around now, Mars shines at its brilliant best in our sky. Has Mars passed closest to us? Not yet. Mars actually comes closest some days following its May 22 opposition, on May 30.

Oppositions of Mars are far from equal. That’s because Mars’ eccentric (oblong) orbit carries this world about 26 million miles (43 million km) closer to the sun at perihelion (nearest point in its orbit) than when Mars swings out to aphelion (its farthest point).

Oppositions that closely coincide with Mars at perihelion are much brighter and spectacular than distant oppositions that happen with Mars swinging out to aphelion. That makes sense. When we pass between Mars and the sun – and Mars is closest in its orbit to the sun – then Mars is closest to us.

This year’s opposition of Mars is a good one, although not as good as the 2018 opposition will be, with Mars coming to within 46.78 million miles (75.28 million km) of Earth on May 30, 2016.

The historically close opposition of Mars on August 28, 2003, found Mars at 34.65 million miles (55.76 million km) from Earth. This was the Earth’s closest approach to Mars since the Stone Age. The last time Mars came closer to Earth was nearly 60,000 years ago, on September 24, 57,617 B.C., when the red planet was 34.62 million miles (55.72 million km) distant.

In contrast, the very distant opposition of March 3, 2012, placed Mars at 62.62 million miles (100.78 million km) away.

Close (or distant) oppositions recur in periods of 15 to 17 years. So we’ll have another close opposition of Mars some 15 years after the historically close encounter on August 28, 2003. Mars will next present an extra-close opposition on July 27, 2018, though it won’t be as quite close as the opposition of August, 2003.

Very similar Martian oppositions take place every 79 years (15 + 17 + 15 + 17 + 15 = 79). These 79-year cycles repeat with only a delay of 2 to 5 calendar days. The super-close opposition of Mars in the year 2082 will fall on September 1, 2082. But once again, Earth and Mars won’t come as close as they had in August 2003.

There is a more exact cycle of 284 years (79 + 79 + 79 + 15 + 17 + 15 = 284). The Martian opposition that comes 284 years after the August 28, 2003, production will fall on August 29, 2287. This time around, Mars will actually come closer to Earth than it did during its historically close encounter with Earth in August 2003.

Because the Martian orbit is getting more eccentric (oblong), the closest oppositions will actually come closer to Earth, and the farthest oppositions will actually become more distant. The computational wizard Jean Meeus figures that from the years 0 to 3000, Mars will come closest to Earth on September 8, 2729 (55.65 million kilometers) and farthest away on March 6, 2832 (101.50 million kilometers).

Want to know more about close and far Martian oppositions? Click here.

While the time is at hand, enjoy the respectably close appearance of Mars in Earth’s sky during May and June of 2016.

Bottom line: Oppositions of Mars are far from equal. This post explains why Mars has near and far oppositions and shows why the 2016 opposition – although good – is not as good as the 2018 opposition will be

 

Author

Bruce McClure

Bruce McClure

Bruce McClure is the chief writer for the popular EarthSky Tonight pages. Since joining EarthSky in 2004, he has written thousands of astronomy articles, enjoyed here by millions. He also writes, gives planetarium shows and hosts a wide assortment of public astronomy programs in and around his home in upstate New York. If you ask an astronomy question on our site, it’s likely to be Bruce that answers it. His love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, and he has sailed the North Atlantic, earning his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. Bruce is also a sundial aficionado. He says his number one passion – besides his wife Alice – is stargazing.

Article published on EarthSky

Your Venus Sign: Explore the erotic style of Venus in every zodiac sign

 

 

 

 

 

Your Venus Sign

Explore the erotic style of Venus in every zodiac sign

By Tarot.com Staff, Venus, Love, Astrology

Venus is the planet of beauty, art and love, ruling over romance, partnerships, sex and style. Yeah, baby!

As Venus moves through each zodiac sign, the love planet takes on a slightly different erotic personality. For example, in Aries love gets bold, while in Cancer it gets cozy.

And if you know what zodiac sign Venus is in currently (it moves from one zodiac sign to the next in about one month), it can help you deal with matters of the heart more successfully.

Here’s a quick glance at the style of love and flirting Venus has in every zodiac sign:

Venus in Aries is all fire! Expect passion, enthusiasm and some rough handling!

Venus in Taurus is sensuous and affectionate. You like to feel secure in love, so take your time and build up your passion slow, steady and strong.

Venus in Gemini is talkative and curious. Make mental connections with your partner to turn them on.

Venus in Cancer is nurturing and attentive. You love to please your partner, and are super sentimental.

Venus in Leo is creative and affectionate. When in love, you radiate joy toward your partner and the surrounding world!

Venus in Virgo is practical, and very focused on your partner’s needs. You strive for perfection in relationships.

Venus in Libra is energetic and partnership oriented. Your relationships are harmonious, and sex is an art performed with style.

Venus in Scorpio is sizzling and intense. Your passion is powerful, but you can be possessive and controlling in love.

Venus in Sagittarius is feisty! You’re friendly and flirtatious, and love is an adventure you’re eager to explore

Venus in Capricorn is cool on the outside, but hot to trot inside. You take your time with matters of the heart, but you’re as dedicated to your lover as you are to your work.

Venus in Aquarius is a quirky lover who is turned on by intellectual matters. You can be cool and detached, but open minded and experimental in bed.

Venus in Pisces is built for intimacy, and you’re willing to please your partner in every way. You’re a creative and dreamy lover, expressing your feelings in word and song.

 

Part of the Daily Insight Group

The Planets for May 23: Venus in Gemini, April 24th

Venus in Gemini

Astrology’s love planet Venus gets the gift of gab

By Maria DeSimone, Venus, Love, Gemini, Astrology

What does Venus in Gemini love more than anything else in the world? That’s easy — intellectual stimulation! When Venus — planet of love, beauty and talents — moves into the clever zodiac sign Gemini on May 24, 2016, love will take on a more cerebral, lighthearted tone.

Venus in Gemini is rarely jealous, and is always cheerful and social. Throw a handful of different flavored Pop Rocks into your mouth and you’ll get a taste for what Venus in Gemini is all about. Effervescent. Ticklish. Fun.

Boredom and repetition is the fastest way to kill Venus in Gemini’s capacity for joy, and while Venus tours Gemini you’ll notice that your curiosity is piqued more quickly and your brainy side activated. You’ll contain multitudes. You might enjoy hobbies like crossword puzzles, Sudoku or playing Scrabble. You’ll certainly appreciate phone calls, emails, text messages and trips to the bookstore more. You’ll also experience a thorough enjoyment of banter amongst friends because this is quite a social position for Venus.

Planet Venus rules money matters, too!

When it comes to making money, if you’re in sales or have a job that requires the gift of gab or heavy communications skills, you’ll be in your glory while Venus is in Gemini! This is the Venus placement that knows how to communicate with charm and grace, how to get a point across with wit and wisdom or leave a crowd in stitches with a perfectly executed joke. Are you a writer? Then Venus in Gemini will be an especially lucrative and prolific time for you! Even if you’re not, it’s likely you’ll enjoy communication-related activities more than usual now.

As for love? Well, these days it all begins in your head. And if you’re bored you will quickly move on. You might even entertain more than one love interest over the next several weeks, thanks to Gemini’s sometimes fickle reputation. In any event, with Venus in Gemini it’s time to take more pleasure in your ideas and to share what’s going on inside your head with others. Especially someone you love.

 

Part of the Daily Insight Group

Your Daily Influences for May 23, 2016

Your Daily Influences
May 23, 2016 

 

 

Ten of Pentacles Reversed
You and your family may suffer through some misfortune. Be wary of high risk ventures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gebo
Gebo represents the coming of gifts and favors. While each are usually positive events, they often carry obligations with them. Gebo often represents strong bonds such as deep friendships and marriage.

 

 

 

Leo the Lion
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is pompous, patronizing, bossy, interfering, dogmatic and intolerant. This person is most likely a relative–the one you invite to family functions but only because you have too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Your Charm for Monday, May 23rd is The Greek Vowels

Your Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
This aspect will be influenced by a sudden strong stroke of good fortune. This good fortune will be unpredictable and will last only a short time. It will bring with it good health, happiness and success.

General Description:
This talisman was a great favorite in olden times, and was composed of the Seven Vowels of the Greek Alphabet. The desired favours were supposed to be granted upon the correct utterance of the forty-nine different sounds of the Seven Vowels, each vowel having seven distinct methods of expression. Of the many benefits supposed to be conferred were – good health, happiness, wisdom, fortune, foresight, success in all undertakings, complete protection from moral, as well as physical ills, and control over the powers of darkness. The ancients thought that there was an affinity between the seven vowels and the seven planets which they believed kept this earth in existence.