Month: June 2016

Astronomy Picture of the Day – Pluto at Night

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 June 9

Pluto at Night
Image Credit: NASA, Johns Hopkins Univ./APL, Southwest Research InstituteExplanation: The night side of Pluto spans this shadowy scene. The spacebased view with the Sun behind the distant world was captured by New Horizons last July. The spacecraft was at a range of over 21,000 kilometers, about 19 minutes after its closest approach. A denizen of the Kuiper Belt in dramatic silhouette, the image also reveals Pluto’s tenuous, surprisingly complex layers of hazy atmosphere. The crescent twilight landscape near the top of the frame includes southern areas of nitrogen ice plains informally known as Sputnik Planum and rugged mountains of water-ice in the Norgay Montes.

EarthSky News for June 9th: See the Dragon’s Eyes on June evenings

See the Dragon’s Eyes on June evenings

Tonight, find the Dragon’s Eyes. For years, I’ve glanced up in the north at this time of year and spied the two stars marked on today’s chart, Rastaban and Eltanin in the constellation Draco. They’re noticeable because they’re relatively bright and near each other. There’s always that split-second when I ask myself with some excitement what two stars are those? It’s then that my eyes drift to blue-white Vega nearby . . . and I know, by Vega’s nearness, that they are the stars Rastaban and Eltanin.

These two stars represent the fiery Eyes of the constellation Draco the Dragon.

Because the stars stay fixed relative to each other, Vega is always near these stars. Vega, by the way, lodges at the apex of the Summer Triangle, a famous pattern consisting of three bright stars in three separate constellations, also prominent at this time of year.

From tropical and subtropical latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, the stars Rastaban and Eltanin shine quite low in the northern sky (below Vega). In either hemisphere, at all time zones, the Dragon’s eyes climb highest up in the sky around midnight (1 a.m. daylight-saving time) in mid-June, 11 p.m. (midnight daylight-saving time) in early July, and 9 p.m. (10 p.m. daylight-saving time) in early August. But from temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere (southern Australia and New Zealand), the Dragon’s eyes never climb above your horizon but you can catch the star Vega way low in your northern sky.

People at mid-northern latitudes get to view the Dragon’s eyes all night long!

Speaking of Rastaban and Eltanin, one of you asked:

What are constellations?

The answer is that they’re just patterns of stars on the sky’s dome. The Greeks and Romans, for example, named them for their gods and goddesses, and also for many sorts of animals. In the 20th century, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) formalized the names and boundaries of the constellations. Now every star in the sky belongs to one or another constellation.

The stars within constellations aren’t connected, except in the mind’s eye of stargazers. The stars in general lie at vastly different distances from Earth. It’s by finding juxtaposed patterns on the sky’s dome that you’ll come to know the constellations – much as I identify Rastaban and Eltanin at this time of year by looking for the star Vega.

Of course, there’s plenty to see in every part of the sky, every night. If you’re wondering abut the bright star near the moon on the night of June 9, 2016, it’s Regulus in the constellation Leo. In the next couple of evenings, the moon will be near very bright Jupiter.

Bottom line: Look in the northeast on these June evenings – near the star Vega. You’ll see Rastaban and Eltanin, two stars that are bright and close together.

 

Author

DEBORAH BYRD

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. “Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers,” she says

Article Published on EarthSky

Your Daily Influences for June 9, 2016

Your Daily Influences
June 9, 2016

 

 

Ace of Pentacles
Prosperity, pleasure and beauty can be realized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Berkano
Berkano is the Rune of birth and rebirth. This may symbolize a time when you are capable of great personal growth. Love may be in the air as well.

 

 

 

Scorpio the Scorpion
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is determined, forceful, emotional, intuitive, powerful, passionate, exciting and magnetic. This person is probably an acquaintance you made at work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 June 9th is The Caduceus

Your Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
You will find you have within you the ability to resolve all conflicts and disagreements with regard to this aspect. You will find an eloquence you did not realize before.

General Description:
The staff of Mercury was given to him by Apollo in exchange for the lyre. The rod was endowed with the remarkable power of deciding all quarrels and bestowing wonderful eloquence upon its possessor. Mercury proved this when he saw two serpents fighting. Placing the rod between them and using his eloquence he reconciled the serpents, who then embraced each other, and becoming attached to the rod formed the caduceus. The pine cone is credited with health giving power, and the wings symbolize speed and the flight of thoughts between friends. This ancient talisman was supposed to be a charm of prosperity, rendering its possessor healthy, wealthy and wise.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for June 9th is The Unicorn

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Unicorn



The Unicorn indicates uniqueness and reminds us of the ability for magic we possess. Although gentle, the unicorn nonetheless is able to defend itself, not only through horn-to-horn face-off but also through swift flight or even by disappearing into a mystical mist. The unicorn also represents purity, strength, and for a mentor or a nurturing family member. When the Unicorn appears, extraordinary events are possible in the near future.

As a daily card The Unicorn indicates a short period in which amazing happenings are possible. The Unicorn also suggests that it is crucial to maintain a high ethical standard during this span, and to remember kindness begets kindness.

Your Daily Witches Rune for June 9th is The Wave

Daily Witches Rune

The Wave

Meaning: This rune symbolizes your friends and family and their influence upon you. Its meaning is usually derived from the other stones closest to it. This rune is also associated with travel. A journey abroad is indicated especially if the Sun rune is nearby, but a journey for someone close to you if the Moon stone is closest. If it is near to the Rings it foretells a holiday or long distance relationship.

Your Daily Pyramid Reading for Thursday, June 9th

Your Daily Pyramid Reading for Today

 

Today’s Theme

The Eight of Wands Reversed

Delay seems probable. Jealousy may become a problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Challenge

The Six of Wands

Good news will come to you. Success will be realized through labor and industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Ally

The Moon Reversed

The containment of imagination by the practical. Peace will be known, but at a price. Risks of any kind should not be taken.

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for June 9th is The Lovers

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.

Summer Tarot Cards

Summer Tarot Cards

Which Tarot cards will bring you the most inspiration and opportunity in the summer season?

By Tarot.com StaffTarot Cards, Tarot, Summer Solstice, Summer

The Tarot is full of symbolism, associations, and deelpy rooted connections to our lives. In Astrology, summer is associated with the Summer Solstice and the signs Cancer and Leo — but what Tarot cards are associated with this warm, sunny season?

There are actually three Tarot cards of the 78-card Tarot deck associated with Summer! Naturally, The Sun is one them. And the card associated with Cancer, The Chariot, is another. But did you know the real summer Tarot card is the Page of Cups?

Page of Cups is THE summer Tarot card!

In a Tarot deck, the whole suit of Cups is associated with the element of Water, and therefore connected to the summer season. Water is the ruling element of summer because the sign that starts the season — Cancer — is a Water sign. The cards in the Cups suit are all about emotion, joy, intuitions, and relationships.

Each Minor Arcana suit has four Court cards — the Page, Knight, Queen and King. As the first of these Court cards, the Pages represent youth and new beginnings. Think of the Pages like the Cardinal signs of Astrology — the four zodiac signs that start the seasons. Each Page represents the ushering in of a new season too, and the Page of Cups is the card that brings us summer.

The Page of Cups is full of inspiration, connectivity, and growth. You could be blessed with wonderful opportunities in the summer months!

Let’s check out some other cards deeply connected to the summer season…

The Sun…

It would be impossible to look at The Sun Tarot card and NOT think of summer. Usually featuring a bright yellow sun, this card represents life, vitality, energy, and joy. Most Sun Tarot cards also depict one or more small children, signifying youth and beginnings, just like the Pages.

The Chariot…

While The Chariot Tarot card doesn’t represent the entire summer season, it is very connected to the first month of summer! The Chariot is the Tarot card associated with the zodiac sign Cancer — the Cardinal, or first, sign of the summer season. While the Sun is in Cancer from June 20 (the Summer Solstice) to July 22, the tenacious and focused energy of The Chariot energy is strong.

 

Part of the Daily Insight Group

Your Personal Daily Tarot Card for June 9th is The High Priestess

Your Personal Daily Tarot Card

The High Priestess

 

The completely feminine counterpart to The Magician, the High Priestess is the Gatekeeper of the subconscious, the unknown. She travels in worlds which most of us only glimpse in our dreams. Her realm is that of unseen truths, untapped potentials, and hidden dangers. The Calling of The High Priestess is to go beyond the obvious and visible to tap those powers which are veiled from normal vision. While she is passive by nature, she has the power to uncover unknown potential and is very aware of the infinite potential all humans harbor within them. She is also very patient. She can wait for events to blossom in their own time.

Get A Jump On Tomorrow, Your Daily Horoscopes for Friday, June 10th

Get A Jump On Tomorrow….

Your Daily Horoscopes for Friday, June 10th

by Rick Levine

 

General Horoscope

We are overly attentive to details today that didn’t even seem to matter yesterday. Our senses are finely tuned once the Moon shifts into laser-like Virgo at 9:45 am EDT. But some information mysteriously slips into our awareness and we can’t figure out where it came from or what to do with it as Venus forms otherworldly connections with Pluto and Mars. We might imagine danger is imminent but there’s nothing real on which to base our fears.

Aries Horoscope MAR 21 – APR 19

You know exactly how to skillfully employ your charm to get what you want. But you’re playing with fire today that’s more powerful than you realize. You could inadvertently stir up someone’s emotions in a way you aren’t prepared to handle. Going out of your way to be extra sensitive to the needs of others may seem unnecessary, but it might make the difference between wasting energy in endless conversation and accomplishing exactly what you intended.

Taurus Horoscope APR 20 – MAY 20

Your plans may be solid, but someone could shake your confidence by calling your underlying values into question. Defending your beliefs is probably a thankless task today because your words won’t be able to win a clash of perspectives. In fact, talk is cheap and only disperses your limited energy. Instead, stay focused on reaching your destination now. If you want to reexamine your principles, do it on your own terms when you are good and ready.

Gemini Horoscope MAY 21 – JUN 20

You have one foot firmly planted on terra firma today, while the other one has slipped into another dimension. Accordingly, you might feel as if you’re precariously dancing on the edge. Nevertheless, you can dazzle your friends and associates with your ability to juggle multiple realities without actually being in two places at once. But don’t push your luck; you’re not invincible. Acknowledging your human limitations is a wise place to start. Vulnerability is the secret to your success.

Cancer Horoscope JUN 21 – JUL 22

Your metaphysical beliefs could create awkward tension with others today. Either they don’t understand your ideas or they just want to convert you to their way of thinking. But you’re not interested in debating the mysteries of the universe since you’re feeling rather protective about your spiritual pursuits now. You’re under no obligation to talk to anyone about your private affairs unless you feel so inclined. Claim your power by setting your boundaries and sticking to them.

Leo Horoscope JUL 23 – AUG 22

It seems as if the pressure to make decisions is beginning to ease. People are less demanding now or, perhaps, your mental clarity has returned. Either way, your emotions are more manageable, allowing you to get along better with your co-workers today. But there are still complicated dynamics that make long-term collaboration unlikely. Don’t push to resolve that which remains elusive. You will be happily surprised if you simply let the unspoken conflicts dissipate on their own. Time has a funny way of working things out.

Virgo Horoscope AUG 23 – SEP 22

You want everyone to know how intelligent you are and how much value you can bring to the table. But your ideas may be moving so fast that you can’t catch a single one of them, sending you into a tailspin of self-doubt. However, if you visualize the act of throwing your distracting thoughts into the trash, they will begin to leave you alone. The answer to your dilemma isn’t about impressing anyone else; it’s simply about filtering out the unnecessary noise so you can think with a clear head.

Libra Horoscope SEP 23 – OCT 22

The cosmic weather has shifted without warning; decisions that seemed so easy to make yesterday are as daunting today as scaling Mount Everest. Nevertheless, your internal guidance system is functioning better than you realize. Don’t worry if your logic isn’t operating on full power now. There’s no need to force your answer since choices are being made for you by the winds of fate. Thankfully, the universe has its benevolent hand in influencing your future if you remain open to change.

Scorpio Horoscope OCT 23 – NOV 21

You possess an uncanny ability to attract wealth, power and love now. However, you seem to have a magical, non-stick coating that shields you from the emotional dramas that can accompany intense relationships. Be sure you know what you’re asking for today, since you could very well have your wish fulfilled. Nevertheless, there is no success unless you’re willing to keep a smile in your heart and commit to the hard work necessary to ensure transformation.

Sagittarius Horoscope NOV 22 – DEC 21

Your recent contributions on the job might garner you some special attention now. In turn, this appreciation spurs you on to achieve even more. You feel as if your sincere efforts demonstrate your desire to be a valuable team player. However, you also might find it challenging to trust the positive feedback. But this is an opportunity to openly engage with others on an equal playing field. Living by the Golden Rule sets a fine example for everyone else to follow.

Capricorn Horoscope DEC 22 – JAN 19

You could be trying to do one-too-many things at work today. In fact, you might be spinning in so many directions now that you don’t know which way is up. Simplicity is your friend while logic reminds you to take one step at a time. Pare back the items on your itinerary as you exercise your right to say no. Imagine how happy you will be when you actually have the time to complete those tasks which must be done. Eliminating the extraneous enables you to reclaim control of your life.

Aquarius Horoscope JAN 20 – FEB 18

You see beauty everywhere you look today and are intuitively aware of the wonderful potential in all those you meet. One might say you are a Pollyanna now, but the truth is you’re a pragmatist with a visionary imagination. Possibilities abound because you perceive them as real, and you can create a path toward manifestation. Don’t let anyone talk you out of your dreams; follow your creative spirit until you find yourself at the end of the rainbow.

Pisces Horoscope FEB 19 – MAR 20

You are much more comfortable today when you’re surrounded by your family and friends. In fact, you might shy away from crowds now, favoring one-on-one encounters and unstructured time in small groups. You’re particularly sensitive to criticism because negative thinking brings you down hard and fast. Managing your immediate environment is the most efficient way to ensure your peace of mind and the safety of your heart.

 

Part of the Daily Insight Group