Sky This Week for August 7 to August 14, 2016

Plenty of bright planets and stars, plus a few asteroid cameos, but this week, nothing will beat the Perseids.

By Richard Talcott

 

Sunday, August 7

Look toward the south-southwest as darkness falls and you can’t help but see Mars. The Red Planet shines brilliantly at magnitude –0.7 — brighter than every other object except for the Moon once Venus and Jupiter set during twilight — against the background stars of northern Scorpius. And it remains visible until it dips below the southwestern horizon after midnight local daylight time. When viewed through a telescope, Mars’ orange-red disk spans 12″ and shows a number of subtle dark markings.

Monday, August 8

Once you’ve found Mars, shift your gaze 9° (the approximate width of your closed fist when held at arm’s length) to the upper left and you’ll be gazing at Saturn. The ringed planet shines at magnitude 0.4 and stands out against the surrounding stars of southwestern Ophiuchus. Adding to the scene is the ruddy 1st-magnitude star Antares in Scorpius, which appears 6° below Saturn. When viewed through a telescope, the planet measures 17″ across while its dramatic ring system spans 39″ and tilts 26° to our line of sight.

Tuesday, August 9

Tonight and tomorrow night provide observers with an excellent opportunity to track down the 9th-magnitude asteroid Pallas. On these two nights, the second-largest object orbiting between Mars and Jupiter passes directly between Enif (Epsilon [e] Pegasi), the 2nd-magnitude star that marks the nose of Pegasus the Winged Horse, and the lovely globular star cluster M15. Almost any telescope will gather enough light to show you Pallas some 3° northwest of Enif and 1° southeast of M15. The trio lies about halfway to the zenith in the southeastern sky during late evening.

The Moon reaches apogee, the farthest point in its orbit around Earth, at 8:05 p.m. EDT. It then lies 251,197 miles (404,262 kilometers) from Earth’s center.

Wednesday, August 10

First Quarter Moon occurs at 2:21 p.m. EDT. By the time the Sun sets this evening for North American observers, the Moon appears in the south-southwest and more than one-third of the way from the horizon to the zenith. As darkness descends, our satellite grows more prominent and the background stars of Libra the Scales come into view.

Thursday, August 11

The annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak tonight. In a typical year, observers under a clear dark sky can expect to see up to 100 meteors per hour. But astronomers think we may be in for an even better show this year because Jupiter recently nudged the debris stream from the Perseids’ parent comet, 109P/Swift-Tuttle, closer to Earth’s orbit. If predictions hold true, we could see up to 150 meteors per hour overnight. The best views will come in the predawn hours of Friday morning, after the waxing gibbous Moon sets around 1 a.m. local daylight time. The spectacle continues to improve as dawn approaches because the shower’s radiant — the spot on the border between Perseus and Cassiopeia where the meteors appear to emanate — climbs higher.

If you’re looking for something to do while waiting for the Perseids to peak after midnight, watch this evening’s gibbous Moon as it forms a pretty and nearly equilateral triangle with Mars and Saturn. Our satellite stands 8° north of Mars and 7° northwest of Saturn, while 7° separate the two planets. The trio becomes prominent during twilight and remains on view until nearly midnight local daylight time.

Friday, August 12

Assuming you watch the Perseid show this morning, don’t pack up when twilight starts to paint the sky. About 45 minutes before the Sun comes up, look for a bright object hovering just above the horizon in the east-southeast. This is the night sky’s brightest star, magnitude –1.5 Sirius in the constellation Canis Major. From mid-northern latitudes, the luminary climbs some 4° high a half-hour before sunrise and should stand out if you have a clear and unobstructed horizon. The return of Sirius to the predawn sky was an occasion for celebration in ancient Egypt. Around 3000 b.c., this so-called heliacal rising of Sirius heralded the coming flood of the Nile River, an event upon which agriculture — and all life in Egypt — depended.

Saturday, August 13

Look overhead around 10 p.m. local daylight time any day this week and your eyes will fall on the brilliant star Vega in the constellation Lyra the Harp. At magnitude 0.0, Vega is the brightest member of the prominent Summer Triangle asterism. The Triangle’s second-brightest star, magnitude 0.8 Altair in Aquila the Eagle, lies some 35° southeast of Vega. The asterism’s dimmest member, magnitude 1.3 Deneb in Cygnus the Swan, stands about 25° east-northeast of Vega. Although the brightening Moon diminishes the luster of stars this week, the Summer Triangle remains conspicuous.

Sunday, August 14

The two inner planets lurk low in the western sky shortly after sunset this week. If you scan the horizon through binoculars 30 minutes after sundown, you should pick up Venus standing just 4° high. It shows up only because in shines so brightly, at magnitude –3.8. Mercury appears at nearly the same altitude but will be much harder to see because it glows more dimly, at magnitude 0.2. This morning, the innermost planet lies 9° to Venus’ left and 6° to Jupiter’s lower right.

Reference

Astronomy Magazine

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Sunday, August 7th

The Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 107.12° ESE
Sun Altitude: 46.79°
Sun Distance: 94.262 million mi
Next Equinox: Sep 22, 2016 9:21 AM (Autumnal)
Sunrise Today: 6:05 AM↑ 69° East
Sunset Today: 7:55 PM↑ 291° Northwest
Length of Daylight: 13 hours, 49 minutes

 

The Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 88.10° E
Moon Altitude: -6.99°
Moon Distance: 249085 mi
Next Full Moon: Aug 18, 20164:26 AM
Next New Moon: Sep 1, 20164:03 AM
Next Moonrise: Today10:42 AM
Current Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 21.9%

Reference

timeanddate.com

 

Good Saturday morning to one and all! I hope everyone is having a great day so far. I wasn’t really planning for us to take the day off especially since we have been off for so many. But I am absolutely ashamed that I have let the blog page on here and our Blogger site go so long without updating them. I talked to Lady B yesterday and was apologizing for a graphic that I made still being up over there. She did make a good point, without the internet and power, how was I suppose to get anything done. Hmm, she is right! You can’t very well get anything done on the internet if you don’t have access to it.

I do feel bad for us not being on here. I think you all know the situation though. So far so good, we have had power and the internet for two days(and counting, lol!). Though yesterday, it was seriously doubtful. After we got off the internet, I ran some of Kiki’s old food out to a neighbor. We got to talking and I didn’t know behind me was a huge, black cloud. He mentioned he had to get back to mowing before it rained. He has been mowing our yard now for almost two months, free of charge. I don’t know how that happened but he told me he would start mowing it and I didn’t have to worry about that. He knows we are witches and he isn’t and he is still willing to mow the grass. I guess we are making progress locally. Anyway, back to the story, I got caught at the Dollar Store and a tornado warning was issued. The wind got to blowing and the trees were touching the ground. The first thing I thought was there goes the office. Luckily, I got back and nothing was bothered. We are located about 5 miles from the river. When a storm makes it across the river, you can bet it is going to be bad. They told me, they had tried to call me to see if I was alright. The wind was so bad I didn’t even hear the phone rang. I know when it started to calm down, I ran the stuff out to the truck. My hair looked like I had just washed it, my shirt was glued to me and the front of my pants had got soaked. That is how bad it was raining. We have never had a summer like this one before. It has been hot and then it rains. Due to the heat, the storms this year are bad. I guess it is climate change or something. It has been rough(just can’t wait for winter, NOT!).

 

Ok, sorry, enough with that. You know me, I could talk forever about nothing. I just wanted to let you know what was going on. I am going to update the material here. If you have any questions or just want to give me a holler, I will be around for probably the next 3 hours. It takes that long just to do this one, perhaps I ain’t figure my time right, lol! Anyway, we will back tomorrow with our daily posts. For now, I am off(more ways that one) to get this place up-to-date.

 

Have a very blessed and relaxing Saturday. I guarantee you, we will see you tomorrow. Till then….

 

Love ya,

Lady A

 

Spells That Actually Work

Ancient Spell to Kill a Beast

1. Get a spear.
2. Aim the spear.
3. Throw the spear.
4. Repeat until the beast is dead.

Spell to Make Money

1. Put on some tight attractive clothing.
2. Go to a busy street corner.
3. Dance as well as you can for passing cars and pedestrians.

Spell to Get Measles

1. Find someone who has measles.
2. Lick them.

Spell to Turn Day Into Night

1. Stand facing a large tree or wall.
2. Close eyes tightly.
3. Keeping eyes closed, run straight ahead as fast as you can.

Spell to Turn Night Into Day

1. Lay down when it is nighttime.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Wait 8 hours.
4. Open your eyes.

Spell to Breathe Under-Water

1. Attach concrete block to your feet.
2. Jump into water.
3. Breathe normally and sing the tune to “Flipper”.
4. Takes about 5 minutes for lungs to adjust.

Spell to Commune With Pink Elephants

1. Pour glass of vodka or alcoholic drink of choice.
2. Drink.
3. Repeat steps 1-2.

Spell to Attract Lightning

1. Cover yourself in metal: jewelry, chains, golf clubs, nails, nuts & bolts, hubcaps, etc.
2. Go out into a thunderstorm and hold a long TV antenna high in the air.
3. Wait.

Spell to Stop a Runny Nose

1. Get two cotton balls.
2. Shove one up each nostril.
3. Tape them there.

Spell to Make a Person Fall In Love With You

1. Call person at least thirty times a day.
2. Park outside their house and shut your headlights off.
3. Leave sweet tokens on doorstep (i.e., roses without petals, a nice headless Barbie doll, etc.).
4. Follow them everywhere they go… careful, they’ll try to lose you!
5. Don’t worry if they get that silly restraining order, that means the spell is working!

Spell to Make a Person Fall Out of Love With You

1. Forget getting a restraining order.
2. Get a gun or other weapon of choice.
3. Wound or maim person with weapon.
4. Throw person in an area with lots of wild carnivores
5. Wait.

Spell to Make Your Computer Fast

1. Open a window.
2. Defenestrate the computer.
3. If the computer hits the ground really fast, the spell worked.

Alternate Spell to Make Your Computer Fast

1. Turn on your computer
2. Deny it food.

Spell to Save on Gas

1. Cut holes in floorboards of car.
2. Remove shoes.
3. While still seated, pedal feet really, really fast.
4. Scream “Yabba Dabba Do!”
5. (Optional) Invite passengers to join in the fun!

Spell to Go to the Bathroom

1. Drink so much water that you think you will burst.
2. Drink another glass anyway.
3. Wait ten minutes, then guzzle a can of soda.
4. Repeat step 3 as often as desired to increase the spell’s effect.

Alternate Spell to Go to the Bathroom

1. Eat a bushel of prunes.
2. Take a dose of ExLax.
3. Wait.

Spell to Make Something Disappear

1. Open a window
2. Grab the object you want to make disappear.
3. Defenestrate the object.
4. Close the window.

Spell to Make Yourself Fly

1. Open a window
2. Say “Sky sky make me fly like the birdies up so high.”
3. Defenestrate yourself.
4. Flap your arms vigorously and repeatedly say “I’m flying!”
5. If you don’t hit the ground, the spell worked.

Spell to Get Red Eyes

1. Take a spray bottle of Windex™.
2. Aim nozzle at eyes.
3. Spray.
4. Repeat 20 times.

Spell to Get a New Car

1. Get off the computer.
2. Go to a car dealership.
3. Chose a care. Take a test drive. Repeat until a satisfactory choice is made.
4. Make arrangements to trade in your old car for the new one chosen.
5. Drive home and wait.
6. When the new car arrives, go back to the dealer.
7. Drive home.

Spell to Go Through A Wall

1. Get a sledgehammer.
2. Hit a wall continuously until a large enough hole appears.
3. Go through the hole.

Spell to Change Your Eye Color

1. Visit ophthalmologist.
2. Get prescription for contact lenses.
3. Fill prescription with colored contact lenses.
4. Put in colored contact lenses.

Spell to Get People to Pay Attention to You

1. Stand up.
2. Jump up and down.
3. Make noises.
4. Repeat until people stare at you.

Spell to Prevent a Broken Window

1. Throw a shot put through your window pane.
2. It can never be broken again.

Spell to Make Someone Disappear #1

1. Tell them to go away.
2. Repeat until they leave.

Spell to Make Someone Disappear #2

1. Go into another room.
2. Shut the door.
3. Wait until they leave.

Spell to Make Someone Disappear #3

1. Position them in front of an open window.
2. Point and yell the name of their favorite celebrity so they lean out to look.
3. Defenestrate them.
4. Close the window.

Spell to Get a Full-time Job

1. Find a police officer.
2. Commit a crime in front of them.
3. Wait quietly until they arrest you.
4. Plead guilty to the crime in court.
5. You will be taken to a big building and given a full-time job.

Spell to Be Somone’s Girlfriend

1. Find a police officer.
2. Commit a crime in front of them.
3. Wait quietly until they arrest you.
4. Plead guilty to the crime in court.
5. You will be taken to a big building and will soon become someone’s girlfriend.

Spell to Turn Into a Monster

1. Put on stilts.
2. Dress up in a gorrila costume.
3. Run around town with a megaphone and yell ROAR!

Spell to Become a Half-Animal

1. Get bisected by a large saw.

Spell to Get Wings

1. Find local fast food resturant number.
2. Call number and place an order for wings
3. Wings should arrive in 10-30 minutes.

Spell to Become a Mermaid

1. Cut the head off a large tuna.
2. Skin the body carefully, along with the tailfins.
3. Wrap your legs with the skin. Use duct tape to close it and attach it to your own skin.
4. Open-up gill-slits in your neck.
5. Go jump in the ocean.

Spell to Become an Artist

1. Get a crayon.
2. Press the crayon against a piece of paper while moving it around wildly.
3. Feel good about it.
4. Show other people your awesome drawing.

Spell to Get a Friend

1. Walk up to someone.
2. Pay them $50-100.
3. They’ll be your friend for a while.
4. Pay more keep your friend.

 

For more great Pagan humor, visit Turok’s Cabana

 

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 August 5

Virgo Cluster Galaxies
Image Credit & Copyright: Rogelio Bernal Andreo

 

Explanation: Well over a thousand galaxies are known members of the Virgo Cluster, the closest large cluster of galaxies to our own local group. In fact, the galaxy cluster is difficult to appreciate all at once because it covers such a large area on the sky. This careful wide-field mosaic of telescopic images clearly records the central region of the Virgo Cluster through faint foreground dust clouds lingering above the plane of our own Milky Way galaxy. The cluster’s dominant giant elliptical galaxy M87, is just below and to the left of the frame center. To the right of M87 is a string of galaxies known as Markarian’s Chain. A closer examination of the image will reveal many Virgo cluster member galaxies as small fuzzy patches. Sliding your cursor over the image will label the larger galaxies using NGC catalog designations. Galaxies are also shown with Messier catalog numbers, including M84, M86, and prominent colorful spirals M88, M90, and M91. On average, Virgo Cluster galaxies are measured to be about 48 million light-years away. The Virgo Cluster distance has been used to give an important determination of the Hubble Constant and the scale of the Universe.

Moon and Jupiter close on August 5

Author

 

 

 

 

 

PLANET TRACKER

Venus in Virgo

Aug 5, 2016 to Aug 29, 2016

 

Venus is about love and relationships, while Virgo deals with life’s more practical matters. Superifically, this can be interpreted, then, as a period in which passion may give way to the mundane affairs of daily life. However, Virgo’s traditionally chaste image is not nearly so virginal as one might expect. It is, after all, an earth sign that appreciates the healthy functions of the human body, including sexuality.

A more balanced view is that Venus in Virgo is a time when pleasure is derived by understanding the fine details of life, be they related to love or work. An appreciation for refinement in the arts, food, nature and people is more likely during this period. This can help further the development of skills and techniques in all areas of creative expression.

In personal relationships Venus in Virgo can correspond with excess criticism. The idea is to take the sharpened perceptions of the moment and apply with a constructive, rather than destructive, attitude. In this way so-called “faults” are not reasons to tear down a person, but to clarify the issues that need attention and adjustment. This positive approach can make this a time in which relationships grow through greater awareness of what makes them tick and, thus, help to iron out the kinks. Passion flows more freely when obstacles are removed. Work makes way for love.

That handy expert in life’s little refinements, Martha Stewart, was born with Venus in Virgo, as was fellow foodie Julia Child. Tennis champions Martina Navratilova, Jimmy Connors and Arthur Ashe, and the great conqueror of more than basketball, Wilt Chamberlain, also have this in their birth charts.

Hollywood couple Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas share Venus in Virgo, along with singers Chrissie Hynde, Joni Mitchell and Linda Ronstadt. Ms. Perfect Julie Andrews is a different kind of Venus in Virgo singer, as is Luciano Pavarotti. Penny Marshall, Carrie Fisher, Catherine Deneuve, Robert DeNiro, Robert Redford and Chevy Chase also belong to this group.

Conservatives Jesse Helms, Jerry Falwell and Casper Weinberger represent one end of the political spectrum, while George McGovern and William Kunstler come from the other. Ex-football coach Jimmy Johnson is a perfectly coiffed example of Venus in Virgo precision, but revolutionary rocker John Lennon reminds us that these symbols can stretch to include less conventional forms of personal expression.

 

Part of the Daily Insight Group

The Words of Confucius

He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.

Your Daily Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is practical, prudent, ambitious, disciplined, patient, careful, humorous and reserved. They could be someone you know in the medical field–a nurse or doctor perhaps.

General Description:
Tenth sign of the Zodiac, Dec 22nd to Jan 19th. Ruling planet, Saturn; correct metal, lead. Those born under Capricornus influence were believed to be prudent, deep thinkers, prosperous in financial affairs, generous, with strong and forcible tempers. The Capricorn stone is the Ruby. The Ruby was a favorite talisman in the Orient. In India it was worn to guard against attacks of enemies, foretell danger, supposed to change color in presence of poison, and attract friends and good fortune; China and Japan health, Happiness and long life. The Romans believed that the Ruby preserved health and strength, averted danger, plague and fevers.

 

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Rose

The White Rose indicates the need for or the presence of purity of intention. The question to ponder is, “Am I/he/she being self-serving, or other-directed?” The caution is that even if we are reasonably certain our motives are generous, if we are yet attempting to impose our idea of what should be, we are not acting at the level of the White Rose. When the White Rose appears, examine your own and others’ motives, and then trust the answer that brings you true peace of mind.

As a daily card, the Rose denotes a time in which you will be best served by allowing your actions to be guided by what is best for the greatest number even if the path indicated is not the one you feel is best for you.

 

Today’s Witches Rune

Romance

Meaning: The Romance rune is also a symbol of connection, just like the Rings rune. But differently from the latter, the former implies a deeper sort of connection. While in the Rings we have two (or more) people joining to reach a similar goal, here we have two people joining for reasons they can’t quite explain.

Hence this rune is related to love, passion, emotional bonds, sexual chemistry and sudden attraction. Any strong bond can be symbolized by this rune, including the unconditional parental love or a very strong friendship. And it’s not limited to the emotions that sparkle between individuals – the love can be also directed to an object, a subject or even a work.

It’s important to not limit this rune to the emotional field. It can be quite physical, representing sexual relations, arousal and irresistible magnetism. This rune is powerful, and often gives an extra impulse to any rune that is close it. Charismatic and seductive people are represented by the Romance rune as well.

Outside from the field of romance and sex, this rune is concerned with any act of creation. If you have any ongoing projects, you can be sure an extra impulse will come and spur you on. The Romance rune can also represent the reconciliation of opposite forces or tendencies, and the resolution of conflicts. Obsessive thoughts, stubbornness in pursuing a person or a goal and lack of objectivity are the downfalls of this rune.

Additional information about Today’s Witches Rune, Romance, courtesy of Your Spiritual Journey Australia