Astronomy Picture of the Day – Meteors, Planes, and a Galaxy over Bryce Canyon

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.

2018 May 6

Meteors, Planes, and a Galaxy over Bryce Canyon 
Image Credit & Copyright: Dave Lane

 

Explanation: Sometimes land and sky are both busy and beautiful. The landscape pictured in the foreground encompasses Bryce Canyon in Utah, USA, famous for its many interesting rock structures eroded over millions of years. The featured skyscape, photogenic in its own right, encompasses the arching central disk of our Milky Way Galaxy, the short streaks of three passing planes near the horizon, at least four long streaks that are likely Eta Aquariid meteors, and many stars including the three bright stars that make up the Summer Triangle. The featured image is a digital panorama created from 12 smaller images during this date in 2014. Recurring every year, yesterday and tonight mark the peak of this year’s Eta Aquriids meteor shower, where a patient observer with dark skies and dark-adapted eyes might expect to see a meteor every few minutes.

Earth Sky News for May 6th: Arc to Arcturus, spike to Spica

Arc to Arcturus, spike to Spica

Tonight, look outside in the evening and learn a phrase useful to sky watchers. The phrase is: follow the arc to Arcturus, and drive a spike (or speed on) to Spica. You can use this phrase in any year.

First locate the Big Dipper asterism in the northeastern sky. Then draw an imaginary line following the curve in the Dipper’s handle until you come to a bright orange star. This star is Arcturus in the constellation Bootes, known in skylore as the bear guard.

Arcturus is a giant star with an estimated distance of 37 light-years. It’s special because it’s not moving with the general stream of stars, in the flat disk of the Milky Way galaxy. Instead, Arcturus is cutting perpendicularly through the galaxy’s disk at a tremendous rate of speed … some 100 miles (150 km) per second. Millions of years from now this star will be lost from the view of any future inhabitants of Earth, or at least those who are earthbound and looking with the eye alone.

Now drive a spike or, as some say, speed on to Spica in the constellation Virgo.

Spica in the constellation Virgo looks like one star, but this single point of light is really a multiple star system – with two hot stars orbiting very close together – located an estimated distance of 262 light-years away from Earth.

Bottom line: Follow the arc to Arcturus, and drive a spike to Spica.

 

Published on EarthSky

The Moon in Aquarius – May 6 thru May 8

The Moon in Aquarius: Quirky, Humanitarian, Independent

May 6 – May 8, 2018


 

Before we talk specifically about the Moon in Aquarius, let’s first talk about the Moon for a moment. Astrologers consider the Moon a planet, and because it moves so quickly it passes through each of the 12 zodiac signs once every month. Just as the Sun has a placement in our birth chart, so does the Moon.

When the Moon is in Aquarius

Regardless of what your sign is, for a couple of days each month we all get drawn into the influence of the Aquarius Moon. This is the time when we’re more inclined to march to the beat of our own drum. Aquarius is anything but cookie-cutter, and this lunation will have us trying to figure out what it is that makes us unique so that we can share it with the world.

Aquarians are social butterflies, making friends and influencing people wherever they go. This isn’t surprising considering Aquarius rules the 11th House of Friendships! When the Moon moves into this gregarious sign, you’ll feel the urge to call your friends, make plans, and get out and interact with those around you.

The Aquarius Moon could also have you feeling a little but more rebellious and spontaneous than usual. You may crave freedom and a distraction from your everyday life. If you’ve been feeling stuck in a rut, this is when you’ll decide to change up your routine or break old habits.

New Moon in Aquarius

New Moons are times of new emotional cycles and planting seeds for whatever we want to come next. The futuristic Aquarius New Moon encourages us to cut our past loose, or at least some of the things that we’re still hung up on. Aquarius is cool and detached, ideal for making a clean break from things that are no longer serving us so that we can boldly step into the next phase of our lives.

Our innovative spirit is off the charts with the New Moon in unconventional Aquarius! When the Sun and Moon team up in this brainy sign, we have a greater ability to expand our perceptions and come up with bright ideas. Aquarius sometimes dreams up concepts so far ahead of its time that they cannot be applied to current circumstances. However, the New Moon helps put us in touch with reality so that we can bring these groundbreaking insights back down to earth.

Full Moon in Aquarius

This Full Moon occurs when the cooperative Aquarius Moon opposes the individualistic Leo Sun. This cosmic coupling allows us see the difference between satisfying ourselves (Leo) and collaborating with others (Aquarius), and helps us understand the relationship between teamwork and individuality. The community-conscious Aquarius Full Moon reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves, and that acting on our ideas and ideals will benefit everyone.

You’ll probably wonder where your invitation is because it’s always a party when the Full Moon is in Aquarius! Full Moons spark an increase in activity and energy, and Aquarius is one of the most outgoing signs in the zodiac. You’ll be more apt to let your hair down and have a good time during this fun-loving Full Moon.

If you were born with the Moon in Aquarius

The Moon in Aquarius is an oddity because the Moon is about our gut instincts, our moods, and how we respond to things emotionally. The paradox here is that Aquarius is an Air sign which means it’s more concerned with mental functions than the messiness of human emotion. This doesn’t mean those with their natal Moon in Aquarius don’t have feelings. Rather, their feelings are more conceptual and intellectual.

Lunar Aquarians are incredibly observant people. Their minds are always on alert, constantly trying to figure out why people do the things that they do. This curiosity extends to other areas of life, and they enjoy learning about science, mechanics, and technology. They love to know how things work — you might even find them taking things apart and putting them back together!

Aquarius Moon sign people are natural humanitarians and are often involved in philanthropic causes of some kind. They are egalitarians at heart, and have strong beliefs about the welfare of others and human rights. Don’t let the Water-bearer’s aloof exterior fool you. Lunar Aquarians are passionate about helping others, and simply remain objective in an effort to avoid getting caught up in emotionally turbulent situations.

 

Tarot.com is Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2018

Your Daily Erotic Tarot Card for May 6th is The Judgment

Your Daily Erotic Tarot Card

The Judgment

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May 6th, 2018


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Judgment card represents a sexual awakening, and now that you aren’t afraid to move in a new direction, a whole new world awaits you. What sex positions do you want to try, and which fantasies have you been dying to act out? Being honest with yourself and potential partner(s) about the details of what you desire will help you get what you want faster, and the end result will be much more satisfying. And above all, enjoy your sexual liberation!

 

 

 

Your Daily Tarot Love Card for May 6th is The Sun

Your Daily Tarot Love Card

The Sun

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May 6th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sun is an invitation to a supportive relationship in which you can be yourself around your significant other. You feel relaxed and loved, with a sense of peace of heart. You’ve struck gold and entered into a new realm. Keep looking if this is not how you feel because it is how things should be. You can’t expect improvement in a long-term union if you do not take effective steps to create it.
 

 

 

Learn the Tarot 101: The Tower Card

The Tower


Because of circumstances beyond your control, you have no choice.

 

 

 

General Meaning

In practically all renditions of the Tower card, disaster is striking or has just struck. The demons of madness and despair are released from ancient hiding places, and nature conspires with human failings to destabilize a society. The upheaval is collective and impersonal. Let us remember these images were created for the educated nobles and clergy — reminding them that they have the most to lose if the hierarchy is toppled.

Lightning is a fitting karmic payback for the guilt of those whose fortunes come from the exploitation or abuse of others. A modern subtitle might be “revolution,” indicating that through drastic social change, oppressed people can find renewed hope of better times. The Tower experience comes like a flash of lightning to topple the hierarchy of the old order, after which everyone can have a fresh start on a more equal footing.

In the Advice Position

You are the one to serve as a catalyst for change.

The card in the Advice position suggests a course of action which will harmonize what you want with what is currently possible.

With the Tower card, think of yourself as an agent of transformation. This self-sacrificing role is likely to create stressful situations. Your vision shows you that a radical change has already been unleashed by forces much larger than mere mortals, and therefore you are no longer resisting.

Now you may be at the forefront, acknowledging and accepting the bracing presence of the future bursting in on the present. Try to mediate the harsher parts of the changes as they unfold, so the most vulnerable are the most cushioned. Acknowledge yourself, as well as the others in your life, who are offering their resources to usher in a better future.

 

Tarot.com is Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2018

 

Your Daily Tarot Card for May 6th is King of Cups

Tarot Card of the Day

King of Cups


Traditionally, representing the energy of a King, this card usually portrays a watery background, with a man seated on a throne, holding the Cup of Mystery in his hand. Occasionally, his cup is fulminating like the mouth of a volcano, emanating light, but never boiling over.

The man in this card doesn’t need to speak to communicate strength, passion and commitment. Sometimes he is robed like a priest or shaman. Intense and intuitive, he is a force to be reckoned with.

Tarot.com is Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2018

If You Were Born Today, May 6

Happy Birthday liebe Sunny (Schlappi50)

If You Were Born Today, May 6

You have a strong business sense and are tuned in to the value and worth of things. Most of you are good with money. Security and stability are things that drive you and are behind many decisions you make in life. You are amorous, curious, attractive, intuitive and possess strong presence. Famous people born today: George Clooney, Orson Welles, Sigmund Freud, Willie Mays, Rudolph Valentino, Tony Blair.

Your Birthday Year Forecast:

With the Sun and Moon in harmony in your Solar Return chart, the year ahead should be satisfying and balanced overall. You are in comfortable demand and personally popular, and you are able to achieve a decent balance between work and play; personal and professional life. For the most part, you are on top of your game this year, and positive connections with others can be made fairly easily. With the ability to handle your emotions successfully, there is less stress on both your mind and body. Your self-confidence and positive attitude will reward you!

You enjoy a Neptune transit this year, softening and smoothing rough edges. You are gentler, more intuitive, spiritual, and creative with this transit, and others are drawn to these qualities. Your natural ability to help others heal and calm down is enhanced. A higher purpose to your life is what you seek, and you rely more heavily upon your intuition in order to achieve it. You could find that your intuition is subtly enhanced and that you’re often in the right place at the right time, probably because your hunches are more likely to be correct. You’re tuning into your imaginative and artistic side. It’s a good period for self-improvement programs or efforts. The need to “get away from it all” — for some peace and quiet now and again — will be strong. A more sensitive, even mysterious, persona is projected, and this can attract pleasantly unusual circumstances (and people) into your life. You will want to spend more time away from chaotic situations.

From February 2019 forward, you have a strong, protective, and stabilizing influence with you as Saturn forms a harmonious aspect to your Sun. This transit helps you stay on track and meet your responsibilities. Your popularity tends to be strong, and your leadership skills are valued. Work you have done in the past begins to pay off this year–not necessarily in dramatic ways, but in small, measurable ways. You may be recognized or rewarded in some manner for the efforts you put forth. Because you project a more responsible and credible “you”, people in authority are more inclined to appreciate you and recognize your work. During these months, you can put your life in order in some significant manner. Improved concentration, a more realistic outlook, and a practical awareness of the limits of time all help you to make steady progress, particularly in your career. Your concern for your future at this time is stronger than usual, and you may find that projects you start, or investments you make, will benefit you for years to come.

Your ambition is stimulated, and you are determined to meet or exceed your goals. You can bring great discipline and meaning to your life this year. You might totally revise an important project or area of your life, or you could be bent on getting rid of something in your life so that you can move forward. The tendency to be too willful this year should probably be avoided. You should also watch for overdoing to the point of exhaustion. This can be a compulsive time when power struggles are more likely. On the other hand, it can be a time when you enjoy a strong sense of purposefulness, focus, and determination.

You are very likely to attract loving relationships and/or new warm social contacts into your life. However, do your best to watch out for tendencies towards self-deception with both love and money. Things might look too good to be true, simply because you want to see the best! Relationship ups and downs are possible, as this could be a year when romantic mirages are more likely.

For the most part, the year ahead is good for public relations, advertising, marketing, studies, short trips, and contacts with the general public. Your judgment is sound. Exchanging ideas, intellectual pursuits, and learning are all exciting and favorable at this time. Researching cooking, health, and nutrition can be fruitful now. Meeting people who share common interests or through your studies can be rewarding.

The year ahead is a mostly steady, protected, and stable year in your life, but also quite inspired. You are bound to get important matters organized, and, for the most part, adopting a “slowly but surely” approach is your very best bet. Your love or social life is more eventful, largely due to some restlessness. You are determined and focused in the year ahead, and you can move mountains in important areas of your life. It’s a powerful year for making lifestyle changes.

2018 is a Number Four year for you. Ruled by Uranus. This is a year of work and development. It’s “nose to the grindstone” time. It’s a time to pay special attention to practical matters, and it’s not a time to be lazy or especially gregarious. Sometimes, it can be a year that feels hard, monotonous and routine, and/or lonely. Positive new relationships are often not formed in a Four personal year. However, it can be a wonderful year for building, development, and laying a solid foundation for future successes. Advice – get yourself organized, work to build your resources, keep busy.

2019 will be a Number Five year for you. Ruled by Mercury. This is a year of discovery and freedom. It’s a time when exploration and reaching out to others brings opportunities. It’s a good time to advertise, promote, and sell. Surprises are in store, and the routine is broken for the better. This is a year when exciting relationships can be formed; or, if you are already in a partnership, new life is breathed into the relationship. Advice – explore, look for adventure, keep your eyes open for opportunities, diversify, mingle.

Source

Cafe Astrology

The Balance of the Signs and The Elements for May 6th

The Balance of the Signs and The Elements for May 6th

 

ARIES STRONG
Initiating, pioneering energy. Independent, bold, courageous, assertive, fiery, inspirational, direct, decisive. Can be egotistical, impulsive, impatient, aggressive, lacking subtlety.
TAURUS STRONG
Stable and enduring, strong values, unyielding, earthy, acquisitive, strong desires. Can be stuck, stubborn, overly possessive, self-indulgent.
CAPRICORN STRONG
Disciplined, responsible, reliable, industrious, conscientious, practical, achieving. Can be pessimistic, overly conventional, rigid, materialistic, callous.
AQUARIUS STRONG
Humanitarian, innovative, group conscious, progressive, serving others. Can be rebellious, eccentric, aloof, emotionally superficial, overly extroverted.

 

Today’s Elemental Balance

 

EARTH STRONG
Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. We are especially in touch with the physical world. We consider what we’ve learned and experienced in the past in order to make the most of the present. We can be cautious, practical, and possibly unimaginative. We are deliberate and can pace ourselves well. We need hands-on experience and are not impressed with theory as much as we are with results. Routines are tolerable and comforting.
WATER WEAK
There may be some insensitivity or lack of empathy now. We may be out of touch with what we’re feeling or with our emotional needs. We may be tougher than usual now, and more inclined to follow mental or practical considerations than we are to listen to our intuition.

 

Today’s Modal Balance

The modes are balanced.

 

Today’s Lunar Phase

LUNAR PHASE: DISSEMINATING
Moon 135 to 90 degrees behind the Sun.
Sharing our knowledge with the world is a major motivation at this stage. We believe we have gained much knowledge and wisdom through our experiences, and want to ensure others have the benefit as well.

 

Source

Astrology Cafe