Welcome to the Witches Astronomy Guide for Tuesday, April 3rd
A Call To Lord And Lady
She lives and breathes upon the Earth
Her wheel spins round the hub of June
She is the web of life and birth
Her smile floats softly with the moon
Heart of life, and caring mother
Loving sister, noble princess
Firebird spirit, restless lover
Shadowy hidden sorceress
His strength is there in mountains high
His lightning flies from air and cloud
His horn heralds the wild hunt’s ride
He quickens forest, roaring proud
Children’s friend, protecting father
Watchful brother, noble fighter
Laughing wise one, dark magister
Player of pipes, thoughtful shepherd
Their faces many, countless names
Pan, Diana, Zeus, Astarte
Teachers from dreams, oracle’s flames
Speak, and guide us within our hearts
—–J.A.B., Author
Originally published On Pagan Library
Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Tuesday April 3
The Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 76.04° ENE
Sun Altitude: -9.18°
Sun Distance: 92.939 million mi
Next Solstice: Jun 21, 2018 5:07 am (Summer)
Sunrise Today: 6:37 am↑ 83° East
Sunset Today: 7:18 pm↑ 278° West
Length of Daylight:12 hours, 41 minutes
The Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 224.34° SW
Moon Altitude: 27.20°
Moon Distance: 243238 mi
Next New Moon: Apr 15, 20188:57 pm
Next Full Moon: Apr 29, 20187:58 pm
Next Moonset: Today8:45 am
Current Moon Phase: Wanig Gibbous
Illumination: 90.4%
Source
timeanddate.com
Astrology of the Day – April 3
Summary:
Mars-Uranus early today is progressive. A Last Quarter Moon occurs shortly before midday, and asks us to consider our spiritual needs.
The Moon is in Pisces all day (until Wednesday, June 10th, at 7:13 AM).
The Moon is void from 2:08 PM forward (until tomorrow at 7:13 AM).
The Moon is waning and in its Waning Gibbous phase until 11:41 AM/ Third Quarter phase from 11:41 AM forward.
The Third Quarter Moon occurs at 11:41 AM in Pisces.
Mercury is retrograde. (Mercury is retrograde from May 18 to June 11 in the sign of Gemini).
Mercury Retrograde
In Earth’s sky, the Sun, Moon, and stars appear to move from east to west because of the rotation of Earth (so-called diurnal motion). However, orbiters such as the Space Shuttle and many artificial satellites appear to move from west to east. These are direct satellites (they actually orbit Earth in the same direction as the Moon), but they orbit Earth faster than Earth itself rotates, and so appear to move in the opposite direction of the Moon. Mars has a natural satellite Phobos, with a similar orbit. From the surface of Mars it appears to move in the opposite direction because its orbital period is less than a Martian day. There are also smaller numbers of truly retrograde artificial satellites orbiting Earth which counter-intuitively appear to move westward, in the same direction as the Moon.
As seen from Earth, all the other objects in the Solar System appear to periodically switch direction as they cross the sky. Though all stars and planets appear to move from west to east on a nightly basis in response to the rotation of Earth, the outer planets generally drift slowly eastward relative to the stars. Asteroids and Kuiper Belt objects (including Pluto) exhibit apparent retrogradation. This motion is normal for the planets, and so is considered direct motion. However, since Earth completes its orbit in a shorter period of time than the planets outside its orbit, it periodically overtakes them, like a faster car on a multi-lane highway. When this occurs, the planet being passed will first appear to stop its eastward drift, and then drift back toward the west. Then, as Earth swings past the planet in its orbit, it appears to resume its normal motion west to east. The planets Venus and Mercury appear to move in retrograde in a similar mechanism, but as they can never be in opposition to the Sun as seen from Earth, their retrograde cycles are tied to their inferior conjunctions with the Sun. They are unobservable in the Sun’s glare and in their “new” phase, with mostly their dark sides toward Earth; they occur in the transition from morning star to evening star.
The more distant planets retrograde more frequently, as they do not move as much in their orbits while Earth completes an orbit itself. The center of the retrograde motion occurs when the body is exactly opposite the sun, and therefore high in the ecliptic at local midnight. The retrogradation of a hypothetical extremely distant (and nearly non-moving) planet would take place during a half-year, with the planet’s apparent yearly motion being reduced to a parallax ellipse.
The period between the center of such retrogradations is the synodic period of the planet.This apparent retrogradation puzzled ancient astronomers, and was one reason they named these bodies ‘planets’ in the first place: ‘Planet’ comes from the Greek word for ‘wanderer’. In the geocentric model of the Solar System proposed by Apollonius in the third century BCE, retrograde motion was explained by having the planets travel in deferents and epicycle. It was not understood to be an illusion until the time of Copernicus, although the Greek astronomer Aristarchus in 240 BCE proposed a heliocentric model for the Solar System.
Interestingly, Galileo’s drawings show that he first observed Neptune on December 28, 1612, and again on January 27, 1613. On both occasions, Galileo mistook Neptune for a fixed star when it appeared very close—in conjunction—to Jupiter in the night sky, hence, he is not credited with Neptune’s discovery. During the period of his first observation in December 1612, Neptune was stationary in the sky because it had just turned retrograde that very day. Since Neptune was only beginning its yearly retrograde cycle, the motion of the planet was far too slight to be detected with Galileo’s small telescope.
From Mercury
From any point on the daytime surface of Mercury when the planet is near perihelion (closest approach to the Sun), the Sun undergoes apparent retrograde motion. This occurs because, from approximately four Earth days before perihelion until approximately four Earth days after it, Mercury’s angular orbital speed exceeds its angular rotational velocity. Mercury’s elliptical orbit is farther from circular than that of any other planet in the Solar System, resulting in a substantially higher orbital speed near perihelion. As a result, at specific points on Mercury’s surface an observer would be able to see the Sun rise part way, then reverse and set before rising again, all within the same Mercurian day.
Moon in Scorpio
Intensity is what the Moon in Scorpio is all about. Whether it’s passion, elation, sorrow, or desire, emotions are felt on a deeply personal level. We are motivated by the desire to get to the bottom of things, and we instinctively read between the lines. Superficiality won’t work for us now. The Moon in Scorpio urges us to uncover our own power, and it’s an excellent time to rid ourselves of old fears and limiting habits. It can be an intimate and passionate time. Avoid manipulative tactics, brooding, and suspicion.
The Moon in Scorpio generally favors the following activities: Taxes, accounting, intimacy issues, psychological examinations, research, self-examination, getting rid of old things.
Daily Overview Of The Stars & Skies for Tuesday, April 3
The Moon is in Scorpio all day. After aligning with Jupiter midday, the Moon is void until early tomorrow, suggesting that it’s better to hold off on brand new beginnings since the going may be tough until the Moon enters Sagittarius early tomorrow. Emotions are felt intensely, and intensity is relished now. It’s a great time of the lunar month to do research, investigate, and probe. Learning what makes people tick can be exciting now.
As the day advances, we head towards a square between Mars and retrograde Mercury, however, and we could too easily find ourselves in disagreement with others, most likely because we’re communicating ineffectively or impatiently. We may be competing for the floor when it comes to expressing our ideas, thoughts, and opinions, making it difficult to engage in healthy dialogue. Mental agitation could dominate. We may stir up controversy with what we say (quite possibly by bringing up a controversial issue from the past), or how we say it. Ideally, we’re moved to resolve problems now, but it’s best not to jump to conclusions or decisions now.
The Moon is void from 12:07 PM EDT, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a conjunction to Jupiter), until the Moon enters Sagittarius the next day, Wednesday, April 4th, at 2:56 AM EDT.
The sky this week for April 3 to April 8
The Full Moon returns, Mercury reaches inferior conjunction, and Mars and Saturn rise together, all in the sky this week.
By Richard Talcott
Tuesday, April 3
The waning gibbous Moon points the way to Jupiter this morning. They actually rose before 11 p.m. yesterday evening, but they appear more prominent as they climb higher and edge closer after midnight. By the start of morning twilight, less than 5° separate the two. Of course, Jupiter is easy to find all week because it shines so brightly, at magnitude –2.4, against the faint backdrop of Libra. A telescope reveals the planet’s 43″-diameter disk and four bright moons.
Wednesday, April 4
Although the calendar may say it is spring, the so-called Winter Hexagon remains prominent on April evenings. One of the sky’s largest asterisms — a recognizable pattern of stars separate from a constellation’s form — the hexagon stands out in the western sky after darkness falls. To trace the asterism, start with southern Orion’s luminary, Rigel. From there, the hexagon makes a clockwise loop. The second stop is brilliant Sirius in Canis Major. Next, pick up Procyon in the faint constellation Canis Minor, then the twins Castor and Pollux in Gemini, followed by Capella in Auriga, Aldebaran in Taurus, and finally back to Rigel.
Thursday, April 5
Brilliant Venus appears low in evening twilight all week. Look for the blazing point of light about 10° above the western horizon 45 minutes after sunset. The planet shines at magnitude –3.9 and is by far the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon. A look at Venus through a telescope shows an almost fully illuminated disk that spans 11″.
Friday, April 6
One of the spring sky’s finest deep-sky objects, the Beehive star cluster (M44) in the constellation Cancer the Crab, lies high in the south after darkness falls. With naked eyes under a dark sky, you should be able to spot this star group as a faint cloud. But the Beehive explodes into dozens of stars through binoculars or a small telescope.
Saturday, April 7
The waning gibbous Moon joins forces with Mars and Saturn this morning. From mid-northern latitudes, the Moon rises first, at around 1:40 a.m. local daylight time. Saturn follows about 15 minutes behind Luna and Mars 15 minutes after the ringed planet. All three lie against the backdrop of northern Sagittarius, though the Moon’s bright light drowns out most of the constellation’s deep-sky wonders. Notice how the gap between the two planets has grown in the five days since their conjunction. This morning, Mars lies 3° east of Saturn.
Sunday, April 8
Last Quarter Moon occurs at 3:18 a.m. EDT. You can find the half-lit orb rising in the east with the background stars of northeastern Sagittarius around 2:30 a.m. local daylight time; it hangs relatively low in the southeast as twilight begins. The Moon also reaches apogee today, at 1:31 a.m. EDT, when its orbit carries it farthest from Earth for the month. It then lies 251,123 miles (404,144 kilometers) from us.
Source
The Astronomy Magazine
In the Sky This Month
April 3: Streamers
Under an especially dark night sky, away from city lights, you might see a few thousand stars. All of them belong to our home galaxy, the Milky Way. It’s likely that some of them were born elsewhere, but the Milky Way swallowed their home galaxies.
April 4: The Hyades
The V-shaped face of the bull stands about a third of the way up the western sky at nightfall. Bright Aldebaran marks the bull’s eye. But the rest of the face is outlined by the Hyades, which is closer than any other star cluster, at about 150 light-years.
April 5: Evening Milky Way
The subtle band of the Milky Way arcs low across the west this evening. It sweeps from Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, in the southwest, through Orion, and over to W-shaped Cassiopeia low in the northwest.
April 6: Moon and Planets
The night will get brighter after about 2 or 3 a.m. tomorrow, as the gibbous Moon climbs into view. Saturn, the second-largest planet in the solar system, stands just below the Moon as they rise, with slightly brighter Mars farther along the same line.
April 7: Moon and Mars
The planet Mars is easy to find early tomorrow. It stands to the right of the Moon at first light, and looks like a bright orange star. The planet Saturn is close to the upper right of Mars, completing a beautiful display in the dawn sky.
April 8: Camelopardalis
Camelopardalis, which represents a camel with the spots of a leopard, stands above W-shaped Cassiopeia in the northern sky at nightfall. You need skies that are dark enough to see the Milky Way to pick out the stick figure outlined by the camel’s stars.
Source
StarDate
Your Daily Cosmic Calendar for Tuesday
It is always wise to take advantage of a lull in the usually over-the-top bombardment of humanity with cosmically-triggered challenging aspects.
With yesterday’s Mars-Saturn rendezvous now in the rear-view mirror, lighten your load regarding daily work and responsibilities.
Utilize the monthly conjunction of the moon with Jupiter in Scorpio (9:07am) to lift your spirits and enjoy favorite hobbies. Healing interests gain strength around the time that the moon trines deja-vu generator Chiron (10:31pm).
Finish old business with a flourish — courtesy of a 14 hour void lunar twilight zone that starts during the union of the moon with Jupiter and concludes when upbeat Sagittarius moon enters the scene (11:56pm).
Stop worrying about things you cannot control.
[Note to readers: All times are now calculated for Pacific Daylight Time. Be sure to adjust all times according to your own local time so the alignments noted above will be exact for your location.]
Source
Astrology.com
The Witches Current Moon Phase for Tuesday, April 3
Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 95%
TODAY – MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2018
The Moon today is in a Waning Gibbous Phase. This is the first phase after the Full Moon occurs. It lasts roughly 7 days with the Moon’s illumination growing smaller each day until the Moon becomes a Last Quarter Moon with a illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9am and Midnight depending on the age of the phase. The moon rises later and later each night setting after sunrise in the morning. During this phase the Moon can also be seen in the early morning daylight hours on the western horizon.
PHASE DETAILS FOR – MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2018
Phase: Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 95%
Moon Age: 16.78 days
Moon Angle: 0.51
Moon Distance: 390,776.26 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 149,561,496.70 km
Source
MoonGiant.com
On every full moon, rituals … take place on hilltops, beaches, in open fields and in ordinary houses. Writers, teachers, nurses, computer programmers, artists, lawyers, poets, plumbers, and auto mechanics — women and men from many backgrounds come together to celebrate the mysteries of the Triple Goddess of the Dance of Life. The religion they practice is called Witchcraft.
—Starhawk
Two of Coins Reversed
Libra
Fire
Witches Of The Craft® 
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