Author: ladyoftheabyss

Astronomy Picture of the Day – Star Cluster, Spiral Galaxy, Supernova

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.

2017 May 25

Star Cluster, Spiral Galaxy, Supernova
Image Credit & Copyright: Paolo Demaria

 

Explanation: A cosmic snapshot from May 19, this colorful telescopic field of view spans about 1 degree or 2 full moons on the sky. Spiky in appearance, foreground Milky Way stars are scattered toward the royal constellation Cepheus while stars of open cluster NGC 6939 gather about 5 thousand light-years in the distance near the top of the frame. Face-on spiral galaxy NGC 6946 is toward the lower left nearly 22 million light-years away. The helpful red lines identify recently discovered supernova SN 2017eaw, the death explosion of a massive star nestled in the galaxy’s bluish spiral arms. In fact in the last 100 years, 10 supernovae have been discovered in NGC 6946. By comparison, the average rate of supernovae in our Milky Way is about 1 every 100 years or so. Of course, NGC 6946 is also known as The Fireworks Galaxy.

Your Earth Sky News for May 25th: Why you won’t see the new supermoon

Why you won’t see the new supermoon

By

The new moon of May 25, 2017 is a supermoon. In fact, it’s 2017’s closest and largest supermoon. This is the first time since 2009 that a new moon (not a full moon) is the closest and largest moon of the year. And, paradoxically, we can’t see this very large moon, although Earth’s oceans will feel it. What’s a supermoon? Check out the timing of the events below …

New moon (moon most nearly between Earth and sun): May 25, 2017 at 19:44 UTC
Lunar perigee (moon closest to Earth): May 26, 2017 at 1:23 UTC

See? New moon and lunar perigee are separated by only about 6 hours. In recent years, this coincidence in time has given rise to the word supermoon.

When it’s a full supermoon, the moon really is slightly larger than usual in our sky, and it’s definitely brighter. So full supermoons are much-watched events. But the new supermoon? We won’t see it because the lighted half of today’s new moon faces entirely away from us … and because, like all new moons, this one crosses the sky with the sun during the day. A new moon is too close to the sun’s glare to be visible with the eye.

And yet – although we won’t see it – the May 25, 2017 new moon will be the largest moon of this year. Sound paradoxical? It is, but it’s also true. Here’s one way to think about it. If there were a total eclipse of the sun on May 25 (which there isn’t) – an event where the body of the moon passes in front of the sun – it would be a particularly long eclipse. That’s because the moon will be so close to us on that day and hence – although we won’t see it – so large in our sky.

This year will have 13 lunar perigees. Sometimes the year’s closest perigee is called proxigee. In any year, it’s either the new moon or the full moon that aligns with the closest perigee (proxigee). So watch out for any proxigean new or full moon because that’s when large perigean spring tides (or proxigean spring tides) are likely to occur.

For the first time since 2009, the centers of the Earth and moon will not come closer than 221,830 miles (357,000 km) in 2017. Although it’s the proxigee new moon that brings the moon closest to Earth for the year on May 25, 2017, it’s actually the absence of a proxigee full moon in 2017 that enables the proxigee new moon to lay claim to the closest supermoon crown in 2017.

The full moon loses out to the new moon this year because proxigee full moons recur in periods of 14 lunar or synodic months (14 returns to full moon). This 14-lunar-month cycle is appreciably longer than one calendar year in length, representing a duration of about one year and 48 days. Since the last proxigee full moon came late in the year in 2016, the following proxigee full moon won’t come until after 2017 has passed, or in early 2018. The most recent proxigee full moon (356,509 km) took place on November 14, 2016, and the next proxigee full moon will happen on January 2, 2018 (356,565 km).

Proxigee full moon cycle

Amazingly enough, proxigee full moons recur every 14 lunar months (14 returns to full moon) because 14 lunar months are nearly commensurate to 15 returns to perigee:

14 lunar months x 29.53059 days = 413.428 days
15 returns to perigee x 27.55455 days = 413.318 days

This 413-day period of time is approximately equal to one year, one month and 18 days. Therefore, the proxigee full moon comes about one month and 18 days later each year, as shown on the list of proxigean full moons below.

Proxigean full moons from 2010 to 2020

2010 Jan 30 (356,593 km)

2011 Mar 19 (356,575 km)

2012 May 06 (356,955 km)

2013 Jun 23 (356,991 km)

2014 Aug 10 (356,896 km)

2015 Sep 28 (356,877 km)

2016 Nov 14 (356,509 km)

2018 Jan 02 (356,565 km)

2019 Feb 19 (356,761 km)

2020 Apr 08 (356,907 km)

Alas, the proxigean full moon skips the year 2017 altogether because the most recent proxigee full moon fell on November 14, 2016, and the next one won’t occur until January 2, 2018.

Bottom line: For the first time since 2009, the new moon – instead of the full moon – will coincide with the year’s closest perigee (proxigee); and also for the first time since 2009, the year’s closest perigee (proxigee) will NOT come closer than 357,000 km (221,830 miles).

 

BRUCE MCCLURE

Bruce McClure has served as lead writer for EarthSky’s popular Tonight pages since 2004. He’s a sundial aficionado, whose love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and sailing in the North Atlantic, where he earned his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. He also writes and hosts public astronomy programs and planetarium programs in and around his home in upstate New York.

Article originally published on EarthSky

 

The Wisdom of Buddha

The Wisdom of Buddha

There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.

Your Charm for May 25th is Gemini the Twins

Your Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is adaptable, versatile, communicative, witty, intellectual, eloquent, youthful and lively. This could be a sibling, a child or a very close friend.

General Description:
Third sign of the Zodiac, May 22nd to June 21st. Ruling planet Mercury; correct metal, Silver. Those born under the influence of Gemini were believed to be endowed with strong intellectual powers, high aspirations, to be shrewd, ingenious and vivacious, but restless and fond of change. The Gemini stones are Agates and Emeralds. Agate talismans were worn by the orientals for eloquence, and adverting ill health, also to bring fortune and good luck. The Greeks and Romans had great faith in AGate amulets, wearing them for health, wealth, and long life. Queen Elizabeth possessed a large engraved Agate, which was supposed to be endowed with magical powers

 

Your Ancient Symbol Card for May 25 is The Hand

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Hand



Although the exact meaning may vary, The Hand is a symbol of some form of personal power in many cultures and religions. The presence of The Hand is an indication that your personal powers are at or near their zenith. The Hand suggest a time when you should leave your mark on the world.

As a daily card, The Hand suggest that now is a time for you to leave your mark on the world. Your unique strengths are heightened to a point where you can not only expect to make substantial progress towards your goals, but enjoy recognition for your efforts as well.