Author: ladyoftheabyss

The Sky This Week: May 23- May 29

New Unicorn challenge

The Sky This Week: May 23- May 29

Monday, May 23

• Neptune rises before 3 a.m. local daylight time this week and appears low in the southeast before dawn. The distant world glows at magnitude 7.9, so you’ll need binoculars or a telescope to spot it. Fortunately, it lies near a brighter star that will help guide you. Look for the planet 0.5° south-southeast of 4th-magnitude Lambda (l) Aquarii. You can confirm a sighting of Neptune through a telescope, which reveals the planet’s 2.3″-diameter disk and blue-gray color.

Tuesday, May 24

• Look high in the northwest after darkness falls this week and you’ll be greeted by the familiar sight of the Big Dipper. The Dipper is the sky’s most conspicuous asterism — a recognizable pattern of stars that doesn’t form a complete constellation shape. It forms the body and tail of Ursa Major the Great Bear. Use the Pointers, the two stars at the end of the Dipper’s bowl, to find Polaris, which lies due north for everyone north of the equator. Polaris marks the end of the Little Dipper’s handle. On evenings in late May, the relatively faint stars of this dipper arc almost directly above Polaris.

Wednesday, May 25

• Brilliant Jupiter appears high in the southwest as darkness falls and remains on display past 2 a.m. local daylight time. The giant planet shines at magnitude –2.1 — tying Mars as the brightest point of light in the night sky — against the backdrop of southern Leo the Lion. Jupiter appears equally dazzling through a telescope, which reveals a wealth of atmospheric detail on a disk that spans 38″. Notice in particular the two parallel dark belts that straddle a bright zone coinciding with the planet’s equator.
Thursday, May 26

• One of the spring sky’s finest deep-sky objects, the Beehive star cluster (M44) in the constellation Cancer the Crab, lies about one-third of the way from the western horizon to the zenith after darkness falls. With naked eyes under a dark sky, you should be able to spot this star group as a faint and fuzzy cloud. But the Beehive explodes into dozens of stars through binoculars or a small telescope at low power.

Friday, May 27

• Although Saturn will reach opposition and peak visibility one week from today, observers will be hard-pressed to see it as inferior this week. The ringed planet rises before 9 p.m. local daylight time and appears highest in the south around 1:30 a.m. Saturn shines at magnitude 0.0 and stands out against the relatively dim background stars of southern Ophiuchus. If you target the beautiful world through a telescope, you’ll see its 18″-diameter disk surrounded by a ring system that spans 42″ and tilts 26° to our line of sight.

Saturday, May 28

• Mars’ westward motion relative to the background stars carries it from Scorpius into Libra today. But for a quick change of pace, grab your binoculars tonight and target Zubenelgenubi (Alpha [a] Librae), the modestly bright star on the constellation’s opposite side. With even the slightest optical aid, Zubenelgenubi resolves into two stars. Nearly 4′ separate the 3rd-magnitude primary from the 5th-magnitude secondary.

See “10 tempting spring binocular targets” in the May issue of Astronomy for other treats visible through binoculars.

Sunday, May 29

• Last Quarter Moon arrives at 8:12 a.m. EDT. It rises around 1:30 a.m. local daylight time and climbs higher in the southeast as dawn approaches. During this period, our half-lit satellite lies near the center of Aquarius the Water-bearer.
 

Source

Astronomy Magazine

 

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Monday, May 23

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Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Monday, May 23

Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 104.77° ESE
Sun Altitude: 52.45°
Sun Distance: 94.129 million mi
Next Solstice: Jun 20, 2016 5:34 PM (Summer)
Sunrise Today: 5:40 AM↑ 63° Northeast
Sunset Today: 8:03 PM↑ 297° Northwest
Length of Daylight: 14 hours, 22 minutes

 

Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 272.49° W
Moon Altitude: -35.23°
Moon Distance: 247568 mi
Next New Moon: Jun 4, 20169:59 PM
Next Full Moon: Jun 20, 20166:02 AM
Next Moonrise: Today 9:39 PM
Current Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 96.9%

 

Source

timeanddate.com

 

Good Monday Morn’ Dear Brothers & Sisters! May The Goddess Shine Her Blessings Down on Your & Yours!

Believe that there are unicorns

Magic begins with love:
love of self and love of other.
Forget not your love of others:
family, friends, fellow travelers,
lest you forget your place
in a world of constant shifting
and changing allegiances;
we all need some grounding.
Remember to care for those in need
and refuse no hospitality
when it can be given freely.
Forget not your love of self:
needs, wants, desires, ambitions,
lest you forget your purpose
in a world which is lost
with no inherent meaning and
a common tragedy of values;
we all need some elevation.
Remember to care for your you
and refuse no helping hand
that can be given freely.
Magic beings with love:
love of self and love of others.

 

—Poetry, Songs, and Enchantments: A Pagan Sourcebook
Gwenhwyfar Rhwwttchen

 

Till tomorrow, my sweets….

Circle Is Open Pictures

We will start on the Element of Fire tomorrow. If we should run across anymore info on the Element of Air, we will also be adding that. If you haven’t guessed by now, for the next few days we are doing the Elements.

 

Now I am off and running…..

Love ya,

Lady A

Meditation for the Element of Air

Meditation for the Element of Air

Sit in a comfortable position, it is best to be outside, try choosing a space where you will not be disturbed. Ground your energy. Close your eyes and take three big slow breathes on your third breath visualize the air your are breathing in to be yellow, filling you with yellow light, when you blow out, you blow out negativity seen as black smoke leaving your body through your breath. Continue to do this until you’re completely filled with yellow light. Now slow your beathing and see the yellow light shine within you, know that the air you breathe is the same air that was in Ancient Egypt, Greece, the Neolithic age and in modern France as well as the whole world. Air connects us all and gives all things life. It is through sound waves in the air that we are able to communicate be it through speech or electronics such as computers and cell phones. Ponder on all of this then when you have finished connecting to the element of air ground the yellow energy into the earth and release any excess energy. Be sure to record your experiences in a journal used for spells and meditations.

 

Tytus Lionheart

Tytus Lionheart has been studying magick, wicca and the occult since 2006. A dedicant to the Correllian Natavist Tradition, Tytus is on a path to Wiccan Clergy as a First Degree Priest. Tytus is the author of “Lion Heart” (www.lionheartrealm.blospot.com) a personal blog dedicated to sharing his material and experience on Wicca and the Occult. From years of study and practice he has become knowledgeable not only in Wicca but in witchcraft, Ceremonial magick, Shamanic spirit communications, Chaos magick, Chakras, Healing Magick, magickal herbalism. Tytus’ forte is in natural magick and utilizing the natural world for great magickal effect. “It is my hope to open readers to the magick of herbs and plants and the power of the human Will.” – Tytus Lionheart
Published on LuminEarth

The Element of Air

pagan19

The Element of Air

 

The Element of Air rules the following rituals/areas…

magickal studies, intellectualism, education of one’s self and psychic abilities.

Air Stones…

aventurine, mottled jasper (leopardskin), mica, pumice and spene.

Air Herbs…

These are selected, and in no way, a complete list. New plants are discovered every day, so I’ve simply chosen those most well known, and easily available.

acadia, almond, anise, aspen, banyan, bean, benzoin, bistort, bittersweet, borage, brazil nut, bromeliad, broom, caraway, chicory, citron, clover, dandelion, endive, eyebright, fenugreek, filbert, goldenrod, hazel, hps, lavendar, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lily of the valley, mace, male fern, maple, marjoram, mint, mistletoe, mulberry, palm, papyrus, parsley, pecan, pine, pistachio, rice, sage, star anise and wax plant.

Other Factors…

Water is associated with the color yellow, and the directional association is East.

An Easy Air Spell

Stand in an open place atop a hill or mountain, far from tall trees, buildings, and other hills. Hold the appropriate enchanted herbs and stones in your power hand and, facing North, blow a little of them to that direction. Turn East and repeat the spell, then do so to the South. At the West blow all the herbs far from your hand. Visualize your need strongly all the while, stating it in words, if you wish.

AIR

pagan19

AIR

Air represents mental activity, thoughts, reason and intellect, memory, knowledge, persuasion, birth and friendship, freedom, clarification and expression. A low Air person seems without any direction and unable to define or visualize any future and can not reason out the alternatives and objectives. A high Air person is at ease in complex situations and can sit and think things through, and can carry through with decisions.

It’s feelings are moist heat, it’s season is Spring, it’s direction is East/Mental, the symbol is the Wand, Athame, or the smoke of the incense. It’s colors are White, Lt Blues, Yellows and Green. Moon phase is the first quarter and it’s time is Dawn.

Different types of Air Magick include Visualizations. An important tool in any magick work, it makes the events happen. For this type, it is important that all the other factors such as color, time, the moon phase, winds, etc. are all in balance. And to have the other tools working such as incense and candle burning, or even the right tea or wine to drink in the background. This is because you need to “fix” or “ground” the images or ideas you are using in your visualization.

As our thoughts are extremely powerful, as are our Words. Words can be put together in such a way as to form spells, or used in channeling your power. Words give rise to our desires and can be released upon the winds for attainment. Created and repeated with intensity and concentration the spoken word is a powerful magick in itself. You do not have to be an accomplished linguist, just a simple sentence will do. It creates an atmosphere of concentrated awareness and strength. Words can be used in moments of stress and fear, and will create the magick itself. It does not have to be said aloud, say them to yourself if need or want be.

Another Air Magick is Mirror Magick. It can help in overcoming inner problems and also help with difficult personal decisions. It uses both the Word and Visualization forms and can also aid in being able to visualize a future event. Sometimes, used as a Scrying Tool, in which you are able to “see” possible future events.

Your Earth Sky News for May 22: Brightest Mars in 10 years

Brightest Mars in 10 years

Tonight – May 22, 2016 – Mars comes to opposition in our sky for the first time in over two years. It’s the brightest that Mars has appeared in our sky, though, in over 10 years! Mars is now very nearly the same brightness as Jupiter, which has been the brightest starlike up each evening for some weeks. You can’t miss it! Even the drenching moonlight of the waning gibbous moon, just past full on this date and near Mars in the sky, won’t be able to wash the Red Planet from the nighttime sky.

Mars now resides opposite the sun in Earth’s sky, because on this date we are passing between it and the sun in our smaller, faster orbit.

Now opposite the sun, Mars rises in the east around sunset, climbs to its highest point in the sky at midnight, and sets in the west around sunrise.

Mars alternates between good and bad years for viewing in our sky, and 2016 counts as a very good year because it is an opposition year. In the alternate years, Mars stays on the far side of the sun from Earth and is relatively faint and inconspicuous in our sky.

Oppositions of Mars are not created equal, though, and, in 2016, Mars is closer to Earth than in over 10 years, or since the opposition of November 7, 2005.

Super-close oppositions of Mars recur in periods of 15 to 17 years. The last super-close Martian opposition happened on August 28, 2003, and the next one will occur on July 27, 2018. Extra-close oppositions happen when we go between Mars and the sun around the time Mars is closest to the sun. Makes sense, right?

This year’s opposition doesn’t bring Mars as close as it can be. But it’s a good opposition, and Mars is very bright in our sky.

An extra-far opposition took place on March 3, 2012, when Mars was farthest from the sun. Extra-far oppositions also recur in periods of 15 to 17 years. As a basis of comparison, the 2016 opposition of Mars finds the planet nearly 16 million miles (25.5 million km) closer than it was during its March 3, 2012 opposition. Meanwhile, the extra-close martian opposition on July 27, 2018, will find Mars over 27 million miles (43 million km) closer than extra-far opposition of March 3, 2012.

At present, Mars ranks as the fifth-brightest celestial object to light up the heavens – after the sun, moon, Venus and Jupiter. However, Venus is now lost in the glare of the sun, so Mars can rightfully claim the mantle of the fourth-brightest heavenly body in the nighttime sky.

This month showcases Mars at its moment of glory. What’s more, you can use brilliant Mars as your guide “star” to the planet Saturn and the star Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, for months to come. In fact, Mars and Saturn will be having a conjunction on August 25, 2016, to stage their first conjunction since August 27, 2014. The next one won’t be until April 2, 2018.

By the way, you can distinguish Saturn from Antares by color. Saturn exhibits a golden hue whereas Antares appears reddish. And, of course, a telescope – even a modest backyard telescope – will show you Saturn’s glorious rings. Although both Saturn and Antares shine at 1st-magnitude brightness, neither Saturn nor Antares holds as candle to Mars right now.

By the way, our exact moment of being closest to Mars will come about a week after opposition, on May 30. If Earth and Mars orbited the sun in perfect circles and on the same exact plane, Earth would come closest to Mars right at opposition. However, Mars always come closest at the vicinity of opposition. The time interval between opposition and Mars’ nearest point to Earth is no greater than 8.5 days, and can be as little as 10 minutes.

Bottom line: May 2016 is the best time in over 10 years to see Mars. Earth passes between Mars and the sun on May 22, 2016 (the martian opposition). Earth and Mars will be closest on May 30, 2016.

 

 

Author

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded the website EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website and blogs frequently about astrophysics, the night sky and other topics related to Earth, space and the human world. 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.

Published on EarthSky