Author: ladyoftheabyss

Astronomy Picture of the Day – Lapland Northern Lights

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 April 8

Lapland Northern Lights
Image Credit & Copyright: Juan Carlos Casado (TWAN, Earth and Stars)

 

Explanation: Early spring in the northern hemisphere is good season for aurora hunters. Near an equinox Earth’s magnetic field is oriented to favor interactions with the solar wind that trigger the alluring glow of the northern lights. On March 28/29 the skies over Kaunispää Hill, Lapland, Finland did not disappoint. That night’s expansive auroral curtains are captured in this striking panoramic view that covers a full 360 degrees. Local skywatchers were mesmerized by bright displays lasted throughout the dark hours, shimmering with colors easily visible to the naked eye.

Earth Sky News for April 8th: Young moon and Mercury after sunset

Young moon and Mercury after sunset

Tonight – April 8, 2016 – if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you have a good chance of catching the young waxing crescent moon and planet Mercury in your western sky after sundown. Find an unobstructed horizon in the direction of sunset, and watch for the moon and Mercury to pop out over the sunset point on the horizon some 45 to 60 minutes after the sun goes down. Binoculars might be helpful for spotting Mercury, and also for viewing earthshine on the dark side of the moon!

Spring evenings present the best time to spot the young moon and Mercury, the solar system’s innermost planet. Since the March equinox is the Northern Hemisphere’s spring equinox, April 2016 provides northerly latitudes its best evening apparition of Mercury for this year.

For temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, where it’s now autumn, April evenings are unfavorable for spotting the young evening crescent and Mercury. But you still might catch them, especially with a camera, as Helio C. Vital did on April 5, 2016 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Why is Mercury so much harder to see now from the Southern Hemisphere? The ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a steep angle with the horizon now, as seen from our northerly latitudes. But from the Southern Hemisphere, the angle is at its narrowest, placing Mercury low in the sky when the sun goes down.

For instance, consider two localities that reside close to the same meridian: 75o west longitude: Philadelphia, PA (40o north latitude) and Valdivia, Chile (40o south latitude). At Philadelphia on April 8, 2016, the moon goes down about 1 hour and 40 minutes after sunset, in contrast to about an hour after sunset at Valdivia, Chile. Also, at Philadelphia, Mercury stays out for about 1 hour and 20 minutes after sunset, whereas at Valdivia, Mercury plunges beneath the horizon some 30 minutes after sundown.

At northerly latitudes, we’ll have plenty of opportunity to view Mercury after sunset for the next several weeks.

Day by day, Mercury will loom higher up at sunset, and will stay out longer after sundown. When Mercury reaches its greatest evening elongation from the sun on April 18, it’ll set a whopping 1 hour and 45 minutes after the sun at mid-northern latitudes.

So on any clear evening, as dusk is giving way to darkness, look for Mercury to appear over the sunset point on the horizon, staging its best showing of the year at northerly latitudes!

Bottom line: In the Northern Hemisphere? If so, you have a chance of catching the young moon and planet Mercury in the west after sundown on April 8, 2016, and in the evenings that follow.

 

Author

Bruce McClure

Bruce McClure

Bruce McClure is the chief writer for the popular EarthSky Tonight pages. Since joining EarthSky in 2004, he has written thousands of astronomy articles, enjoyed here by millions. He also writes, gives planetarium shows and hosts a wide assortment of public astronomy programs in and around his home in upstate New York. If you ask an astronomy question on our site, it’s likely to be Bruce that answers it. His love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, and he has sailed the North Atlantic, earning his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. Bruce is also a sundial aficionado. He says his number one passion – besides his wife Alice – is stargazing.

Article published on EarthSky

Your Daily Influences for April 8, 2016

Your Daily Influences
April 8, 2016 

 

Seven of Cups
Deception, an overactive imagination, and the illusion of success. Strengths are not consolidated to work as one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fehu
Fehu reversed represents material stagnation, possibly poverty as well as infertility.

 

 

 

 

Sagittarius the Archer
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is blindly optimistic, careless, irresponsible, superficial, tactless and restless. This is a person who makes you nervous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Daily Influences represent events and challenges the current day will present for you. They may represent opportunities you should be ready to seize. Or they may forewarn you of problems you may be able to avoid or lessen. Generally it is best to use them as tips to help you manage your day and nothing

Your MahJong Tile Reading for the Weekend of April 8th

Your Weekend Mahjong Tile Reading for April 8th

 

That Which Will Be Behind You

Red Dragon
Symbol: Center
The Red Dragon tile is indicative of success and the fulfillment of your goals.

 

 

 

Your Current Circumstance for the Weekend

Plum Blossom
Symbol: Innocence
The Plum tile reflects renewal and viewing your world with fresh viewpoints. It is an inherently “happy” tile. The Plum tile also suggests inexperience—a trait you must not allow to make you an easy target.

 

 

That Which Will Be Before You

South Wind
Symbol: Fire
The South Wind tile is considered to be a very good sign in a reading. It almost ensures a satisfactory end to any problem

What Will Life Hold for You for The Weekend of April 8th, Let’s Consult the Cards…

Your Life Reading for the Weekend of April 8th

 

 
Past Influence whose impact on your life for the weekend are waning.

The Sword

The Sword is a a call to action. It indicates challenges are before you and to attain your goals you will have to address them. The Sword does not suggest rash or underhanded behavior on your part. Indeed, while actions indicated by The Sword are decisive, they are based on the power of your wisdom and ethics. The strength of The Sword lies in the moral purity of your actions.

 

 

 

 

 
Present Influence whose impact on your life are very strong for the weekend.

The Green Man

Where the Green Man appears the mystery and untamed energy of nature abounds. The Green Man indicates the presence of choices and powers that have not been muted by civilization. The Green Man represents the antithesis of technology and industrialization. He offers primal energies veiled in mystery and derived from the spirit of nature in its purest form.

 

 

 

 

 

Future influence whose impact on your life is growing and will be very strong for the upcoming weekend.

The Eastern Dragon

The Eastern Dragon derives its symbolism from eons of rich, Asian culture. The Eastern Dragon is a revered creature who brings good fortune and power to those under its influence. It influences situations by supplying courage, nobility and perseverance. The Eastern Dragon is the most Yang of creatures in Chinese mythology, and represents the male character at its strongest and best.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for April 8th is Creation

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

Creation



The Creation card suggest that your creative powers are at or near their peak and that the raw material from which you can craft new and lasting creations is all around you. The question is can you free your mind from your everyday routines to take advantage of this powerful moment in your life? As Eric Fromm said, “Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.” The full force of Creation can only be realized by those who are prepared to sacrifice the comfort concomitant with sticking to the tried and true.

Your Daily Witches Rune for April 8th is The Crossed Spears

The Daily Witches Rune

The Crossed Spears

Meaning: The presence of the spear signifies arguments, negative events, and all manner of strife of an upsetting nature. However similar to the ‘Tower’ tarot card if next to a positive rune it could mean the end of an argument or quarrel. If with the rings it means the healing or renewal of a relationship. If there are military connections it could mean promotion. If illness is within the equation it means a speedy and successful recovery.

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for April 8th is The Lovers

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

The Lovers

The Lovers indicates both the most powerful of unions and the most of challenging conflicts humans must face. On one side The Lover’s embodies love and union on a cosmic scale—a love so strong, so inherently good that it actually makes the lovers better, more than they really are. All of the elements are there for the perfect union. The Lovers represent all powerful unions in general, and the elements that create/sustain them. The problem The Lovers face is temptation and the decision to act morally or abandon their ethics to take advantage of other opportunities that would be defined as transgressions.

Casting the Stones, Your Past, Present & Future Reading for the Weekend of April 8th

Your Past, Present & Future Reading 

for the Weekend of April 8th

 

The Past
Hagalaz

Hagalaz is the hail Rune. It denotes chaos, destruction and disruption on a primal level. You may experience delays in moving toward your goals.

 

 

The Present
Naudhiz

Naudhiz may foretell needs unmet and friction in relationships. You may be in a time where you should be very careful in whatever endeavor you take on. Also it may be that you are about to learn some of life’s hard lessons and come out the other side of this period a stronger being.

 

 

The Future
Raidho

Raidho may mark the coming of a physical or spiritual journey. Whichever the case, changes in your life are soon to come. Spiritual or material goals may be attained.