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.

2021 December 27

Comet Leonard behind JWST Launch Plume

Image Credit & Copyright: Matipon Tangmatitham (NARIT)

 

Explanation: Which one of these two streaks is a comet? Although they both have comet-like features, the lower streak is the only real comet. This lower streak shows the coma and tail of Comet Leonard, a city-sized block of rocky ice that is passing through the inner Solar System as it continues its looping orbit around the Sun. Comet Leonard has recently passed its closest to both the Earth and Venus and will round the Sun next week. The comet, still visible to the unaided eye, has developed a long and changing tail in recent weeks. In contrast, the upper streak is the launch plume of the Ariane V rocket that lifted the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) off the Earth two days ago. The featured single-exposure image was taken from Thailand, and the foreground spire is atop a pagoda in Doi Inthanon National ParkJWST, NASA’s largest and most powerful space telescope so far, will orbit the Sun near the Earth-Sun L2 point and is scheduled to start science observations in the summer of 2022.

 

Gallery: Comet Leonard 2021
Gallery: Webb Space Telescope Launch: 2021 December 25

27 December Daily Correspondence Digest for the Southern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Planetary Positions

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else, you know was on the date the person was born.

From Moongiant.com

Today and tonight the Moon will be in a Third Quarter phase. Sometimes called a Last Quarter Moon, this phase occurs roughly 3 weeks after the New Moon when the Moon is three quarter of the way through it’s orbit around the earth. If you live in the northern hemisphere the Moons left side will be illuminated and the right side will be dark. For those of you in the southern hemisphere it will be the opposite with the right side illuminated. On the day of the Third Quarter phase the Moon will rise around midnight on the eastern horizon and set in the west around noon the next day. In the days following the Third Quarter Phase the Moon’s illumination will decrees each day until the New Moon.

Visit the December 2021 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Last Quarter Phase

The Last Quarter on December 27 has an illumination of 46%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On December 27 the Moon is 22.55 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Phase Details

Phase: Last Quarter
Illumination: 46%
Moon Age: 22.55 days
Moon Angle: 0.53
Moon Distance: 375,131.19 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,113,615.84 km

Useful Moon Resources

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link

Currentplanetarypositions.com

To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link

For Your Local Time and Date 

Southeastern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

27 December 2021
06:00 am GMT 5:00 PM AEDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:05 Capricorn 41
Moon:07 Libra 33
Mercury:21 Capricorn 08
Venus:25 Capricorn 14 Rx
Mars:09 Sagittarius 44
Jupiter:29 Aquarius 38
Saturn:11 Aquarius 24
Uranus:11 Taurus 02 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 36
Pluto:25 Capricorn 47
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 09
Mean Lunar Node:29 Taurus 47 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):17 Gemini 56
Chiron:08 Aries 28
Ceres:29 Taurus 10 Rx
Pallas:15 Pisces 19
Juno:15 Capricorn 33
Vesta:21 Sagittarius 58
Eris:23 Aries 42 Rx
Fire:4
Earth:8
Air:5
Water:2
Cardinal:8
Fixed:5
Mutable:6

 

Southwestern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Sao Paulo, Brazil, South America

27 December 2021
08:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM BRT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:06 Capricorn 17
Moon:15 Libra 26
Mercury:22 Capricorn 01
Venus:25 Capricorn 02 Rx
Mars:10 Sagittarius 09
Jupiter:29 Aquarius 45
Saturn:11 Aquarius 27
Uranus:11 Taurus 01 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 36
Pluto:25 Capricorn 48
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 10
Mean Lunar Node:29 Taurus 45 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):18 Gemini 00
Chiron:08 Aries 28
Ceres:29 Taurus 05 Rx
Pallas:15 Pisces 27
Juno:15 Capricorn 46
Vesta:22 Sagittarius 17
Eris:23 Aries 42 Rx
Fire:4
Earth:8
Air:5
Water:2
Cardinal:8
Fixed:5
Mutable:6

Celtic Calendar – Birch December 24 – January 20

(I am sorry I did not get this up on December 24 the day it started)

Birch – the tree of birth

The Birch was seen by the Druids as the tree of birth – a symbol of new beginnings. Beth, meaning birch, is the first letter in the Ogham alphabet and the first month in the Celtic Tree Calendar.

From ireland-calling.com – Birch

The birch tree has many uses both medicinal and practical.

Birch wood is durable but quick to rot, making it a good home for insects and birdlife.

It was often used to make May poles and start the fires at Beltane, the festival of new beginnings, due to a highly combustible tar in its bark.

This tar is furthermore believed to be good for the skin and can be used to treat eczema.

Birch is also associated with purification and protection. The leaves of the birch can be brewed into a tea that treats infection, stimulates the gall bladder and kidneys and is said to dissolve gravel and kidney stones.

Birch used to stimulate purification process

In Scandinavia birch is used in saunas to stimulate the purification process and in Russia birch branches are beaten against the skin at steam rooms for the same purpose. This practice was also used as a punishment in old England to purify a criminal of evil.

December 26 Daily Correspondence Digest for the Northern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Planetary Positions

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else, you know was on the date the person was born.

From Moongiant.com

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is 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 an illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9pm 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.

Visit the December 2021 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waning Gibbous Phase

The Waning Gibbous on December 26 has an illumination of 56%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On December 26 the Moon is 21.54 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Phase Details

Phase: Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 56%
Moon Age: 21.54 days
Moon Angle: 0.52
Moon Distance: 379,747.45 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,118,952.52 km

Useful Moon Resources

 

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link

Currentplanetarypositions.com

To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link

For Your Local Time and Date

Northeastern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Frankfurt, Germany, Europe

26 December 2021
04:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM CEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:05 Capricorn 06
Moon:29 Virgo 47
Mercury:20 Capricorn 14
Venus:25 Capricorn 25 Rx
Mars:09 Sagittarius 19
Jupiter:29 Aquarius 32
Saturn:11 Aquarius 20
Uranus:11 Taurus 03 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 35
Pluto:25 Capricorn 46
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 10 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:29 Taurus 49 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):17 Gemini 52
Chiron:08 Aries 28
Ceres:29 Taurus 14 Rx
Pallas:15 Pisces 11
Juno:15 Capricorn 19
Vesta:21 Sagittarius 39
Eris:23 Aries 42 Rx
Fire:4
Earth:9
Air:4
Water:2
Cardinal:7
Fixed:5
Mutable:7

Northwestern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Chicago, Illinois, USA

December 26, 2021
11:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM CST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:05 Capricorn 23
Moon:03 Libra 39
Mercury:20 Capricorn 41
Venus:25 Capricorn 19 Rx
Mars:09 Sagittarius 31
Jupiter:29 Aquarius 35
Saturn:11 Aquarius 22
Uranus:11 Taurus 02 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 35
Pluto:25 Capricorn 46
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 09 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:29 Taurus 48 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):17 Gemini 54

Chiron:08 Aries 28

Ceres:29 Taurus 12 Rx
Pallas:15 Pisces 15
Juno:15 Capricorn 26
Vesta:21 Sagittarius 49

Eris:23 Aries 42 Rx
Fire:4
Earth:8
Air:5
Water:2
Cardinal:8
Fixed:5
Mutable:6

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.

2021 December 26

James Webb Space Telescope over Earth

Image Credit: ArianespaceESANASACSACNES

Explanation: There’s a big new telescope in space. This one, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), not only has a mirror over five times larger than Hubble‘s in area, but can see better in infrared light. The featured picture shows JWST high above the Earth just after being released by the upper stage of an Ariane V rocket, launched yesterday from French Guiana. Over the next month, JWST will move out near the Sun-Earth L2 point where it will co-orbit the Sun with the Earth. During this time and for the next five months, JWST will unravel its segmented mirror and an array of sophisticated scientific instruments — and test them. If all goes well, JWST will start examining galaxies across the universe and planets orbiting stars across our Milky Way Galaxy in the summer of 2022.

 

APOD Gallery: Webb Space Telescope Launch

The Witch Said What?!

Please remember if we want Christians to accept us and our beliefs, we need to do the same for them.

The History of Christmas

Christmas may get buried under the catalogues of holiday cheer, present buying, and a lot of food prep stress, but the 2 thousand-year-old holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus has one of the most complex and interesting timelines of any holiday in the history of the world.

The annual festival celebrated on Dec. 24, Dec. 25, January 7, and Jan 19 depending on denomination, is both a cultural and deeply religious occasion celebrated by billions of people around the world. From the inclusion of the Christmas tree to the annual gift-giving, the feast day that spans through modern history has many traditions, myths, and stories that resonate around the globe.

As a main celebration in the Christian liturgical calendar, it follows the season of Advent and ushers in Christmastide, or The Twelve Days of Christmas. It was first decided to the specific date in the Western calendar by Dionysius Exiguus, a Scythian monk who was an abbot in Rome. With Exiguus’ research and biblical texts, Jesus’s birth was decided to have occurred on December 25, 1 C.E. There have been many disputes over the actual date of Jesus’s birth since, but Exiguus’ date has stuck despite them.

Prior to Christian celebrations, Roman pagans celebrated the holiday of Saturnalia, a week of raucous celebrations from December 17-25, where Roman courts were closed and the law dictated that citizens could not be punished for damaging property or injuring people during the feasting. The Romans believed these celebrations, which chose a community victim and forced them to indulge in food and festivities, destroyed the forces of evil when they murdered this victim at the conclusion of the week, on December 25.

In the 4th century, Christian leaders were successful at converting many pagans to Christianity by allowing them to also continue the celebration of Saturnalia, and this was its first connection to Jesus’s birth. Because the festival of Saturnalia had no connection with Christian teachings, leaders tacked on the holiday of Jesus’s birth onto the last day of the festival. For many years, contemporaries of the time continued to allow the celebration.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

December 25 Daily Correspondence Digest for the Daily and Birthday Horoscopes

Click here for Georgia Nicols’ Daily Horoscopes

Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Virgo.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

You might want attention from a parent or someone in authority. You want the reassurance that you have this person’s approval. (We’ve all been there.) Believe me, this can be frustrating when you feel you’re not getting it! Relax.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Today you might be fascinated by someone who is far way, or different from you, or perhaps from another culture. Quite likely, you are entrenched in your views about politics, religion or a particular issue. Is this the day to get on your soap box? Maybe not.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

It’s easy to get obsessed today about the wealth of others or what someone else owns or the wealth of your partner. You might feel jealous, or you might be obsessed about how something is shared – or not shared. In 10 years, will any of this matter? Chill out.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Relations with partners, spouses and close friends are intense today. You want their attention and you want their admiration. Dare I say, you want to feel adored? This can lead to feelings of insecurity and obsession. Take a step back. Give this situation more breathing space. Relax.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

When it comes to issues about health, your pet, or how you are performing in your job, you might be anxious today. You want the approval of someone. (Well, don’t we all?) Focus on lighthearted activities and social outings to have a happy day.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

With the Moon in your sign today, things will tend to go your way. This is reassuring. Many of you want to enjoy social outings and fun times with kids. Therefore, do your best when dealing with increased chaos and turmoil at home. It is what it is.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Issues at home today are intense because feelings are running high. This especially applies to romantic partners. Keep in mind that with Mars in your House of Communications, you’re a bit aggressive! Be gentle with others to keep the peace and promote harmony with everyone.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Today you feel strong, intense feelings when talking to siblings, relatives and neighbours. Be smart and resist the temptation to become obsessed with an idea or a certain point of view. Instead, lighten up! Everyone sees things from their own perspective. Enjoy this day.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

You have lots of energy now because Mars is in your sign until January 25. The good news is you have energy to get things done! The not so good news is you might overpower others, especially if they feel uncertain about something. Take it easy.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You have ideas about what you expect today to be, and how you want things to unfold. This is because Venus is lined up with Pluto in your sign, which makes you a bit obsessed about things. It also makes you feel intense. Be aware of this so that you can cut others some slack.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You might be mildly troubled by something that’s going on behind the scenes. You might know what it is, or maybe it’s something you can’t quite put your finger on? Use positive energy today to interact with friends and groups. Whatever happens, keep the high road.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

You’re keen to communicate to friends and groups today. You have strong ideas, especially about your future plans and goals. Remember to listen to what others have to say. Be cooperative because the Moon is still opposite your sign.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Rachel Keller (1992) shares your birthday today. You are grounded and practical, but you are also intuitive and perceptive. You value fair play and are a natural peacemaker. You remain calm when others around you are flustered. This is been a social year for you, and also a time when you had to help others. Next year you will have more solitude to learn and to teach.

Click here to read anyone’s birthday horoscope

DECEMBER 25 birthday horoscope predicts you are an extraordinary person. You are a Capricorn who is truly a mystic healer. It’s not just a coincidence that you are interested in New Age or alternative medicine. You cannot see anyone in pain.

You have great solipsism, and people can “feel” a difference after having a conversation with you. They may even recover answers to age-old questions. In other words, those born on this birthday can be an angel in disguise.

The December 25 birthday personality has a lot of patience with people. You are likely to stay calm in situations that call for extreme measures. This is not something everyone is capable of. You should be proud of yourself as are your friends, co-workers, and family.

This Capricorn birthday person can make friendships complicated though. You’ve been known to put your friends through some “test.” You want to know if they are true or not. You want to be loved unconditionally but are not sure enough to know that anyone would stand by you in the good as well as the bad times. Until that time, this Capricorn born today will remain single.

The December 25 horoscope predicts that you fear rejection. So you don’t always show how you feel deep down. You are sensitive and will make a supportive partner. You love with your whole heart and the longer the relationship lasts, the more you invest in yourself. This zodiac birthday person will generally place communication and trust as their top requirements for a long-term relationship. They also can be highly particular individuals who remember birthdays and anniversaries.

The December 25 astrology predicts that commitment to a diet seems to be very difficult for you. You have what it takes, but you don’t want to put in the work. Listen, after you do it sometimes, it’ll become routine. Low calories foods have reached new levels of goodness. It doesn’t have to taste bland anymore. The future of person who born on December 25 depends on how well they care for their health.

When you eat right, you can lose weight or gain weight. Sometimes, you don’t even have to give up the foods you love to do it. Pick a program, take your supplements especially those that increase your calcium intake and stick with it. Your bones will thank you in the long haul. Oh, and find a nice trail and hike it. Take a friend for company.

The December 25 birthday personality are professionals who are generally found in the background. Nonetheless, you have a sunny disposition to work with. You make people laugh with your sense of humor. It would not surprise me if you somehow used your supernatural abilities to help others. They love your winning attitude, too. Usually, you are hard at work while others are sleeping. You want to live well and without financial limitations. You have the drive and the willpower to prosper; you need to use it, however.

The December 25th birthday meaning shows that you are remarkably smart and it is likely that you will have a top position in administration or business. Buying and selling property is always a popular method of making huge profits. However, your aptitude is saying that you could be a doctor. It’s up to you, Capricorn – the world is yours!

As the December 25 zodiac sign is Capricorn, chances are you are the epitome of being cool, calm and collected. You have special abilities that could be considered as above average. I mean, you may have divine qualities and not know it, my friend. You have a lot going on for yourself, but you may need a push in that direction.

With a supportive and strong partner, the December 25 birthday personality can reach heights without limitations. Famous people were once unknown people from down the street. You are just like those people. Get a hold of your health as you will need to eat properly to have strength. Being you is no easy job and eating only ensures you’ll have the energy to be you!

 

Famous People And Celebrities Born On December 25

Humphrey BogartJimmy Buffett, Dido, Rickey Henderson, Chris Rene, Annie Lennox, Atal Bihari Vajpayee

See: Famous Celebrities Born On December 25

This Day That Year – December 25 In History

2013 – The Egyptian government partnered with the Muslim Brotherhood to stop bombings and other radical deeds.
1983 – The first televised Christmas parade.
1955 – The Cleveland Browns wins the NFL championship game.
1896 – John P Sousa presents “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

December 25  Makar Rashi (Vedic Moon Sign)
December 25 Chinese Zodiac OX

December 25 Birthday Planet

Your ruling planet is Saturn that symbolizes the different definitions in our life and reminds us to stay within our limits.

December 25 Birthday Symbols

The Goat Is The Symbol For The Capricorn Zodiac Sign

December 25 Birthday Tarot Card

Your Birthday Tarot Card is The Chariot. This card symbolizes self-assertion and willpower needed to become successful. The Minor Arcana cards are Two of Disks and Queen of Pentacles

December 25 Birthday Zodiac Compatibility

You are most compatible with people born under Zodiac Sign Capricorn: This is a long-lasting love match.
You are not compatible with people born under Zodiac Sign AriesThis relationship will be contentious.

See Also:

December 25 Lucky Numbers

Number 1 – This number stands for a pioneer with a courageous and motivational spirit.
Number 7 – This is a number that is symbolic of solitude, analysis, research, and scientific mind.

Read about: Birthday Numerology

Lucky Colors For December 25 Birthday

Indigo: This is a color of imagination, perception, transformation and selfless love.
Sea Green: This is a color that stands for expanse, freedom, calmness, and loyalty.

Lucky Days For December 25 Birthday

Monday – This day ruled by the Moon shows your caring and nurturing attitude, behavior, and reactions.
Saturday – This day ruled by Saturn is symbolic of significant efforts needed to come out a victor in life.

December 25 Birthstone Garnet

Garnet is a gemstone that symbolizes confidence, love, dedication and positive thoughts.

Ideal Zodiac Birthday Gifts For People Born On December 25

A swim watch for the man and a beautifully framed collage of family photos for the woman. The December 25 birthday horoscope predicts that you like gifts that are naturally made.

25 December Daily Correspondence Digest for the Southern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Planetary Positions

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else, you know was on the date the person was born.

From Moongiant.com 

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is 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 an illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9pm 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.

Visit the December 2021 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waning Gibbous Phase

The Waning Gibbous on December 25 has an illumination of 67%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On December 25 the Moon is 20.56 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Phase Details

Phase: Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 67%
Moon Age: 20.56 days
Moon Angle: 0.52
Moon Distance: 384,544.31 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,125,047.69 km

Useful Moon Resources

 

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link

Currentplanetarypositions.com

To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link

For Your Local Time and Date

Southeastern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

25 December 2021
06:00 am GMT 5:00 PM AEDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:03 Capricorn 39
Moon:11 Virgo 23
Mercury:18 Capricorn 03
Venus:25 Capricorn 47 Rx
Mars:08 Sagittarius 19
Jupiter:29 Aquarius 16
Saturn:11 Aquarius 11
Uranus:11 Taurus 04 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 34
Pluto:25 Capricorn 43
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 12 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:29 Taurus 53 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):17 Gemini 43

Chiron:08 Aries 27

Ceres:29 Taurus 26 Rx
Pallas:14 Pisces 51
Juno:14 Capricorn 47
Vesta:20 Sagittarius 54
Eris:23 Aries 43 Rx

Fire:4
Earth:9
Air:4
Water:2
Cardinal:7
Fixed:5
Mutable:7

 

Southwestern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Sao Paulo, Brazil, South America

25 December 2021
08:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM BRT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:04 Capricorn 15
Moon:18 Virgo 53
Mercury:18 Capricorn 57
Venus:25 Capricorn 39 Rx
Mars:08 Sagittarius 44
Jupiter:29 Aquarius 22
Saturn:11 Aquarius 15
Uranus:11 Taurus 04 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 34
Pluto:25 Capricorn 44
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 11 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:29 Taurus 51 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):17 Gemini 47
Chiron:08 Aries 27
Ceres:29 Taurus 21 Rx
Pallas:14 Pisces 59
Juno:15 Capricorn 00
Vesta:21 Sagittarius 13
Eris:23 Aries 43 Rx
Fire:4
Earth:9
Air:4
Water:2
Cardinal:7
Fixed:5
Mutable:7

December 24 Daily Correspondence Digest for the Northern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Planetary Positions

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else, you know was on the date the person was born.

FromMoongiant.com 

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is 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 an illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9pm 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.

Visit the December 2021 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Waning Gibbous Phase

The Waning Gibbous on December 24 has an illumination of 76%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On December 24 the Moon is 19.61 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Phase Details

Phase: Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 76%
Moon Age: 19.61 days
Moon Angle: 0.51
Moon Distance: 389,261.71 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,131,899.36 km

Useful Moon Resources

Printable Spell

Color Correspondence Of Color and Hue

Color correspondence is the way that the use of color will affect your magickal workings. From the color of the candles that you use to the color of clothes that you wear

It should be noted that this type of correspondence is not just associated with pagan followings or metaphysics.  There is scientific evidence about the relationship of color to mood, success and growth.  In many penal systems, when an inmate acts out of line (eq. gets in a fight), they are put into a “pink room” for a short time.  This, under short duration, is said to calm the suspect. But long time exposure to pinks or reds can have exactly the opposite effect.

Color table and information…

Click here to read the rest of the article about Color Correspondences from ancientpathway.com

December 24 Today In History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1565 Compromise of the Nobles in Habsburg Netherlands closes against inquisition

1814 Treaty of Ghent signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States, the United Kingdom and their allies

1936 1st radioactive isotope medicine administered in Berkeley, California

1943 US President FDR appoints General Eisenhower Supreme Commander of the Allied forces

This website was down for all the other historical events. If you are interested in reading the rest of today’s historical happenings, please click on the link above and then on the links for the rest of the topics.

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.

2021 December 24

M1: The Crab Nebula

Image Credit & Copyright: Michael Sherick

Explanation: The Crab Nebula is cataloged as M1, the first object on Charles Messier’s famous 18th century list of things which are not comets. In fact, the Crab is now known to be a supernova remnant, debris from the death explosion of a massive star, witnessed by astronomers in the year 1054. This sharp, ground-based telescopic view combines broadband color data with narrowband data that tracks emission from ionized sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms to explore the tangled filaments within the still expanding cloud. One of the most exotic objects known to modern astronomers, the Crab Pulsar, a neutron star spinning 30 times a second, is visible as a bright spot near the nebula’s center. Like a cosmic dynamo, this collapsed remnant of the stellar core powers the Crab’s emission across the electromagnetic spectrum. Spanning about 12 light-years, the Crab Nebula is a mere 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus.

24 December Daily Correspondence Digest for the Southern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Planetary Positions

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else, you know was on the date the person was born.

FromMoongiant.com 

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is 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 an illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9pm 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.

Visit the December 2021 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Waning Gibbous Phase

The Waning Gibbous on December 24 has an illumination of 76%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On December 24 the Moon is 19.61 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Phase Details

Phase: Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 76%
Moon Age: 19.61 days
Moon Angle: 0.51
Moon Distance: 389,261.71 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,131,899.36 km

Useful Moon Resources

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link

Currentplanetarypositions.com

To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link

For Your Local Time and Date

Southeastern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

24 December 2021
06:00 am GMT 5:00 PM AEDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:02 Capricorn 38
Moon:28 Leo 45
Mercury:16 Capricorn 30
Venus:26 Capricorn 01 Rx
Mars:07 Sagittarius 37
Jupiter:29 Aquarius 05
Saturn:11 Aquarius 05
Uranus:11 Taurus 06 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 33
Pluto:25 Capricorn 41
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 16 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:29 Taurus 56 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):17 Gemini 36
Chiron:08 Aries 27
Ceres:29 Taurus 34 Rx
Pallas:14 Pisces 38
Juno:14 Capricorn 24
Vesta:20 Sagittarius 21
Eris:23 Aries 43 Rx
Fire:5
Earth:8
Air:4
Water:2
Cardinal:7
Fixed:6
Mutable:6

Southwestern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Sao Paulo, Brazil, South America

24 December 2021
08:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM BRT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:03 Capricorn 14
Moon:06 Virgo 05
Mercury:17 Capricorn 24
Venus:25 Capricorn 53 Rx
Mars:08 Sagittarius 01
Jupiter:29 Aquarius 11
Saturn:11 Aquarius 09
Uranus:11 Taurus 05 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 34
Pluto:25 Capricorn 43
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 13 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:29 Taurus 55 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):17 Gemini 40
Chiron:08 Aries 27
Ceres:29 Taurus 29 Rx
Pallas:14 Pisces 46
Juno:14 Capricorn 37
Vesta:20 Sagittarius 40

Eris:23 Aries 43 Rx
Fire:4
Earth:9
Air:4
Water:2
Cardinal:7
Fixed:5
Mutable:7

December 23 Daily Correspondence Digest for the Northern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Planetary Positions

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else, you know was on the date the person was born.

From Moongiant.com

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is 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 an illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9pm 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.

Visit the December 2021 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waning Gibbous Phase

The Waning Gibbous on December 23 has an illumination of 84%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On December 23 the Moon is 18.67 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Phase Details

Phase: Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 84%
Moon Age: 18.67 days
Moon Angle: 0.51
Moon Distance: 393,665.54 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,139,505.29 km

Useful Moon Resources

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link

Currentplanetarypositions.com

To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link

For Your Local Time and Date

Northeastern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Frankfurt, Germany, Europe

23 December 2021
04:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM CEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:02 Capricorn 02
Moon:21 Leo 29
Mercury:15 Capricorn 35
Venus:26 Capricorn 07 Rx
Mars:07 Sagittarius 12
Jupiter:28 Aquarius 59
Saturn:11 Aquarius 02
Uranus:11 Taurus 06 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 33
Pluto:25 Capricorn 40
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 18 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:29 Taurus 58 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):17 Gemini 32
Chiron:08 Aries 27
Ceres:29 Taurus 39 Rx
Pallas:14 Pisces 30
Juno:14 Capricorn 10
Vesta:20 Sagittarius 02
Eris:23 Aries 43 Rx
Fire:5
Earth:8
Air:4
Water:2
Cardinal:7
Fixed:6
Mutable:6

Northwestern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Chicago, Illinois, USA

December 23, 2021
11:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM CST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:02 Capricorn 20
Moon:25 Leo 06
Mercury:16 Capricorn 03
Venus:26 Capricorn 04 Rx
Mars:07 Sagittarius 24
Jupiter:29 Aquarius 02
Saturn:11 Aquarius 03
Uranus:11 Taurus 06 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 33
Pluto:25 Capricorn 41
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 17 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:29 Taurus 57 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):17 Gemini 34
Chiron:08 Aries 27
Ceres:29 Taurus 37 Rx
Pallas:14 Pisces 34
Juno:14 Capricorn 17
Vesta:20 Sagittarius 12
Eris:23 Aries 43 Rx
Fire:5
Earth:8
Air:4
Water:2
Cardinal:7
Fixed:6
Mutable:6

One Opinion on a Practical Spellcasting Guide

I suggest you always cast a spell yourself as you know the intention you have behind wanting it cast. Having someone else cast a spell for you can lead to the intention of the spell being left to their interruption of what you say you want. Through the years I have found the intention is about 90% of how the spell will manifest. Keep your intention upmost in your mind when writing and casting your spells. If using a spell someone has written edit or tweak it, so it becomes your spell with theirs as a baseline for you to build on. – Lady Beltane

Click here to read this rest of this practical Spellcasting Guide from psychicguild.com

BE CAREFUL! We do not recommend casting spells yourself without serious training. But if you are interested in learning about witchcraft basics, then read on!

All witchcraft practices have one thing in common. They require creating a sacred space where you can focus your intention. Wiccans cast a circle using the elements. Other forms of pagan spellcasting or witchcraft spells use the pentagram. Other spells don’t require either, but a gathering of the energies and focusing of your intentions is always necessary for spells to work. Otherwise, there will simply be no effect!

  • Step 1: Define your intention: Refining which effect you intend to create in the physical world is crucial! Make it clear and concise, and be sure to think through the possible consequences and whether you are prepared to take responsibility for them.
  • Step 2: Always follow spellcasting best practices:
  • Get permission from anyone you plan to cast a spell on
  • Clearly state your intention for optimal success
  • Cast a series of spells if your goal is complicated
  • Step 3: Find the right timing for your spell: Remember that privacy is important. Distractions such as other people or pets coming into your space while you are spell casting is a no-no because it will break your energy flow. If you are using the power of the lunar phases, consider casting banishing spells on the new moon. Cast love or abundance spells on the full moon to get them an extra boost, or follow the days of the week that best correspond to the energies:
    • Sunday – for personal achievements
    • Monday – for fertility, pregnancy and feminine moon (moonday) magic
    • Tuesday – for strength and courage
    • Wednesday – for Mercury, the planet of communication
    • Thursday – cast spells for prosperity and abundance. Also for healing
    • Friday – love magick
    • Saturday – cleansing and banishing
  • Step 4: Collect your materials and supplies: Each spell will outline the needed materials and supplies. From candles to crystals or representations of the elements, spells will clearly state what is needed. Be sure to gather them all carefully before you begin your spell! The last thing you want is to be sitting in your circle and realize you are missing something important!
  • Step 5: Raise, direct and release the energy: Once you have set your intention, remember to magnify it by raising the cone of power! You can do this by drumming, dancing, chanting, visualization or even orgasm, as in sex magic. Then, once you have built the energy to a climax, send it to the universe to manifest. Afterward, remember to ground yourself back down. Then you can just await the results!

Tips on casting free magic spells

Stay away from darker magic if you are a beginner. Even white magic spells can have negative consequences if you accidentally cast them wrong, but black magic can be very dangerous. If you’ve already reached out to a professional spellcaster and you are ready to try some white magic basics, then keep these tips in mind:

  • Stick to white magic spells if you are a novice
  • Remember not to affect anyone else’s free will with your spellcasting or you may have negativity come your way
  • Collect all of your materials before you start and make sure you have privacy
  • Keep your intention as precise as you can – confused spells can have unintended consequences.
  • It is a good idea to memorize your spell so you know exactly what to do before you start

Can a free spell backfire?…

The color of magic…

Witchcraft basics…

White magic…

Wicca…

Black magic…

Satanism…

Voodoo and folk magic…

The Law of Threefold Return

As you can see it is very important to know what you are getting into before you go dabbling around with witchcraft and magic spells! But for the sake of learning, I will share a few free spells with you, so that you can begin to understand how spellcasting works. But be sure to get the advice of a professional before trying these out!

How will I know when my free spell has been cast?

Spells take effect immediately, so you should notice the effects of your spellcasting right away. But remember, if your spell was very complicated, it might take some time to manifest fully. Sometimes spells require several steps and take effect gradually over time. Especially if your spell is controlling the actions of others by sending them away, for example. It will probably take some time for them to pack up their belongings and move away.

Frequently Asked Questions…

Pros of Free Spells

  • Many great resources for free spells
  • First three minutes free with a professional on Kasamba
  • You can even write your own spells!

Cons of Free Spells

  • Spellcasting can be risky business
  • Unanticipated consequences can come back threefold!
  • May not work at all

Ready to cast your Free spell? Click below and get what you have been wishing for!…

The Witch Said What?!

December 23 Today In History

Today’s Important Historical Events

962 Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo, recovering the tattered tunic of John the Baptist

1688 King James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch flees to France from William of Orange

1783 US General George Washington resigns his military commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Army to Congress

1888 Vincent van Gogh cuts off his left ear with a razor, after argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin, and sends to a prostitute for safe keeping

1920 Government of Ireland Act / Home Rule Act passed partitioning Ireland

1954 The first human kidney transplant is performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts

Today’s Historical Events

619 Boniface V begins his reign as Catholic Pope

962 Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo, recovering the tattered tunic of John the Baptist

1482 The Peace of Atrecht (now Arras) concluded between Louis XI of France and Maximilian of Austria, ending the War of the Burgundian Succession

1493 Georg Alt’s German translation of Hartmann Schedel’s Nuremberg Chronicle is published.

1588 “The Day of the Dagger” Henry, Duke of Guise, leader of the Catholic League is assassinated by the bodyguards of King Henry III at the Château de Blois

1620 French huguenots declare war on King Louis XIII

1672 Giovanni Cassini discovers Rhea, a satellite of Saturn

1688 King James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch flees to France from William of Orange

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1911 Frank Wedekind‘s play “Oaha, die Satire der Satire” premieres in Munich

1928 NBC sets up a permanent, coast-to-coast radio network

1930 Bette Davis arrives in Hollywood under contract to Universal Studios

1938 Margaret Hamilton‘s costume catches fire while filming “The Wizard of Oz

1951 National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns, 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game

1961 KICU TV channel 43 in Visalia-Fresno, CA (IND) begins broadcasting

1966 Britain’s rock TV show “Ready Steady Go” last program

1990 Comedy “Lettice & Lovage” closes at Barrymore Theater NYC after 284 performances

Today’s Historical Music Events

1893 Opera “Hansel und Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck and his sister Adelheid Wette premieres in Weimar, conducted by Richard Strauss

1911 Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s opera “I Gioielli Della Madonna” premieres at at the Kurfürstenoper in Berlin, Germany, sung in German as “Der Schmuck der Madonna”

1915 Jerome Kern and Schuyler Greene’s musical farce “Very Good Eddie” premieres at the Princess Theatre, NYC; runs for 341 performances

1943 1st telecast of a complete opera (Hansel & Gretel), Schenectady, NY

1948 “Cinderella” the first full-length ballet by Frederick Ashton with music by Sergei Prokofiev is first presented by Sadler’s Wells Ballet at Covent Garden, London

1958 Musical revue “Party with Comden & Green” opens at John Golden NYC for 38 performances

1974 Revival of RAy Henderson, B.G. DeSylva, and Lew Brown’s musical “Good News” opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 16 performances

1974 Premier of Dmitri Shostakovich‘ Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti song cycle in Leningrad

 

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1866 First yacht race across the Atlantic won by the schooner Henrietta owned by Gordon Bennett of New York, first to reach Bishop Rock in the Scilly Isles after racing from NY

1923 Yankees pitcher Carl Mays sold to Reds for $85,000

1933 Montreal Canadiens center Howie Morenz scores in 3-0 win v Detroit Red Wings; his NHL record 249th career goal

1951 National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns, 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game

1953 Dodgers 2nd baseman Jim Gilliam wins NL Rookie of Year

1957 Test cricket debut for all-time great Australian wicketkeeper Wally Grout and future captain and coach Bobby Simpson, 1st Test v South Africa in Johannesburg

1969 Ballon d’Or: Milan midfielder Gianni Rivera wins award for best European football player ahead of Cagliari forward Luigi Riva and Bayern Munich striker Gerd Müller

1972 New York Islanders end 15 games winless streak

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.

2021 December 23

Three Planets and a Comet

Image Credit & Copyright: Tunc Tezel (TWAN)

Explanation: Are you still looking for that perfect holiday gift for an astronomer? If your night sky is dark and horizon clear enough, the Solar System may have done your shopping for you. Send them outside after sunset to see three planets and a comet. In this snapshot of the December solstice evening sky from the village of Kirazli, Turkey the brightest celestial beacon is Venus, close to the southwestern horizon at the right. Look left and up to find Saturn shining between clouds. Follow that line farther left and up to bright Jupiter, the Solar System’s ruling gas giant. This year’s surprise visitor to the inner Solar System, Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1), is near the horizon too. The comet is fainter but forms a nearly equilateral triangle with planets Venus and Saturn in this view. After a dramatic brightening in recent days the comet is just visible to the unaided eye, though a nice pair of binoculars is always a good idea.