Celestial Events – Since prehistoric times, mankind has looked to the sky for answers to the mysteries of the natural world. This allowed our ancestors to understand important concepts such as time, seasons, climate and distance. But no matter how far humanity has come in terms of technology, the sight of the vast sky (especially at night) still leaves people in awe – realizing how insignificant we all are in the natural order of the universe.
In 2015, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology published a study that concluded positive changes in a person’s personality after long-term stargazing. Over 2,000 participants in 5 separate studies yielded consistent results describing a decreased sense of self-importance and increased prosocial behavior.
Celestial Events
Inspiration, a spark of creativity and a deeper view of life – all this continues to prove that humanity is not yet “too high to avoid seeking answers from above”.
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As in prehistoric times, there are still those among us who look at the night sky as a hobby or study. And every year these astrologers from all walks of life come to predict exciting cosmic events.
2018 was an interesting year for star lovers. In retrospect, it started with a superblood moon and ended with the capture of comet 46P/Wirtanen. Stargazing in 2019 can be just as amazing as before.
This year can be a busy time for astrophotographers collecting vivid images of the night sky or for outdoorsmen who just want to gaze at the sky around a campfire.
With that introduction out of the way, let’s dive into the details of the ten sky events shown in the image above.
Parade Of Planets 2022
A total lunar eclipse is often characterized by the pale crimson glow of the lunar disk. In some cases the moon is practically visible. However, there are also times when its appearance in the night sky is very dim – as if it is in danger of dissolving into the night’s darkness.
For all ancient civilizations that worshiped the moon as a deity, a total lunar eclipse gives the impression of a wounded god/goddess. The Incas of South America would gather en masse to cry and make a chaotic noise that was believed to ward off a celestial jaguar that attacked the moon.
As far as science is concerned, a total lunar eclipse is simply a result of the moon’s orbital position. Using Earth as a reference point, the Sun and Moon sit in directly opposite hemispheres. Instead of sunlight, the moon reflects more of the earth’s shadow (umbra).
A number of mystical traditions around the world consider this cosmic phenomenon to be an essential factor in their organized ceremonies (eg weddings). This curious practice stems from the belief that the fate of people, along with the balance of good and evil, is determined by a certain order of astronomical bodies in the cosmos.
Worlds Align June 2022
However, it is important to understand that the placement of the planets in this article is specifically understood in terms of using the Earth as a reference point (instead of the Sun).
Unlike last year, a total lunar eclipse can be observed only once in 2019. Astronomical forecasts predict its appearance in the night sky on January 21. Fortunately, this cosmic phenomenon can be seen in almost every corner of the Earth. Everyone in North America, South America, the eastern Pacific, the western Atlantic, and the westernmost edges of Europe and Africa can see it.
The first historically recorded observation of a total lunar eclipse dates back to 2095 BC in what was known as the Sumerian civilization. An ancient astrological compendium called Enuma Anu Enlil consists of 68 to 70 major serial tables dealing with Babylonian astrology.
A considerable number of ancient writings related to total lunar eclipses describe dire omens and the disasters that follow. These tragic events include the assassination of a Sumerian king, famine and mass death. Fortunately, such a terrible calamity never happened on the exact dates of the two blood moons of 2018 (January 31 and July 27).
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About a dozen planetary conjunctions appear in the sky every year. Because of their proximity to the Sun and Earth, fast-moving celestial bodies such as the Luna (Moon), Mercury, and Venus dominate the visual stargazing list.
2019 is a special time for Aphrodite (Venus) and Zeus (Jupiter) to meet. Previous astronomical predictions usually show an extremely close proximity between the two celestial bodies. It must be a very uncomfortable amalgamation when it comes to Greco-Roman mythology.
One particular story tells of Zeus’ failed attempt to rape the voracious goddess of love. The latter fled, leaving the king of the gods to scatter his uncultivated seed over the earth. People living in modern Cyprus may look up at the cloudy sky and wonder if the next fiasco with Jupiter will lead to another group of centaurs in their homeland.
In 2019, Venus and Jupiter are set to conjoin twice. Interestingly, these events differ from each other by a significant 8-month delay. The first close encounter can be seen on the eastern horizon before dawn on January 22. For those who prefer Venus and Jupiter on the western horizon at sunset, stargaze on November 22.
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November 13, 2017 was the last time Venus and Jupiter were seen together. But while traditional mythology dictates that Zeus and Aphrodite never did, modern astronomy can figuratively debunk this established story.
On August 27, 2016, Venus and Jupiter appeared in the same sky as conjoined celestial bodies. To the naked eye, this space novel looks like a huge exploding star. Often mistaken for another conjunction, it is technically called an Apulse and will not happen again until 2065.
The planet closest to the Sun will undergo seven times its greatest elongation during 2018. In scientific terms, elongation is described as the angular separation of an astronomical body from the Sun, with Earth as a visual reference point. The further a planet is from the Sun as seen from Earth, the more visible it is in the sky.
Mercury serves as one of the ideal models for understanding the concept of elasticity, due to its proximity to the Sun.
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Named after the Greek (aka Hermes) god of commerce, eloquence, communication, wealth and theft, Mercury is the closest sibling to the Sun god Apollo. Given the knowledge of ancient Greek astronomers, this particular detail of the mythological narrative is more than a coincidence.
Mercury can easily be seen in the sky either before sunrise or after sunset, known as west and east longitude. You can see Mercury after sunset in the western sky on February 27, June 23 and October 20. If you prefer to get up early and see the sun before sunrise, look for it in the eastern sky on April 11, August 9 and November. 28.
Mercury last illuminated its most visible form on December 15, 2018. In a comic sense, the Greco-Roman god may have flown too fast on his way to hit Jesus Christ’s birthday, arriving 10 days early. Last year, Mercury appeared in the sky seven times.
Halley’s Comet (also known as 1P Halley) would take 76 years to orbit the Sun and leave a trail of sparkling space debris in our atmosphere. One of the two known meteor showers originating from Halley’s Comet are the Eta Aquarids. This meteor shower can launch up to 30 space projectiles per hour, the first meteoroid to come from the constellation of Aquarius.
Astronomy Highlights & Events In 2022
Like almost every other celestial body in the universe, Eta Aquarids takes its name from Greco-Roman mythology. The legend tells how the Olympian god King Zeus, in love with the beauty of the prince of Ganymede, transformed himself into a majestic eagle to carry out his successful abduction. After being kidnapped, the boy was given immortality and was named the divine arm.
Mankind looks at the constellation of targeted Aquarius and wonders how a relationship between a grown man and a boy (pederasty) could give rise to a popular creation myth. Perhaps the Eta Aquarids indicate the occasional overflow of blessings from Ganymede’s celestial cup.
Each year, Eta Aquarids appear from mid-April to the end of May. Peak activity for 2019 is scheduled for the night of May 6 through dawn on May 7. Experts suggest that the ideal location is anywhere in the southern hemisphere of the country. In the Northern Hemisphere (including the United States), there may be only 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
Historically, the visibility of Eta Aquarids has always been linked to its parent Halley’s comet. Mankind has seen this meteor shower since prehistoric times. However, it was not until the end of the 19th century that this meteor shower was officially classified.
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Lt. Col. George Lyon Tupman of the Italian Meteorological Association is credited with spotting 15 meteors in the night sky during a Mediterranean cruise on April 30, 1870. Interestingly, in 2018, the Eta Aquarids were shot across the sky on the exact same calendar.
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