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For the Northern Hemisphere March 20 - April 20, 2011 All times are local unless otherwise specified. Night Sky Visitors ... My 2011 sabbatical continues. In this abbreviated edition of the Pisces Night Sky, I offer the following to keep you looking up and tuned to the wonders above. Clear skies, Look Up!
Planetary Treats See Sky Lights below for a planetary summary. The
Planets
Celestial Delights International Dark Sky Week in 2011 occurs Friday - Friday, April 1 - April 8. This event raises awareness about the importance of preserving a dark sky and promotes the hobby of astronomy. During this week people are encouraged to turn out their unnecessary outdoor lights in order to temporarily reduce light pollution. International Dark Sky Week is an educational and a take action event.
The mission of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment from any adverse effect of artificial light. See IDA’s Best Choice Lighting page for resources. Check out Sky and Telescope's Saving Dark Skies for links to helpful, interesting and pertinent articles. IDA is encouraging everyone to support Earth Hour, which is a global initiative to "turn off the lights" in cities around the world for one hour, starting at 8:30pm local time on Saturday, March 26, 2011. It is intended to bring together a diverse group of community, municipal, corporate and non-governmental organizations, to heighten awareness of the impacts of climate change on the world, and to inspire individuals and businesses to take practical action to reduce their own carbon footprint. Learn more at EarthHour.org. The value of the night is explored in Ecology Of The Night. National Park scientists on the Night Sky Team work to preserve the Natural Lightscapes, dark night skies above our national parks. Take action for a dark sky! [Return to Menu at top]
For
the legend of the Easter Bunny Find Three Rabbits in the Heavens! Moon Rabbit as shown above is always seen in the Full Moon. Lepus The Hare ~ the Cosmic Bunny is located below Orion's feet. He's easier to see in a dark country sky. Use this fun star map for orientation, then compare to this Easter 8:30pm Sky Chart. This cosmic bunny might just have an Easter Egg for you! Bunny's Footprints belong to a magical bunny and you can track these footprints in Scorpius throughout the year. [Return to Menu at top]
The Myth ~ Scorpius the Rival of Orion Scorpius is the legendary killer of Orion. Orion was a great hunter who bragged about his skills until the gods grew tired of his boasting. The scorpion was sent to punish Orion, who never thought of such a small creature as a threat. Once he was stung, it was too late. Both were placed in the sky although Orion's last wish was that he never be in the sky as the same time as the scorpion. Thus, Scorpius rules the northern hemisphere's summer while Orion rules the winter skies. StarrySkies.com Orion
and His Rival
Who
rules Spring? During Aries as Orion sets in the west and Scorpius rises in the east around midnight, Leo the Lion, as if chasing winter Orion out of the sky, lies overhead as the master of spring. This cosmic Lion rules spring. Regulus and Leo the Lion Spring Up!
May Spring's Emerging Opportunities Bless you! Sky
Lights ~ Aries
Sky
Calendars
I'd like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky ... |
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