Planetary
Treats and Celestial Delights During Taurus
For the Northern Hemisphere
April 20 - May
21, 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,
Susan Sun
Look Up!
Planetary Treats
Universe Today Search for any planet; learn the latest!
Star Gazer's Show Scripts highlight planets in the night sky.
Celestial Delights
Full Moon Festival of Shamballa and the Buddha
Plus ...
Sky Lights
Sky Calendars
Moon Dances 4/3-5/3
Moon Dances 5/3-6/1
Taurus Navigation Page
The Night Sky ~ Home Page
Planetary Treats
See Sky Lights below for a planetary summary.
The
Planets
Is it
a planet? ... What planet? When you look up at the night sky, how do you
know you are looking at a planet? Learn
what a plutoid is. Click
here.
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Celestial
Delights
The Wesak Full Moon Festival
Festival of Shamballa ~ Festival of the Buddha
Full Moon Exact: Tuesday, May 17 - 4:09am PDT (11:09 UT)
Image: Astronomy
Magazine / Tim Boyle
Tim Boyle imaged the Moon shining behind a large statue of Buddha in Tsukuba, Japan. Boyle captured this view about 1 mile from the statue February 2, 2007. No explanation was given for the red "flame" above the Buddha's head.
The Wesak is a Full Moon Festival occurring during the sign Taurus. An ancient legend says the Buddha, for a brief period, renews His touch and association with the work of our planet at this time. The Festival of the Buddha releases forces of enlightenment from our highest spiritual planetary center, Shamballa. These forces spark initiation and are stepped down for humanity through the Buddha, the Christ and the Spiritual Hierarchy. The Wesak Festival, when the Buddha and the Christ come together in a sacred ritual, is spiritually known to be the supreme moment in the annual cycle.
During Taurus we have the opportunity to tap into the channel of direct communication between humanity and Deity and celebrate the evolutionary blessings that come to all of humanity. It is important that groups of all faiths unite globally to invoke the divine in everyone. Together we are the Chalice, the Holy Grail on Earth, prepared to receive the outpouring of potent energies from on High.
In 2011 the Full Moon during the sign of Taurus occurs Tuesday, May 17, at 4:09am PDT (11:09 UT). The Wesak Full Moon always occurs in the constellation of Libra. For a map and meditative reflections stay tuned for a Moon Dances link.
Three Major Planetary Festivals
The Work of Buddha, Christ and Humanity
Through
The Buddha, the wisdom of God streams forth.
Through The Christ, the love of God manifests in humanity.
It is this wisdom and love which renews
humanity each Wesak. Be Blessed!
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Sky Lights ~ Taurus
April 20 - May 21, 2011
Saturn is our only evening planet. It can be seen at nightfall, in the southeast, about halfway to the zenith. The Lord of the Rings moves westward all night long until it sets just before dawn, around 5:30am in the beginning of Taurus and at 4:00am by its end. The planet's yellowish glow is eye-catching above (west of) bluish Spica. Look for the large triangle formed by Saturn, Spica and golden Arcturus. Learn more about Saturn and U.S. Astronomy Day in the 5/7 Star Gazer 5min-Video. Use the Big Dipper to locate Saturn (see Arcturus below for details). 5/13 the waxing Gibbous Moon can be seen near Saturn and 5/14 near Spica. 5/13 9pm Map ~ 5/14 Map Saturn's rings are opening, revealing more and more of their northern face. The planet's ring tilt is 8º in May. Generate images of Saturn's ring tilt as seen from Earth with the Solar System Simulator
Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter are a morning delight, dancing together before dawn during the first 3 weeks of May. Venus and Jupiter, by far the brightest, are easily seen with the unaided eye. Binoculars and/or telescope bring out the dimmer, twilit Mars and Mercury. You'll need a clear horizon to view these low lying planets. Observers further south enjoy a higher, better view of dawn's line-up than those further north. Venus at magnitude -3.8 is breathtaking, though sinking toward the Sun. 4/30 a slim waning Crescent Moon lies above Venus and 5/1 rises with the gorgeious planet. 4/30 Dawn Map ~ 5/1 5:45am Map Mercury gets brighter (magnitude 0.8 to magnitude 0.1) as the weeks unfold. It is at greatest elongation, furthest from the rising Sun 5/7, however it sinks back toward the horizon after this date. 5/7 5:30am Map ~ 5/7 Dawn Map Jupiter at magnitude -2.1 rises higher each morning, as it pulls away from Mars on its way toward Venus. 5/11 Jupiter and Venus are at their closest from our perspective. 5/11 5:30am Map ~ 5/11 Dawn Map Mars at magnitude 1.3 and located close to the horizon won't be easily seen until mid-May, 30 minutes before sunrise. 5/22-23 use Jupiter to find the pairing of Venus and Mars in dawn's early light. 5/22 Dawn Map/Text ~ 5/23 5:15am Map
Orion
The Hunter is found with the winter
stars sinking in the southwest at sunset. The stellar giant
fully sets in the beginning of Taurus by 11:15pm and by its end
at 9:45pm. Use Orion's stars to navigate this
area of the sky. Orion helps one find the Winter
Triangle and the Great
Winter Hexagon.
Capella is the very bright star in the northwest setting in the beginning of Taurus at 1:45am and by its end at 12:15am. It is the brightest star seen the most often. Spring Stars
Sirius the brightest star in the heavens can be seen the southwest as the sky darkens. Sirius sets in the beginning of Taurus around 10:45pm and by its end at 9:15pm.
Regulus and Leo the Lion spring up overhead. 5/11 the Moon lies near Regulus. 5/11 Star Map/Text
Arcturus is the bright star high in the east at sunset. Use the handle of the Big Dipper to arc down to Arcturus from there spike down to Spica in the south. Helpful Image In 2011 yellowish Saturn lies above (west of) bluish Spica; both are located south of golden Arcturus. Look for the large triangle formed by these 3 colorful celestial bodies. Use this early April Map to see how the triangle relates to blue-white Regulus of Leo the Lion. The westward movement of Arcturus and the Big Dipper can be observed until sunrise. Big Dipper Navigation Notice the seasonal position of the Big Dipper's bowl.
Vega is the very bright star rising above the northeast horizon after sunset.
Monthly
Lunar Highlights
(Currently Offline?!?! ... researching)
I'd like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky ...
send me an email.
May your Night Sky traveling always be filled
with Celestial Delights and Treats!
Susan Sun
Getting
Started in Astronomy
Includes a downloadable Moon map and bimonthly star charts.
At Skymaps.com download a current monthly guide, evening sky map & calendar.
Link to Sky and Telescope's This Week's Sky at a Glance.
Spaceweather.com keeps you looking up!
Online
Schools
A space and science study guide for kids
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