Eclipses, Conjunctions, Alignments and Celestial Phenomena

[Puma]

VENUS IS NOW A RING: It's a holy grail of amateur astronomy: To photograph Venus so close to the sun that its nightside is framed by an annulus of light.

French astrophotographer Didier Favre succeeded on August 10th. With only a little extra contrast, his photo reveals that Venus is now a ring:​

"It's very subtle but it's there!" says Favre. "I am not unhappy with the result because it took more than 30,000 images of which only 20% were kept to be able to present it to you."

This rare event is a sign that Venus is approaching inferior conjunction. On Aug. 13th, Venus will pass almost directly between Earth and the sun. At that time the night side of Venus will face Earth, with only a fringe of sunlit cloudtops visible around the planet's circumference.

At closest approach on Aug. 13th, Venus and the sun will be separated by a little more than 7 degrees. This means careful daytime shots of Venus will be possible throughout the conjunction.

Spaceweather.com Time Machine

From the point of view of astrology
​

The Venus conjunction 2023​

Much like the New Moon each month, this is the New Venus cycle, at which point Venus will disappear from the evening sky, and appear to be consumed by the light of the Sun, as it will be rising and setting with the Sun. This also marks the end of Venus’s evening star phase, for after several weeks, when Venus emerges enough away from the Sun’s rays, it will rise as a Morning Star in the East.

When retrograde Venus is exactly conjunct the Sun, or cazimi, it is time to get to the heart of the matter. This is where we come face to face with our priorities and values. This includes how well we value ourselves and what we have to offer. This is where we will set the tone for the duration of the next 584-day Venus cycle.

On the day of the inferior conjunction Sun and Venus will be trine the centaur Chiron. But before we even get there, on August 9th, Venus will square off with changeable Uranus, gradually slowing for its own retrograde station on August 28th. Venus/Uranus: a shift in perception; a change in a relationship; something new and different changes the picture; a sudden surprise; being shown that we don’t always have to keep doing things the way that we have in the past. The universe appears to be shifting, and is bringing us along for the ride.

The Venus conjunction 2023 — Astrology By Lauren

On August 13th, retrograde Venus will conjunct the Sun at 20º Leo 28’. This is the inferior conjunction of Venus, when Venus is at its closest point to the earth. It is also the beginning of the next 584-day Venus cycle. But expect a few surprises and some unexpected detours before we get t

www.astrologybylauren.com

 

[SummerLite]

Shitshow incoming seems an appropriate description of these times. Restrictions and frustrations abound, more to come no doubt.

 

[SummerLite]

I appreciate the astrological interpretations of gifted astrologers in interpreting these extraordinary times we're living in. It's a mystery to me how much accuracy, knowledge and usefulness has come about within this body of knowledge. If anyone knows of such gifted astrologers who are interpreting these times please post. Thanks!

 

[Puma]

I appreciate the astrological interpretations of gifted astrologers in interpreting these extraordinary times we're living in. It's a mystery to me how much accuracy, knowledge and usefulness has come about within this body of knowledge. If anyone knows of such gifted astrologers who are interpreting these times please post. Thanks!

I found the following

Mercury goes retrograde in Virgo on August 23. What it means for you

Starting Wednesday, Aug. 23, Mercury will be among seven planets in retrograde this summer.

Mercury retrograde is an optical illusion that occurs when the planet Mercury appears to move backwards in the night sky. In reality, the Earth overtakes Mercury in its orbit, creating the illsuion.

Astrologically speaking, retrogrades are thought to interfere with the realms that a planet covers. Since Mercury rules communication, information and travel, the retrograde period may affect those areas.

This Mercury retrograde will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 23 and last until Thursday, Sept. 14.

It's also important to note that on the day Mercury's backspin begins Aug. 23, planets Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto will still be moving through their own slow-motion retrogrades. On Monday, Sept. 4, Jupiter will start its orbit backwards, as well.

All these retrogrades will likely slow down the speed of things on earth — so, prepare yourself for delays, technological issues, travel problems and miscommunication.

Words of advice: Listen before you react and think before you speak.

Mercury retrograde is back (again!) to shake up your next month. Here's what to know

The astrological transit is thought to cause minor inconveniences in communication and travel.

www.today.com

As SummerLite mentions, possibly some expert would like to add something else.

It looks like we have a new covid strain and plans to implement a new confinement. TPTB may well use these retrograde impulses to prevent travel, implement cyber attacks or obstruct peace talks in Ukraine.

 

[SummerLite]

TPTB may well use these retrograde impulses to prevent travel, implement cyber attacks or obstruct peace talks in Ukraine.

Many sources have revealed over the years the deep involvement of the PTB in all kinds of occult practices. Do they have their own astrologers as well timing out their plans? It would seem likely since they use everything imaginable to further their agenda.

 

[Puma]

Many sources have revealed over the years the deep involvement of the PTB in all kinds of occult practices. Do they have their own astrologers as well timing out their plans? It would seem likely since they use everything imaginable to further their agenda.

Of course, it should be remembered that TPTB have advisors and interpreters of the signals.

Q: (L) You mean they had plans to be more aggressive and “in-their-faces”, and they... (Perceval) Why would the disappearance of the plane make them scared or make them back down? Was it "comedown", was that what was said? Like a retreat. So, basically the PTB backed down on Crimea and Russia and that whole situation because the plane disappeared and they were worried about...? (Pierre) So, if you lie too much, if you create too much chaos, like unjustified war, you might increase such a bleedthrough?

A: They have "advisors" and "interpretors" of such things.

Q: (Pierre) So the advisors said if they go on with the attack, and with lying and manipulating... (L) I don't think they would say that. (Perceval) They wouldn't spell it out. (L) I don't think that they would talk to them in those terms. (Pierre) What would they say? (L) Probably say something like, I dunno... Maybe they have some advisors and interpreters who say, "We did that, and if you don't back down, we're gonna do more!" Ya know, like threatening rather than explaining to them how to be good boys.

A: More or less.

For the time being, cyber-attacks have already begun.

Cyberattack shutters major NSF-funded telescopes for more than 2 weeks.​

A mysterious “cyber incident” at a National Science Foundation (NSF) center coordinating international astronomy efforts has knocked out of commission major telescopes in Hawaii and Chile since the beginning of August. Officials have halted all operations at 10 telescopes, and at a few others only in-person observations can be conducted.​

All this while in the skies the "newly discovered" comet Nishimura, believed to come from the Oort cloud, is approaching and will be seen without a telescope in September.

NEW COMET ALERT: A hyperbolic comet is falling into our solar system. Japanese amateur astronomer Hideo Nishimura discovered it just a few days ago in the constellation Gemini. Although it is relatively dim right now (magnitude +9), Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1) could soon brighten more than 100-fold to become a naked-eye object in mid-September.

On the other hand, planetary alignments and the electromagnetic currents they generate could bring a strong earthquake in the second part of August according to SSGEOS

https://twitter.com/x/status/1694301349226205337

We could be in for some surprising days ahead

 

[Puma]

THE SUPER BLUE MOON: This week, a quirky mixture of science, hyperbole and folklore will cause millions of people to go outside and stare at the sky. We're talking about the Super Blue Moon. This is what it will look like:

Above: A "supermoon" over Cape Cod on Oct. 15, 2016. Credit: Chris Cook.​

The Super Blue Moon on Wednesday evening, Aug. 30th, will look a lot like an ordinary full Moon. However, there are three things that make it special.

First, the science: This week's full Moon is the biggest and brightest of 2023. Astronomers call it a "perigee moon." The Moon's orbit is an ellipse with one side ("perigee") about 50,000 km closer than the other ("apogee"). Full Moons that occur on the perigee side of the Moon's orbit are extra big and bright. This week's Moon will become full within 9 hours of perigee, making it the closest full Moon of the year (357,181 km away).

Next, the hyperbole: About 10 years ago, many science journalists and even some astronomers started calling perigee Moons "supermoons." A supermoon is 8% bigger and 15% brighter than an average full Moon. Would you call Clark Kent "super" if he were only 8% faster and 15% stronger than an average human? No, but let's roll with it! People love super things.

Finally, the folklore: You've probably heard the expression "Once in a blue Moon." It means "rare." Modern folklore provides a more precise definition. When there are two full Moons in a calendar month, the second one is "blue." Such blue moons come along every 2 to 3 years. August already had one full Moon on Aug. 2nd; now it is about to have another (blue) one on Aug. 30th.

By the way, the Moon won't literally turn blue. Most blue Moons are pale gray when they are high in the sky, or orange when they are rising and setting. If you actually see blue, it could mean that a volcano is erupting or a wildfire is nearby. Run!

In summary, this week's Super Blue Moon will be about 15% bigger and more gorgeous than an average moon. Go out after sunset on Aug. 30th, look east, and watch it rise into the darkening summer sky. If you take a picture, submit it here.

Spaceweather.com Time Machine

 

[Puma]

SUPERMOON WILL WORSEN IDALIA'S STORM SURGE: This week’s supermoon is making matters worse for Florida's Gulf Coast by enhancing tides, which is expected to worsen Hurricane Idalia's storm surge. "Surge and tide work together to produce the ultimate flooding that might occur in a hurricane," Jamie Rhome of the National Hurricane Center told CNN. The effect, called a "perigean spring tide," will be near its maximum for all of 2023 just as the hurricane makes landfall.

Above: The supermoon of July 14, 2022, photographed by Oliver Schwenn of Aarhus, Denmark [full story]

Spaceweather.com Time Machine

​

UPDATE
Hurricane #Hurricane #Idalia strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico, now Cat-2 and could soon be Cat-3.
-Winds 165km/h
-250 km WSW of #Tampa &.
-390 km S of Tallahassee #Florida
Hurricane Warning and storm surge in effect for #Florida USA
CAUTION
August 29/20:00h
via @zoom_earth​

https://twitter.com/x/status/1696705424752341017

From tonight to tomorrow, the biggest full moon of the year, the so-called supermoon, will be visible. Here is a 30-second summary of the changes in the size of the moon over the past year. Because the moon rotates in an ellipse, the full moon appears larger when its perigee coincides with the full moon. (Data from NASA Scientific Visualization Studio) translated with Deepl​

https://twitter.com/x/status/1696651525874164011

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[dennis]

India's moon lander news

The initial assessment of the first-ever measurements of the near-surface lunar plasma environment over the south pole region by RAMBHA-LP payload onboard Chandrayaan-3 lander indicates that plasma there is relatively sparse, ISRO said on Thursday.
...
Meanwhile, the ILSA payload on Chandrayaan 3 lander to study lunar seismic activity has not only recorded the movements of rover and other payloads, but also has recorded an event, appearing to be a natural one, on August 26. “The source of this event is under investigation," ISRO said.

Chandrayaan-3 lander instruments detect 'natural' movement. Details here

ILSA payload on Chandrayaan 3 Lander records lunar vibrations and a mysterious natural event, source under investigation. RAMBHA-LP makes first-ever measurements of lunar plasma environment.

www.livemint.com

 

[Puma]

Blue moon on the summit of Mount Fuji

MakotoHashimuki

https://twitter.com/x/status/1697522198594953532

 

[Puma]

SUPER BLUE MOON: This week's Super Blue Moon was certainly the most photographed moon of the year, with pictures still pouring in days later. One of the best so far comes from Jordi L. Coy of Seville, Spain:

​

"It was a great spectacle to observe the Blue Moon over 'La Giralda,' one of the most famous monuments in Spain," says Coy.

La Giralda, the bell tower of the Great Mosque of Seville, has been waiting almost a thousand years for this blue Moon to rise behind it. The Minaret was completed in March 1198 during the time of Moorish Spain. It has been one of the most important symbols of the city since the Middle Ages.

Coy's photo was worth the wait! Browse the Super Blue Moon Gallery for more spectacular shots from around the world.

Spaceweather.com Time Machine

 

[Puma]

2023 September equinox: All you need to know​

We celebrate the equinox as the first day of autumn for the Northern Hemisphere, and spring for the Southern Hemisphere.

What is it? It’s a milestone in Earth’s orbit around the sun. At an equinox, the sun appears directly above Earth’s equator. At the September equinox, it’s crossing from north to south.
When is it? The September equinox will fall at 6:50 UTC (1:50 a.m. CDT) September 23, 2023.
Note: The name equinox comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night). At the equinox, days and nights are said to be equal in length for everyone across the globe. And it’s true. They are approximately equal. Read: Why aren’t day and night exactly equal on the equinox?


Around the time of an equinox, Earth’s Northern and Southern Hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally. However, that doesn’t mean that day and night are exactly equal in length. In fact, two factors cause more day than night at an equinox. Image via NASA.

| EarthSky

earthsky.org

 

[Puma]

Cassiopeia ascends in September and October​

Orion’s Belt points to Sirius on September mornings​

It’s one of the neatest tricks in all the heavens: Orion’s Belt points to Sirius, the sky’s brightest star. On September mornings, you’ll find both Orion the Hunter and the very bright star Sirius in the eastern part of the sky before dawn. They’ll be shifting into the evening sky as the months pass. Identify them now, and enjoy them for months to come.

Also, sometimes there are bright planets in the east before dawn. And those planets might outshine even Sirius. In fact, in September 2023, Venus is near Sirius and definitely outshines our brightest star. What’s more, sometimes there are bright planets in the evening sky in northern winter, when Orion and Sirius shine brightly. And those planets, too, might be brighter than the sky’s brightest star. In those cases, how can you be sure the object you’re looking at is Sirius? The constellation Orion is your ticket. No matter where you are, no matter what time of year it is, Orion’s Belt always points to Sirius.

| EarthSky

earthsky.org

 

[Puma]

JUST ONE MONTH UNTIL THE ECLIPSE: Mark your calendar. On Oct. 14th--one month from today--the Moon will pass in front of the sun, producing an annular solar eclipse visible from North and South America. In this map, the yellow band shows where the eclipse will be best:

Detailed regional maps and timetables are available from GreatAmericanEclipse.com​

This should not be confused with a total eclipse, where the Moon completely covers the sun. During an annular eclipse, the Moon is a little too small for complete coverage--a result of the Moon's elliptical orbit. When the Moon passes in front of the sun, an annulus remains visible, creating a "ring of fire" in the sky. It is still very cool. Indeed, you will literally feel cool as the diffuse shadow of the Moon passes overhead, dimming the landscape and lowering the air temperature by a few degrees.

The "path of annularity" is about 100 miles wide. Along its centerline, the sun will be ring-shaped for more than 4 minutes, with as much as 95% coverage of the solar disk. Be careful! Even a 5% sliver of the sun can be blindingly bright. Watch the event using ISO-approved eclipse glasses.

Outside the path, observers will see the sun turn into a crescent, fat or thin depending on how far they are from the centerline. This is called a "partial eclipse," also best seen using eclipse glasses. Almost all of North and South America is in the partial eclipse zone.

An annular eclipse over Southern California in Jan. 1992. Photo credit: Dennis L. Mammana​

There's a lot to experience during an eclipse. Listen for changes to birdsong and insect sounds. Wildlife is known to respond to the arrival of the Moon's shadow. Also, look under leafy trees. Crescent-shaped sunbeams lancing through the foliage can dapple the ground with tiny images of the eclipsed sun. Amateur astronomers with solar-filtered binoculars can watch brilliant beads of sunlight glittering through through lunar mountains especially around the Moon's north and south poles.

To learn more about the eclipse, we recommend GreatAmericanEclipse.com. Their Field Guide to the 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipses is a must-have for anyone planning an eclipse adventure, and they also sell safe eclipse glasses and solar binoculars.

Spaceweather.com Time Machine

 

[forest_light]

On Oct. 14th--one month from today--the Moon will pass in front of the sun, producing an annular solar eclipse visible from North and South America.

That's interesting. In Australia we have a Referendum called 'The Voice' which is being voted on that exact date. The Australian Government is beyond desperate, pushing their agenda, but it seems many people have woken up to this (and other issues) and have finally witnessed the doublespeak / forked tongues infesting mainstream media.

A poor choice of dates IMHO - if you wanted a successful outcome.

However, those with dark agendas, immersed in their hubris do seem to be poorly informed / not remotely aware about the more mysterious and long reaching influences of the planets. This Referendum campaign and their other agendas have revealed much about the Government that has been hidden for too long - those standing for the light are growing much brighter and more powerful, no matter how hard the shadow forces try to control and suppress them.

I checked a few sites to see what was said about the eclipse and they all basically offered something similar to this:

New Moon Solar Eclipse in Libra, October 14

First, there is a dramatic total (annular) solar eclipse at 21 Libra on Saturday October 14.

The New Moon at 21 Libra is only 3 degrees from the South Node at 24 Libra, making this an intense and strong eclipse.

Even though it’s a New Moon, as the eclipse is on the South Node it will carry themes of ending, release and letting go. Old habits and patterns, especially in relationships or around compromising to please others, might need to change or end.

With the Sun, planet of leaders and figure heads, in the sign of its detriment, while being eclipsed by the Moon AND on the South Node, this eclipse may bring dramatic changes to leaders and people in positions of power and influence.

Sounds like everything is working out perfectly.