The Soul Calendar: Astronomy: Tonite Trio Saturn, Moon and Star Spica Triple Threat

The Soul Calendar: Astronomy: Tonite Trio Saturn, Moon and Star Spica Triple Threat: From Denny:  Does this month get any better?  We have a Super Moon on Saturday too.

Tonight, 3 May 2012, is a special treat for skywatchers about an hour after the sun sets.  Look up in the sky and you will get the special eye candy treat to behold a rare beautiful sight: a triple conjunction of the planet Saturn, the bright star Spica and our moon.

What is a conjunction?  It's simple.  It's just when two or more astonomical objects appear to be close together in the sky.  Of course, the reality is that they are definitely far apart but rather it is our perspective viewing them here on Earth that gives the suggestion they are so close together.

Astrologers and astronomers like to argue over whether a conjunction is significant.  The astrologers believe a conjunction can cause serious effects.  Astronomers take a more laid back approach and tell us just to look up and enjoy the beautiful sight.

The Soul Calendar: Astronomy: Sky Watch Biggest 2012 Super Moon Saturday

The Soul Calendar: Astronomy: Sky Watch Biggest 2012 Super Moon Saturday: From Denny:  Look up in the night sky this weekend for the most awesome extra-large and extra-bright moon viewing for the entire year of 2012.  The spectacular Super Moon will be showing off its size and brightness on 5 May 2012 at 11:35PM EDT.  It will swing in closer at 221,802 miles (356,955 kilometers) from Earth.

Why will the moon appear to be so large and bright?  Turns out this month's full moon also coincides with the time when the moon is closest in its approach to Earth, called the moon's perigee.

Another factor for this Super Moon show is because the perigee in this month will be the closest to Earth of any for this year, varying only by three percent.  How is that so?  According to meteorologist Joe Rao, Space.com's skywatching columnist, "it happens because the moon's orbit is not perfectly circular."

How much brighter will the Super Moon be this month?  Try an extra 16 percent brighter than average.  Now that makes for great skywatching, even with the naked peepers (eyes).

The Soul Calendar: Wave Goodbye As Asteroid 2011 MD Closely Sails By Earth

The Soul Calendar: Wave Goodbye As Asteroid 2011 MD Closely Sails By Earth: "From Denny:  Astronomers just found out about this asteroid coming into our neighborhood for a drive by. It's called 2011 MD and will pass within 7500 miles of our planet today. Astronomers figure the asteroid is between 16 to 35 feet wide.

To give you a perspective, this asteroid will pass closer to Earth than our own GPS satellites. From the Planetary Science Institute check out these incredible animations explaining the geometry of this encounter.

The good news is that this asteroid will avoid a collision with planet Earth though it certainly will be a nail-biting close call. Astronomers seem to believe that even if it did come close it would burn up in the atmosphere on its descent. So, spread the word: humanity is not doomed to the fate of the dinosaurs, at least not this week. :)  Check out the video:"

The Soul Calendar: Super Moon Phenomenon: Gorgeous Illusion Worth Watching

Image via Wikipedia

The Soul Calendar: Super Moon Phenomenon: Gorgeous Illusion Worth Watching: "The moon has not appeared this large since 1992. This huge moon appears because the moon is closer to the Earth than usual in its elliptical orbit. "

Most Popular Posts 2010 at The Soul Calendar

Check out the popular science stories this year that fascinated us like the volcanic explosions and earthquakes.

From Denny:  Thanks for all your support this year! What a year of massive planet wide geologic changes: polar glacial ice caps melting rapidly, high scale earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and around the world, volcanoes spewing lava high into the air in Iceland and Indonesia - stopping air travel. It's been a humbling year for the human race on planet Earth. Floods, blizzards, mudslides, oceans rising, the Earth is changing and we are here to witness it.

Just this December we got to see the first lunar eclipse on a Winter Solstice, the first in almost 500 years.  The next one is scheduled for 2094.  Here in my region of the world we experienced the British Petroleum Oil Spill Disaster.  As usual Big Business and the governments like America and Britain have shafted the locals who have gone bankrupt, personal and business.  The millions of barrels of oil still lurks on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico and continues to wash ashore.  There are now light orange alligators found off the coast of Florida.

Here in Louisiana BP's oil spill devastated our fishing industry, killing the oyster beds and safe fishing grounds for everything from shrimp and spillway crawfish to salt water fish.  The fishing industry has declined by 70 percent with no help from BP or our federal government.  Big Business is just plain greedy and refuses to take care of the planet and future generations.

Out of this oil spill disaster has come some interesting ideas of how to clean up future oil spills.  More ideas abound for new types of alternative fuels using the ocean to help produce it.  Humanity can be innovative and creative if we just curb our greed to use our resources faster than we can replace them.

Take a look around.  There are plenty of humor posts too and lots of technology cartoons for a grin.


The Soul Calendar - Wondering about our universe and the universe inside us.

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