February Night Sky

Native Americans have long grown familiar with this moon.  Members of the Cherokee nation refer to this month’s full moon as the Bone Moon.  This was a consequence of depleted food stores and the necessity of cracking-open bones to access the marrow for survival food. 

NASA image

Those of the Kalapuya nation referred to this as the Out of Food Moon.   For others it was the Little Famine Moon or the Hunger Moon.  For the Cherokee the association with hunger and starvation also included a brush with death.  And the people use this as an opportunity to communicate with dead ancestors during the Bone Moon.   

Indeed, these ancient native tribes named this moon after the way trees cracked in the cold, or how people had to huddle around a fire for warmth.  My own people – the ancient Celts – remember this as the Moon of Ice as it is associated with the coldest month of the year.   
On a more upbeat note it is the Hopi tribe of the southwest who call this the Moon of Purification and renewal. 

This close association with the renewal that is marked by the arrival of spring is much more appealing to me than bones and death.  We have modern refrigeration, canning, grocers, central heat, wood stoves, Merlot and streaming television.  Starvation is rare and the entertainment possibilities are endless. Nevertheless, turning our eyes to the heavens hasn't changed in millennia.   

February's full Moon - called the Full Snow Moon - reaches peak fullness at 4:09 PM CST on Sunday, February 1.  For the best view of this Moon be sure to watch for it rising in the east at sunset.  Near midnight the moon will be high in the sky and cast shadows in the snow-covered landscape.  If you are an early riser be sure to look for it low above the western horizon before sunrise on February 2.  The moon will also appear full the evenings of Saturday and Monday - before and after.  Last, but not least, the moon will be closely associated with the brightest star in Leo  - Regulus.  You may have to use your hand to block out any moon glow to spot Regulus.

 

 

Happy viewing.   And fingers crossed for cold, clear winter sky gazing.....

Trip of The Magi - Chapter, Verse and Calendar

From the Gospel of Matthew we all know of the the story about the Magi or the Three Kings. In three paragraphs it goes like this: 

Kings?  Wise Men? More likely priests or wealthy astrologers who journeyed from Arabia, Babylon or Persia.  More importantly, they came to pay homage and to worship Jesus.  And they came bearing gifts; rare and expensive gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Symbolically, some would suggest this is significant proof of gentiles recognizing Jesus as king; thus marking a turning point in Christian tradition.  

After their arrival the Magi were warned in a dream to avoid King Herod and to return via a different route to throw-off snooping Romans with murderous intentions.  An angel also appears to Joseph in a dream with a warning that Herod intends to slay his child.  Consequently Joseph, Mary and Jesus flee to Egypt.  They return home only after there is news of Herod's death.   

With the passage of time the 'Three Kings' received names:  Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar even though the bible is silent about their identities.  Their appearance along with shepherds in nativity scenes is a bit of a historical mash-up; but more about that in a bit.  

What about the star?

Was the appearance of the star a literal event or a symbolic literary device? 

There is no scientific astronomical evidence to suggest a star moving as described.  Due to the Earth's rotation a real star (fixed in the heavens of the northern hemisphere) would be unable to move east to Jerusalem and stop over a house in Bethlehem.  It is possible there may have been a supernova, comet or planetary conjunction - naturally-occurring astronomical events -  explaining its appearance.  Needless to say, some faith traditions suggest the appearance of the star was divine, a genuinely miraculous event.  

Only the Gospel of Matthew mentions it; the Gospel of Luke does not.  Some biblical scholars have suggested that the appearance of the star may have been a later addition to Matthew's narrative to serve as a literary device - a metaphor or allusion for his audience.

The bible does not specify tell us when Jesus was born.  There are only clues such as Herod The Great's reign and a census facilitated under Syrian Governor Quirinius.  The Scriptures are silent as to a specific year and date.  The birth story of Jesus is found only in the Gospels of Mathew and Luke 1-2 and place his birth during the reign of King Herod.  Herod died in 4 BCE; consequently, Jesus was likely born between 7 and 2 BCE.  Naturally, this conflicts with the later Christian calendar system.  A calendar miscalculated in the 6th century. 

Matthew 2:1-12 informs us that the star appeared at Jesus' birth and appeared from the east.  Upon the arrival of the Magi; Joseph, Mary and Jesus are living in a house (not a stable) and Jesus is referred-to as a child.  Furthermore, Herod orders the slaying of all boys two years of age and under.

The implication is that the star materialized shortly prior to or at the time of Jesus' birth, hypothetically 6–5 BCE.  The Magi arrive months or possibly 1-2 years later.  Herod dies 4 BCE.  The adoration of the Magi would be unlikely to coincide with the visitation of the shepherds.

So why is it only Matthew mentions the star and Luke mentions shepherds instead of Magi? 

The answer may be found in their respective audiences.  Inasmuch as there was no single and consistent birth narrative in very early Christianity both Matthew and Luke tell a true story as they understood it, using different oral and written traditions shaped by purpose; and complementing one another.

Matthew was preaching to a Jewish audience; consequently, he focused on the fulfillment of old testament scripture and prophecy.  Numbers 24:17: A star shall come out of Jacob; symbolism and prophecy signaling the birth of a Jewish king. 

Luke was preaching to a Greco-Roman audience; consequently he places an emphasis on shepherds, angels and census records.  Stars and astrology add little theological substance and are avoided. Luke explicitly says he chose what to include in Luke 1:1-4; an orderly account of Jesus' life.   

In closing, why December 25?  First-off it's not a historical date and was likely adopted somewhere around the 4th century.  This is because Christian holy days and important events were intentionally chosen over many years to supplant pagan holidays, Roman festivals and themes like those of the triumph of light over darkness.  The Winter Solstice comes to mind.  This was done for theological, liturgical and evangelical reasons.  To be clear, it is not historical conflict; rather it is the intentional telling of Christian theology.

The story of Jesus' birth, the Magi, shepherds, Herod, Matthew and Luke have captured the hearts of untold millions of believers, wanna-believers and the attention of some non-believers.  It is a a story rich in drama and allegorical symbolism.  It is a fun story readily embraced by children.  And as with many things in life; parts of the story are supported by history and science and other parts are articles off faith.  Neither are irreconcilable. 

Happiest of holidays to all my readers however you celebrate them; or not.

Cheers!

December Night Sky

One of the fun things about winter is the night sky.  Cold, clear, winter skies are characterized by a lack of humidity and if you live in the country there is very little urban light pollution creating some spectacular opportunities for star-gazing. 

December brings a couple of meteor showers to the night skies.  The more prolific of the two is the Geminids with as many as 120 shooting stars per hour.  Shooting stars are most often associated with the Earth’s passage thru the debris field of a comet.  Gritty debris burns-up as it collides with the upper atmosphere.  The Geminids are a bit of a mystery as they are related with an extinct comet which also happens to be a near-earth asteroid named 3200 Phaethon. 

The Geminid meteor shower began December 4th and will remain active thru the 17th.  It will be producing meteors at its peak rate this Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Each meteor shower is named after its radiant - that point where the shower appears to come from.  In this case the constellation Gemini - The Twins.  A meteor shower's radiant needs to be above the horizon before any of the action begins.  And you don't have to look directly at the radiant to see meteors;  shooting stars will be visible across the sky once the radiant has risen.  

Find the easily recognizable belt of the three bright stars in Orion the Hunter.  From Orion's belt (or from Rigel, his foot, through the belt), follow an imaginary line towards the northeast (up and left).  Continue this line until you see two bright stars close together - Castor and Pollux - the heads of Gemini.

For the duration there will be a chance of seeing Geminid meteors whenever the shower’s radiant point – found in the constellation Gemini – is above the horizon. The number of visible shooting stars increases as the radiant point rises to its highest point in the night sky.   

December also brings the Ursid meteor shower with 5  to 10 shooting stars per hour as the Earth passes thru the debris field of Comet 8P/Tuttle.   

Although not as spectacular as the Geminids peak action coincides with the solstice the evening of the 21^st and 22^nd.  This year the new moon occurs a few days before the Ursids peak, so you'll enjoy dark skies.  Best time is before dawn with 10-15 meteors per hour.  

Mark your calendar and if your catch a cold, clear, winter sky bundle-up and take some time to sit outside and observe the heavens. 

There’s no mosquitoes this time of year! 

November Night Sky

This evening and tomorrow night - November 6 and 7 - a waning gibbous moon will be surrounded by Jupiter and the bright stars Capella, Betelgeuse and Aldebaran.  They'll be out all night long and you'll be able to see them until sunrise the following morning. 

To view them use the handy chart above.   

Fingers-crossed for cold, clear viewing conditions. 

What To See In The June Sky

If you live in the northern hemisphere like me here's an easy night sky opportunity.  That means no late night, early morning or fancy equipment.  

Shortly after sunset tonight go outside and cast your gaze to the northwest horizon.

Planet Mercury will align itself with the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux.  Naturally, the stars will not be as bright as Mercury.  And a pair of binoculars makes it easy.

Bug spray as needed....

 

What To See In The June Sky

Looking to take a walk down memory lane?  

Indulge a childhood memory?

Indulge in wishful thing?

Consider making a wish-upon a star after the sun goes down.  To make it easy I'll give you a couple to look for beginning this evening and it doesn't even require you to stay up late or rise from your slumber in an early morning.

After sunset and as the sky darkens step outside and cast your gaze to the southern sky.  

Image credit - Starry Night

You will be able to spot yellow-orange Arcturus in the constellation Boötes (the Herdsman)  This happens to be the fourth-brightest star found in the whole of the night sky worldwide.  

Next, cast your gaze to the east  to locate an equally bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra (the Harp).  Two very bright stars in the June night sky to wish-upon.

Go ahead.

Make a wish.

Sometimes you never know what will happen....

August Night Sky

Binocular opportunity all night, tonight.  Don't sweat the light pollution.

Image credit: Chris Vaughan/Starry Night

After the full moon rises in the east it will cross the sky in the company of Uranus and the bright star cluster, the Pleiades. commonly known as the Seven Sisters.

You can locate the cluster to the upper right of the moon along with Uranus roughly the width of your palm to the right.

Fingers-crossed for clear skies.

July Night Skies

At the beginning of this month an early riser had an opportunity to view a crescent moon, along with Saturn, Mars, the Pleiades along with bright stars Capella and Aldebaran; all conveniently situated on the eastern horizon  before sunrise.

As the moon swung around the planet the same grouping has returned for an early morning command performance.  It will be a much tighter grouping of Jupiter, Mars, the moon and stars comprising the constellation Taurus (The Bull).

Tomorrow morning, look for this on the eastern horizon before sunrise....

NASA/JPL-Caltech

 

July Night Skies

If you are up early tomorrow and Thursday morning you will have an opportunity to spot the planet Saturn adjacent to a waning gibbous moon.  The bright star near by is Fornalhaut.

 

July Night Skies

 

 

Got a pair of binoculars?  Put them to use this evening.

There is a bright red star found in the constellation Scorpius (the Scorpion).  The star is Antares.

Tonight you can spot it almost touching the waxing gibbous moon.

July Night Skies

For a couple of hours immediately after sunset look to the southwest to find the first-quarter moon tucked-up to a very bright star.  That star is Spica.

The moon is going to pass in front of Spica in an event called an occultation.