Is the Rabbinical Molad/Lunar Conjunction New Moon?
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Planet Positions: 1 Planet Positions
Planet Positions: 1 Planet Positions As the planets orbit the Sun, they move around the celestial sphere, staying close to the plane of the ecliptic. As seen from the Earth, the angle between the Sun and a planet -- called the elongation -- constantly changes. We can identify a few special configurations of the planets -- those positions where the elongation is particularly noteworthy. The inferior planets -- those which orbit closer INFERIOR PLANETS to the Sun than Earth does -- have configurations as shown: SC At both superior conjunction (SC) and inferior conjunction (IC), the planet is in line with the Earth and Sun and has an elongation of 0°. At greatest elongation, the planet reaches its IC maximum separation from the Sun, a value GEE GWE dependent on the size of the planet's orbit. At greatest eastern elongation (GEE), the planet lies east of the Sun and trails it across the sky, while at greatest western elongation (GWE), the planet lies west of the Sun, leading it across the sky. Best viewing for inferior planets is generally at greatest elongation, when the planet is as far from SUPERIOR PLANETS the Sun as it can get and thus in the darkest sky possible. C The superior planets -- those orbiting outside of Earth's orbit -- have configurations as shown: A planet at conjunction (C) is lined up with the Sun and has an elongation of 0°, while a planet at opposition (O) lies in the opposite direction from the Sun, at an elongation of 180°. EQ WQ Planets at quadrature have elongations of 90°. -
The Midnight Sky: Familiar Notes on the Stars and Planets, Edward Durkin, July 15, 1869 a Good Way to Start – Find North
The expression "dog days" refers to the period from July 3 through Aug. 11 when our brightest night star, SIRIUS (aka the dog star), rises in conjunction* with the sun. Conjunction, in astronomy, is defined as the apparent meeting or passing of two celestial bodies. TAAS Fabulous Fifty A program for those new to astronomy Friday Evening, July 20, 2018, 8:00 pm All TAAS and other new and not so new astronomers are welcome. What is the TAAS Fabulous 50 Program? It is a set of 4 meetings spread across a calendar year in which a beginner to astronomy learns to locate 50 of the most prominent night sky objects visible to the naked eye. These include stars, constellations, asterisms, and Messier objects. Methodology 1. Meeting dates for each season in year 2018 Winter Jan 19 Spring Apr 20 Summer Jul 20 Fall Oct 19 2. Locate the brightest and easiest to observe stars and associated constellations 3. Add new prominent constellations for each season Tonight’s Schedule 8:00 pm – We meet inside for a slide presentation overview of the Summer sky. 8:40 pm – View night sky outside The Midnight Sky: Familiar Notes on the Stars and Planets, Edward Durkin, July 15, 1869 A Good Way to Start – Find North Polaris North Star Polaris is about the 50th brightest star. It appears isolated making it easy to identify. Circumpolar Stars Polaris Horizon Line Albuquerque -- 35° N Circumpolar Stars Capella the Goat Star AS THE WORLD TURNS The Circle of Perpetual Apparition for Albuquerque Deneb 1 URSA MINOR 2 3 2 URSA MAJOR & Vega BIG DIPPER 1 3 Draco 4 Camelopardalis 6 4 Deneb 5 CASSIOPEIA 5 6 Cepheus Capella the Goat Star 2 3 1 Draco Ursa Minor Ursa Major 6 Camelopardalis 4 Cassiopeia 5 Cepheus Clock and Calendar A single map of the stars can show the places of the stars at different hours and months of the year in consequence of the earth’s two primary movements: Daily Clock The rotation of the earth on it's own axis amounts to 360 degrees in 24 hours, or 15 degrees per hour (360/24). -
Molad Zaqen and Islamic Scientific Innovation1
181 Molad Zaqen and Islamic Scientific Innovation1 By: ARI STORCH1 Introduction The contemporary Hebrew calendar is a lunar one that sets the first day of the year based on the molad, the time of a lunar conjunction.2 A lunar conjunction describes a distinct position of the moon, relative to the earth and the sun. The date of the molad of Tishrei, the seventh Hebrew month, is declared the first day of the year, Rosh Hashanah; however, should this occur on a Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday then the next day is chosen. One exception, however, is at the occurrence of a molad zaqen, when the molad occurs after midday; in this case, the following day is declared Rosh Hashanah. Historical evidence strongly suggests that this exception was not implemented until the ninth century, leaving the question of why it was instated in the post-Talmudic era. Scientific advancements of that time period in Islamic lands may answer this question. The Molad As mentioned above, the molad is a lunar conjunction. As the moon orbits earth it reflects the light of the sun. The apparent shape of the moon de- pends on its position relative to the sun. A lunar conjunction is defined as when the moon is aligned with the earth and sun in such a way that all its light is reflected toward the sun rendering it invisible to those on earth. It is from this point that its orbit will begin to allow it to reflect light earthwards slowly causing it to be seen as a crescent, half moon, gibbous, and then full moon. -
Dawn Spacecraft Begins Approach to Dwarf Planet Ceres 30 December 2014, by Elizabeth Landau
Dawn spacecraft begins approach to dwarf planet Ceres 30 December 2014, by Elizabeth Landau 2012, capturing detailed images and data about that body. "Ceres is almost a complete mystery to us," said Christopher Russell, principal investigator for the Dawn mission, based at the University of California, Los Angeles. "Ceres, unlike Vesta, has no meteorites linked to it to help reveal its secrets. All we can predict with confidence is that we will be surprised." The two planetary bodies are thought to be different in a few important ways. Ceres may have formed later than Vesta, and with a cooler interior. Current evidence suggests that Vesta only retained a small This artist's concept shows NASA's Dawn spacecraft amount of water because it formed earlier, when heading toward the dwarf planet Ceres. Credit: radioactive material was more abundant, which NASA/JPL-Caltech would have produced more heat. Ceres, in contrast, has a thick ice mantle and may even have an ocean beneath its icy crust. (Phys.org)—NASA's Dawn spacecraft has entered Ceres, with an average diameter of 590 miles (950 an approach phase in which it will continue to close kilometers), is also the largest body in the asteroid in on Ceres, a Texas-sized dwarf planet never belt, the strip of solar system real estate between before visited by a spacecraft. Dawn launched in Mars and Jupiter. By comparison, Vesta has an 2007 and is scheduled to enter Ceres orbit in average diameter of 326 miles (525 kilometers), March 2015. and is the second most massive body in the belt. -
Stellium Handbook Part
2 Donna Cunningham’s Books on the Outer Planets If you’re dealing with a stellium that contains one or more outer planets, these ebooks will help you understand their role in your chart and explore ways to change difficult patterns they represent. Since The Stellium Handbook can’t cover them in the depth they deserve, you’ll gain a greater perspective through these ebooks that devote entire chapters to the meanings of Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto in a variety of contexts. The Outer Planets and Inner Life volumes are $15 each if purchased separately, or $35 for all three—a $10 savings. To order, go to PayPal.com and tell them which books you want, Donna’s email address ([email protected]), and the amount. The ebooks arrive on separate emails. If you want them sent to an email address other than the one you used, let her know. The Outer Planets and Inner Life, V.1: The Outer Planets as Career Indicators. If your stellium has outer planets in the career houses (2nd, 6th, or 10th), or if it relates to your chosen career, this book can give you helpful insights. There’s an otherworldly element when the outer planets are career markers, a sense of serving a greater purpose in human history. Each chapter of this e-book explores one of these planets in depth. See an excerpt here. The Outer Planets and Inner Life, v.2: Outer Planet Aspects to Venus and Mars. Learn about the love lives of people who have the outer planets woven in with the primary relationship planets, Venus and Mars, or in the relationship houses—the 7th, 8th, and 5th. -
Understanding the Hebrew Calendar
B.Sc., Computer Software Engineering Jerusalem College of Technology Sponsored by Jill & David Mogil in memory of Jill’s father, Saul Mirowitz, ob”m III. Setting the Calendar Summary Tekufat Shmuel 365d 6h Tekufat Rav Ada 365d 5h 997p 48m כ"ט י"ב תשצ"ג Length of Molad 29d 12h 793p אי"ב תשצ"ג Molad Shift 1d 12h 793p ד"ח תתע"ו Annual Molad Shift – Simple 4d 8h 867p * הכ"א תקפ"ט Annual Molad Shift – Gravid 5d 21h 589p * ** Annual Tekufah Shift – Simple 10d 21h 204p ** Annual Tekufah Shift – Gravid -18d 15h 589p גו"ח אדז"ט Leap Years – “Machzor Hakatan” 3,6,8,11,14,17,19 * Length of Year MOD 7 ** In relation to the Lunar Year Modular Division (MOD 7) Modular arithmetic (a.k.a “clock arithmetic”) system of arithmetic for integers where numbers "wrap around" after reaching a certain value, the modulus. E.g. CLOCK - 12-hour time: 7:00 o‟clock + 8 hours = 3:00 o‟clock. clock time "wraps around" every 12 hours - arithmetic modulo 12 Calculating Molad Tishrei Example 1 Given the Molad of Tishrei 5769 Calculate the Molad of 5770 Molad 5769: 3d 7h 1057p 304th cycle, 12th year – Simple year. EXAMPLE 1: MOLAD 5770 Molad 5769 3d 7h 1057p + Molad Shift 4d 8h 876p Molad 5770 0d 16h 853p Calculating Molad Tsihrei Example 2 Given the Molad of Tishrei 5771 Calculate the Molad of 5772 Molad 5771: 5d 1h 649p 304th cycle, 14th year – Gravid year. EXAMPLE 1: MOLAD 5772 Molad 5771 5d 1h 649p + Gravid Molad Shift 5d 21h 589p Molad 5772 3d 23h 158p Molad / Calendar Starting Point אמר רבי יוחנן בר חנינא: שתים R. -
Communications with Mars During Periods of Solar Conjunction: Initial Study Results
IPN Progress Report 42-147 November 15, 2001 Communications with Mars During Periods of Solar Conjunction: Initial Study Results D. Morabito1 and R. Hastrup2 During the initial phase of the human exploration of Mars, a reliable commu- nications link to and from Earth will be required. The direct link can easily be maintained during most of the 780-day Earth–Mars synodic period. However, dur- ing periods in which the direct Earth–Mars link encounters increased intervening charged particles during superior solar conjunctions of Mars, the resultant eects are expected to corrupt the data signals to varying degrees. The purpose of this article is to explore possible strategies, provide recommendations, and identify op- tions for communicating over this link during periods of solar conjunctions. A sig- nicant improvement in telemetry data return can be realized by using the higher frequency 32 GHz (Ka-band), which is less susceptible to solar eects. During the era of the onset of probable human exploration of Mars, six superior conjunctions were identied from 2015 to 2026. For ve of these six conjunctions, where the sig- nal source is not occulted by the disk of the Sun, continuous communications with Mars should be achievable. Only during the superior conjunction of 2023 is the signal source at Mars expected to lie behind the disk of the Sun for about one day and within two solar radii (0.5 deg) for about three days. I. Introduction During the initial phase of the human exploration of Mars, a reliable communications link to and from Earth will be required. -
Dawn Mission to Vesta and Ceres Symbiosis Between Terrestrial Observations and Robotic Exploration
Earth Moon Planet (2007) 101:65–91 DOI 10.1007/s11038-007-9151-9 Dawn Mission to Vesta and Ceres Symbiosis between Terrestrial Observations and Robotic Exploration C. T. Russell Æ F. Capaccioni Æ A. Coradini Æ M. C. De Sanctis Æ W. C. Feldman Æ R. Jaumann Æ H. U. Keller Æ T. B. McCord Æ L. A. McFadden Æ S. Mottola Æ C. M. Pieters Æ T. H. Prettyman Æ C. A. Raymond Æ M. V. Sykes Æ D. E. Smith Æ M. T. Zuber Received: 21 August 2007 / Accepted: 22 August 2007 / Published online: 14 September 2007 Ó Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007 Abstract The initial exploration of any planetary object requires a careful mission design guided by our knowledge of that object as gained by terrestrial observers. This process is very evident in the development of the Dawn mission to the minor planets 1 Ceres and 4 Vesta. This mission was designed to verify the basaltic nature of Vesta inferred both from its reflectance spectrum and from the composition of the howardite, eucrite and diogenite meteorites believed to have originated on Vesta. Hubble Space Telescope observations have determined Vesta’s size and shape, which, together with masses inferred from gravitational perturbations, have provided estimates of its density. These investigations have enabled the Dawn team to choose the appropriate instrumentation and to design its orbital operations at Vesta. Until recently Ceres has remained more of an enigma. Adaptive-optics and HST observations now have provided data from which we can begin C. T. Russell (&) IGPP & ESS, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, USA e-mail: [email protected] F. -
A Short History of the Jewish Fixed Calendar: the Origin of the Molad
133 A Short History of the Jewish Fixed Calendar: The Origin of the Molad By: J. JEAN AJDLER I. Introduction. It was always believed that the transition from the observation to the fixed calendar was clear-cut, with the fixed calendar immediately adopting its definitive form in 358/359, at the date of the inception. Indeed according to a tradition1 quoted in the name of R’ Hai Gaon,2 the present Jewish calendar was introduced by the patriarch Hillel II in the Jewish Year 4119 AM (anno mundi, from creation), 358/359 CE. The only discordant element with regard to this theory that the calen- dar adopted immediately its definitive form, was the fact that we find al- ready in the Talmud that the postponement of Rosh Hashanah from Sun- day was a later enactment.3 Only some rare rabbinic authorities already recognized the later character of this postponement. Indeed a passage of the epistle of R’ Sherira Gaon implying that Rosh Hashanah of the year 505 C.E. was still on Sunday was generally consid- ered as the result of a copyist mistake.4 It is only in the first decade of the twentieth century that new evidence appeared after the discovery of new documents in the Cairo Geniza. 1 Sefer ha-Ibbur by R’ Abraham bar Hiyyạ edited by Filipowski, London 1851, p. 97 quotes a responsum of R. Hai Gaon dated from 4752 AM = 992 C.E. report- ing this tradition. 2 R. Hai Gaon (939-1038) was the last and the most prolific Gaon. He belonged to the Yeshiva of Pumbedita. -
Glossary: Only Some Selected Terms Are Defined Here; for a Full Glossary
Glossary: Only some selected terms are defined here; for a full glossary consult an astronomical dictionary or google the word you need defined. Aphelion/Perihelion: Earth’s orbit is elliptical so the planet is farthest from the Sun at aphelion (first week of July) and closest at perihelion (first week of Jan). Apogee/Perigee: Since orbits around the Sun or Earth are usually ellipses, the farthest and nearest distances use “apo” (far) and “peri” (near) to describe the maximum and minimum values. For Earth and its satellites, apogee is the farthest point and perigee is the nearest (“geo” = Earth). The same prefixes are applied to orbits around the Moon -”luna” (apolune and perilune) Sun -”helios” (aphelion/perihelion), etc. Appulse: A close approach of two astronomical objects. i.e. minimum separation expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds of arc where 1 degree = 60 minutes and 1 minute = 60 seconds of arc. Note: the Moon and Sun are about 0.5 degrees or 30 minutes of arc across. Bolides or Fireballs: A very bright meteor (shooting star) that often can light up the ground and produce meteorites. See Meteor Shower below for more. Conjunction: The point in time when two stellar objects have the same Right Ascension. This is usually close to the minimum separation of the two objects but may not necessarily be minimum. (See also appulse above). When a planet is at Inferior Conjunction with the Sun it is between Earth and Sun and in Superior Conjunction, it is on the opposite side of the sun. At neither time are they easy (but not impossible) to see since they are near the Sun. -
Understanding the Hebrew Calendar
B.Sc., Computer Software Engineering Jerusalem College of Technology חשון / כסלו – ”Variable Months“ Days of Month Days in Month Rosh Chodesh 1 30 תשרי – Tishrei 2 29/30 חשון – Cheshvan 1/2 29/30 כסלו – Kislev 1/2 29 טבת – Tevet 1 30 שבט – Shevat Adar – 30 2 אדר א' – Adar I 29 2 2 29 אדר אדר ב' – Adar II 1 30 ניסן – Nisan 2 29 אייר – Iyar 1 30 סיון – Sivan 2 29 תמוז – Tamuz 1 30 אב – Av 2 29 אלול - Ellul Year כסלו חשון ח, כ, ש “Types” חסרה Note: there is no Year Chaseirah 29 29 *and Incomplete 30=חשון with because it ,29=כסלו כסדרה would achieve the same total number of days Kesidrah 29 30 annually, and would be Regular redundant. שלימה Shleimah 30 30 A.K.A. * Defective Complete** ** Excessive Relationship between Molad & Rosh Chodesh ROSH HASHANAH is determined by MOLAD TISHREI (with 4 exceptions - Dechiyot) ROSH CHODESH is determined by the alternating 29-30 day month cycle irrespective of the molad of that month. V. Setting the Holidays: The Four Dechiyot Dechiyot - Postponements To ensure that certain holidays do not fall on certain days of the week. By shortening / lengthening the year by 1 day. Pushing (Docheh) RH OFF of MOLAD TISHREI. 1. לא אד"ו ראש LO AD”U ROSH Molad Tishrei = RH 1, 4, 6 postponed until the next (Sun, Wed, Fri) possible day. (אד"ו) ?"לא אד"ו ראש" RH = Friday YK on Sunday Avoid 2 consecutive days without cooking Avoid 2 consecutive days (כבוד המת) RH = Wed without burial YK on Friday RH = Sun Never cancel the mitzvah of Hoshana Rabba Hakafot with the Aravah. -
In Astrology, the Moon Represents Our Inner World (Feelings + Desires), Whereas the Sun Represents Our O Uter World (How We ‘Show Up’ in the World)
THE MOON CYCLE 101: WHAT DOES THE MOON MEAN FOR US? In astrology, the moon represents our inner world (feelings + desires), whereas the sun represents our outer world (how we ‘show up’ in the world). The moon phases mirror our emotional / energetic phases - our energy begins to build at the start of a cycle, then reaches a peak at the full moon. After that, it wanes again like diminishing moon, until the cycle ends. We can align our actions with the moon cycle to make our manifesting easier. One full lunar cycle around the earth is 29.5 days. It looks like this: Kait Fowlie Tarot Reader | Reiki Practitioner | Blogger Web: Kaitfowlie.com IG: @kait_fowlie THE MOON PHASES NEW MOON: FEEL INSIDE FOR AN INTENTION, PLANT A SEED The moon is positioned between the earth and the sun so the back side is lit, and we see darkness. Because everything goes dark, we have a blank canvas on which to create. New moon = limitless possibilities! ● Set intentions ● Decide what you want to call in, visualize having it ● Take one first step! FIRST QUARTER MOON (WAXING): BUILD MOMENTUM About 1 week after the new moon. The moon - and our emotional state - grow! ● Put together a plan and take steps to make your intentions real ● Speak and act as if you have. Be confident! FULL MOON: MANIFEST + OBSERVE 2 weeks after the new moon. The moon is on the exact opposite side of the Earth from the sun - that’s why it’s so bright! This is the culmination of the lunar cycle.