Wow Increased energy with our Equinox Supermoon Ostara Eclipse!

Wow Friday will certainly be a day for increased energy!!

We have a solar eclipse here in the UK that will affect us and much of Europe, below is a map to show you the areas that will be affected. Currently it looks like a good viewing area is actually in the south of England as the weather forecast is said to be sunny here. Those that have headed up to the north of England and further north may be disappointed by the cloud cover sadly.

The eclipse is caused by the  moon passing in front of the path of the moon. The Sun has a diamater 400 times greater than our moon but our moon is 400 times closer to the sun than the moon. (the ratio varies as both orbits are elliptical) Thus it happens that our small moon can totally block out the light from the Sun. How amazing is it that these figures cause this incredible event to occur?!

Viewing areas for the UK

Not only is this an amazing celestial event itself but the moon we will be having is a super moon. You can find out more about super moons here. How does the super moon affect me?

Our March new moon will turn new just 14 hours after reaching lunar perigree, that is the closest point to the earth.

Supermoons occur because our moon does not follow a circular path around our earth, it follows an elliptical one. Therefore at its furthest away it is 405,000 km away, this is called an apogee, and at its nearest it is 363,000, this is called a perigree. When the time of the perigree aligns with a full or new moon it is called a supermoon. Super moons are known to bring higher tides than usual and the effect that they have on human and animal behaviour is heightened at the time of a Supermoon.

“The moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few percent at such times,” says Dr. James Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center on the space agency’s website. “It is called a supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect. The ‘super’ in supermoon is really just the appearance of being closer.”

Supermoons can appear as much as 14% larger in the sky and 30% brighter to our eyes than at their smallest size and brightness.

In addition to this being a super moon eclipse it is also falling on the equinox, the day when night and day are of equal length. Thus our special Ostara equinox super moon will travel in front of the sun creating a shadow that falls on our earth.

Some statistics on that equinox eclipse I found interesting from earthsky:

"A total eclipse of the sun and the March equinox do fall on the same date this year: March 20, 2015. The greatest eclipse occurs at 9:46 Universal Time, while the March equinox comes to pass some 13 hours later at 22:45 Universal Time. 

Supermoon total eclipse of equinox sun on March 20, 2015

After this 2015 equinox eclipse, the next solar eclipse at the March equinox will happen on March 20, 2034. Then there will be two more in this century: 2053 and 2072. 

A solar eclipse can only happen at new moon. For a solar eclipse to take place at the vernal equinox, therefore, the new moon must come on the equinox date. Of course, a March equinox new moon doesn’t always necessarily guarantee a solar eclipse.  Here’s why.

New moons recur on (or near) the same calendar dates every 19 years. This 19-year lunar period is known as the Metonic cycle. Amazingly, you can project this 19-year cycle for centuries into the future (or past) to figure out when the new moon will occur on the March equinox."

In ancient times eclipses were things to be dreaded. They were often seen as signs that the Gods were angry and were greatly feared.

Now of course we know that is not the case. We will probably find there is a fair bit of turbulence going on however due to these events going on in the skies above us so perhaps prepare yourselves for a few choppy days at sea! Ride the waves of the turbulence and see the eclipse together with the new moon as a doorway to new adventures, open the door and do not be afraid of what you find on the other side! Ostara Oestare brings new adventures, new beginnings and a spring in your step, as the world awakens so do you! Take a page out of nature's book and find it within you to flourish as you are meant to! 

Special Ostara Equinox Supermoon Eclipse blessings to you! AstarteAlison

Total Lunar Eclipse, Blood Moon 14/15 April. The first of The Lunar Tetrad 2014/15

We have our first lunar eclipse of 2014 on 14/15 April.

Lunar Eclipses are always an exciting event and have throughout time always been seen as a deeply spiritual event.  Of course many years ago our ancestors did not understand why our moon was suddenly disappearing and were very disturbed by this fact, often thinking that they had perhaps angered the gods. Now of course we understand the phenomenon and can enjoy the wonderful sight.

This total lunar eclipse is known as a red moon or blood moon seemingly because it will make our moon take on a beautiful red glow, although it is not really known why the term blood moon seems to have been particular applied to this Tetrad of eclipses.

Mars will be at it’s closest to our earth for the year and together the two really will make spectacular viewing.

 

Position of Mars from Earthsky.org

The lunar eclipse will begin around 2am EDT and last around three hours.

 

World viewing map from earthsky.org

This lunar eclipse will be the first of four total eclipses that will occur throughout 2014 and 2015, these are collectively known as a tetrad. The next one will be 28^th September, followed by another total lunar eclipse or red moon on  4^th April 2015 and finally the last blood moon will be 8^th October 2015. The Tetrad is four consecutive lunar eclipses spaced at six lunar months apart from each other, with no partial lunar eclipses in between. This Tetrad is a fairly infrequent occurrence and thus and wonderful cosmic and spiritual experience to be a part of.

This string of lunar eclipses or blood moons will bring a deeper understanding of ourselves. This is a time of high energy pulsing over us in waves. Insight may come in a flash and we need to hang on to sparks as they reach us in a surge. Be careful how you handle relationships particularly those close to you as tempers may be slightly frayed just now.

Enjoy viewing the total lunar eclipse and wonder at the amazing blood red moon. If you are not in an area that you can see the moon from you can always watch online and still see the beauty of our moon and enjoy her power from afar.

Blood moon blessings to you,

Alison

Hybrid Solar Eclipse November 2013 Africa,Europe,America. Will you see this amazing event?

The solar eclipse on Sunday, November 3, 2013, will be visible from far-eastern North America, the Caribbean, northern South America, southern Greenland, the Atlantic Ocean, southern Europe, Africa, Madagascar and the Middle East.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is between the sun and earth, thus blocking out some or all of it’s light to us. We were blessed to see a solar eclipse in England, quite some years back now but it was a truly amazing sight! The Sun has a diamater 400 times greater than our moon but our moon is 400 times closer to the sun than the moon. (the ratio varies as both orbits are elliptical) Thus it happens that our small moon can totally block out the light from the Sun. How amazing is it that these figures cause this incredible event to occur?!

Map of the eclipse Nov 2013

This year in 2013, many parts of Africa, America and Europe will see a partial solar eclipse. Only those living in equatorial Africa will have the joy of seeing a full solar eclipse in the afternoon of November 3^rd 2013. It will be short lived, at best, the total eclipse will last somewhat more than one minute (in western Gabon) This eclipse is  part of Saros cycle 143, repeating every 18 years, 11 days, containing 72 events. The series started with partial solar eclipse on March 7, 1617.

 

Map of the eclipse Nov 2013

This particular eclipse is a special type of eclipse known as a hybrid eclipse. This is a special eclipse in that the eclipse path starts as an annular eclipse (mean lunar diameter less than mean solar diameter as viewed from Earth) but then turns into a very short duration total eclipse (mean lunar diameter is greater than the mean solar diameter). During a previous hybrid solar eclipse, in April 2005, a stretch of totality was sandwiched between annular views at the beginning and end. This year's edition is especially rare because it begins with annularity and ends with totality.

The special nature of this eclipse is that along the areas where the annular eclipse is visible mountains along the lunar profile will create a broken ring. The same will apply along the areas where totality is expected but in reverse, lunar valleys along the profile might let bright sections of the chromosphere and photosphere through creating a multiple diamond ring effect.

In the US this November the partial eclipse is already at maximum as the Sun rises, this is the view that you might get if skies are clear.

This solar eclipse is occurring at the same time as we are experiencing Mercury in Retrograde, an event that often causes emotions to be a little unsettled. The Solar eclipse, unique as it is will further stir emotions so we are in for a very up and down time! This is a perfect time to look within and maybe see what you would like to change in your life.

The eclipse point will be in the second decanate of Scorpio. People with Scorpio rising, either in their birth chart or in their solar return chart for 2013/14, will feel the influence stronger than others.

How amazing would an eclipse have been for our ancestors! We now know the science behind the event but in my book that makes it even more special! Science and nature, an awesome combination Mother Earth!

I won't be able to see the eclipse here in England but would love to hear from any of you that will!

Solar blessings, Alison xxx

For further info see the great websites listed.

Eclipse times:

Canada:

Montreal, Quebec
Sunrise: 6:35 a.m. EST
Partial eclipse ends: 7:12 a.m. EST

United States:

New York City, NY
Sunrise: 6:29 a.m. EST
Partial eclipse ends: 7:11 a.m. EST

Raleigh, North Carolina
Sunrise: 6:39 a.m. EST
Partial eclipse ends: 7:08 a.m. EST

Miami, Florida
Sunrise: 6:31 a.m. EST
Partial eclipse ends: 7:02 a.m. EST

Caribbean:

Havana, Cuba
Sunrise: 6:34 a.m. EST
Partial eclipse ends: 7:00 a.m. EST

South America:

Cartagena, Columbia
Sunrise: 5:52 a.m. local time
Partial eclipse ends: 6:52 a.m. local time

Local eclipse times:

Madrid, Spain
Partial eclipse begins: 1:00 p.m. local time
Greatest eclipse: 1:35 p.m. local time
Partial eclipse ends: 2:10 p.m. local time

Algiers, Algeria
Partial eclipse begins: 1:15 p.m. local time
Greatest eclipse: 1:56 p.m. local time
Partial eclipse ends: 2:36 p.m. local time

Jerusalem, Israel
Partial eclipse begins: 3:12 p.m. local time
Greatest eclipse: 4:00 p.m. local time
Partial eclipse ends: 4:43 p.m. local time

Sources and further info:

Earthsky.org

http://www.eclipse-chasers.com

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/227679011.html

http://starsandstones.wordpress.com

Look carefully at October's blood moon to see the red prenumbral eclipse!

Our moon will be full this month on Friday 18^th October 2013. We have another special moon as it is a prenumbral lunar eclipse. The prenumbral eclipse means that the Full Moon will pass through the outer rim of the Earth’s shadow. This is obviously not as spectacular as a full lunar eclipse, which occurs when the Moon enters the dark inner core, or umbra, of the Earth’s shadow, but special just the same! If you look carefully you may just be able to notice a slight dusky shading on the lower southern side of the Moon around the time of 23:51 Universal Time/ 7:51 PM Eastern Daylight Saving Time. The prenumbaral eclipse will last for  3 hours and 59 minutes in and 76.5% of the disk of the Moon will be immersed in the penumbra at maximum eclipse. 

Path of the prenumbral eclipse on October 18th

Prenumbral eclipses are quite hard to see as you can only see an apparent dimming of the brightness of the full moon, they account for about 35% of all eclipses. The light penumbral shadow on the moon is a beautiful sight to behold, for those with the opportunity and patience to look for it. You may see a reddish tone to the surface of the moon. The red tint is due to the fact that as the Sun’s light is filtered through the Earth’s atmosphere much of the “blue light” is eliminated, leaving only the reddish hues. In the case of the October prenumbral eclipse a relatively small fraction of the Moon's disk enters the penumbral, and no part of its surface sees an especially deep eclipse of the Sun's light reaching it.

"The exact colour that the moon appears depends on the amount of dust and clouds in the atmosphere," according to NASA scientists. "If there are extra particles in the atmosphere, from say a recent volcanic eruption, the moon will appear a darker shade of red." http://www.space.com

I am certainly going to try and see if I can notice it. Do let me know how your viewing goes wherever you are. It really will be a blood moon this October if we see a fabulous reddish glow to our moon!

We have been blessed with three lunar eclipses this year and we are still due a solar eclipse in November!

Picture of a prenumbral eclipse last November www.earthsky.org

“This eclipse is the 3^rd and final lunar eclipse of 2013, and the 5^th overall. It’s also the first in a series of four descending node eclipses, including the total lunar eclipse of October 8^th next year.   It’s also the 52^nd eclipse of 72 in the lunar saros series 117, which started on April 3^rd, 1094 and will end with a final lunar eclipse on May 15^th, 2356. Saros 117 produced its last total lunar eclipse in 1815 and its final partial in 1941…. And this sets us up for the second eclipse of the season the next time the Moon crosses an ecliptic node, a hybrid (annular-total) solar eclipse spanning the Atlantic and Africa on November 3^rd”

http://www.universetoday.com

Eclipses have throughout time been seen as special and often deeply spiritual occurrences. Luckily today we know why they occur whereas to some of our ancestors they were seen as amazing and sometimes frightening events. Often their appearance was attributed to the Gods or Goddesses that were celebrated at the time.

Christopher Columbus used this event to his advantage and frightened Jamaican natives in 1504 into feeding him and his crew because there was a blood red eclipse at the time. Columbus told the local leader that the Moon would rise “inflamed with wrath,” Columbus then made a great show of pretending to pray for intersession from heaven, after which the Moon returned to its rightful colour!

October’s full moon is often referred to as the hunter’s moon. October was traditionally a very good time for hunting meat to store during the cold days ahead. The last of the harvest had been gathered so our hunter-gatherer ancestors could turn their full attention to hunting. With all the crops cut down and the laves falling from the trees, hunting was much easier at this time of year as the prey had less places to hide.

Like the September full moon the hunter’s moon is a particularly bright one and lingers in the sky for longer. When a full moon occurs close to the autumnal equinox, the moon rises only about 30 minutes later daily for several days before and after the full Harvest moon. This is because the elliptic, or orbital path, makes a narrow angle with the evening horizon around the time of the autumn equinox. The narrow angle of the ecliptic results in a shorter than normal rising time between sunset and moonrise. This meant that there was a longer time for the hunter’s to make the most of the brightness and catch the food that would be needed.

The Blood Moon may take it’s name from hunting or harvest sacrifices. In fact, October or Octem, was the eighth month in the oldest Roman calendar. It marked the of the custom of killing and salting down livestock before the winter months made it impossible to feed all of them. Only the best stock was saved for next year and for breeding thus there would have been a lot of killing at this time on the full moon calendar.

This Moon has also been known as the Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon, Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, Moon of Falling Leaves, Moon When the Water Freezes, Blood Moon, Leaf Fall Moon, Basket Moon, Big Wind Moon, Blood Moon, Shedding Moon, Winterfelleth (Winter Coming), Windermanoth (Vintage Month), Ten Colds Moon and the Moon of the Changing Seasons.

The Cherokee name for the October full Moon was Dunin(i)di. This is the time of the “Harvest Festival” Nowatequa. The tribes give thanks to all the living things of the fields and earth that helped them live, and to the “Apportioner”  Unethlana. Cheno i-equa or “Great New Moon” Festival is customarily held at this time. Ritual fasting would be observed seven days prior to the festival and then a feast would take place with friends and family to celebrate this full moon.

Other names for the October full moon concentrate on events happening in the natural world at this time. Thus we see names such as leaf fall moon as the trees lose their leaves, and Moon when the water freezes as this is often the first moon in the year that sees temperatures drop below freezing.

This is the full moon calendar for October 2013. The next full moon will be:

Saturday * 19th October 2013 * 01:37:42 am

Central European Summer Time (CEST)

Moon sign: Aries 25° 45'

In other time zones:

WELLINGTON = Saturday * 19th Oct 2013 * 12:37:42 pm (NZDT)

SYDNEY = Saturday * 19th October 2013 * 10:37:42 am (AEDT)

TOKYO = Saturday * 19th October 2013 * 08:37:42 am (JST)

BEIJING = Saturday * 19th October 2013 * 07:37:42 am (CST)

BANGKOK = Saturday * 19th October 2013 * 06:37:42 am (ICT)

DELHI = Saturday * 19th October 2013 * 05:07:42 am (IST)

MOSCOW = Saturday * 19th October 2013 * 03:37:42 am (MSK)

RIYADH = Saturday * 19th October 2013 * 02:37:42 am (AST)

BERLIN = Saturday * 19th October 2013 * 01:37:42 am (CEST)

LONDON = Saturday * 19th October 2013 * 12:37:42 am (BST)

RIO = Friday * 18th October 2013 * 08:37:42 pm (BRT)

NEW YORK = Friday * 18th October 2013 * 07:37:42 pm (EDT)

MEXICO CITY = Friday * 18th October 2013 * 06:37:42 pm (CDT)

LOS ANGELES = Friday * 18th October 2013 * 04:37:42 pm (PDT)

HONOLULU = Friday * 18th October 2013 * 01:37:42 pm (HAST)

http://www.fullmoon.info