Unfortunately, although the Moon will pass in front of (occult) Mars today, it wont happen until after the Sun rises for observers in North America. Our Groundhog Day is a remote survivor of that belief. This angle is set by Earth's axial tilt. Check an astronomical app, magazine, or another online resource for more specific information relating to your location. Note: This is a large file and may take a moment to load. Mars outshines Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, but take a few moments to compare their colors, as the light from both the planet and star will have a similar hue. In 2022, there will be two total lunar eclipses. In 1752 when we switched tot he Gregorian calendar, we began celebrating Halloween several days BEFORE Samhain. With your circular protractor, measure 16.6 above and below the declination of the Equinox Sun. In astronomical terms, these holidays were the cross-quarter days, those days that fall midway between a solstice and an equinox. Now a waning gibbous, the Moon is just under three degrees away from Mars, putting them both well within the same binocular field of view. Finally, December boasts a triple-whammy of Mars at opposition, the full Moon, and an occultation of Mars by the Moon - all on the same night! Quarter days and cross-quarter days: Dividing the year into quarters is an ancient and natural practice: the annual movement of the sun across the sky automatically gives us two equinoxes, two solstices, and four seasons. I read it daily. Neptune is next, on September 16th, followed by Jupiter ten days later, Uranus on November 9th, and, lastly, Mars is at opposition on the evening of December 7th. 2022 is a great year to see the planets huddled close together - if you don't mind getting up early to see them! This mission is expected to increase our understanding of planetary formation. According to the ancient Celts, a cross-quarter day marks the beginning - not the middle - of a. Keep your eye on the two planets over the next few days. Youll then be able to see the crescent Moon pass each one during the last week of the month. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Festive Lughnasa is actually the first Sunday in August, Cross quarter days actually fall about five days after we celebrate them because the Celts had a lunar calendar with thirteen months and they fell on the first day of their month and when the calendar changed to the twelve month calendar that we use now they continued to celebrate them on the first of the month if you Count the days between solstice and equinox the halfway point is later. If youre lucky, you might also be able to glimpse Saturn just to the left of it. ET tonight, with Jupiter shining brightly to its east and dim Neptune four and a half degrees to its northwest. Youll find it to the lower left of Castor and Pollux in Gemini, the two bright stars that mark their namesake twins. It was Ray's family's druidic Cross. Keep up the good work!!! Groundhog Day is an astronomy holiday - a cross-quarter day - falling approximately midway between the December solstice. For the ancient Celts, these signaled the beginning (not middle) of a season, with the major two divisions being winter (Samhain), starting the dark half of the year, and summer (Beltane), starting the light half of theyear. That being the case, unless youre up and outside at that time, your best opportunity to see the Moon at its fullest will be during the evening of the 17th, when the Moon will be roughly 99.8% illuminated. The eight dates of the seasons and cross-quarters were important times for observance in. Lets get started! Here's an example from Northern Vermont, USA. With that in mind, and given the long winter nights in the northern hemisphere, many observers prefer this shower over its summer counterpart. This months full Moon can be found in Taurus and, not surprisingly, is known as the Cold Moon. The Yin Fire Goat still governs the remaining days of July. There are two moments each year when one of Earth's poles is tilted the most toward the Sun, and the Sun lies directly above one of the tropics. This fit readily into the rhythm of the ways peoplefarmed. These Cross-Quarter Days were the major feast days of the Celts. Learn why we have elections in November, weddings in June, groundhog celebrations in Februaryand why we do what wedo! Halloween stems from the ancient celebration of Samhain! For Ancient Celts, Samhain was marked as being one of the most significant of all of the four quarterly fire festivals, as it took place during the midpoint between the winter solstice and the fall equinox. The Seasons The Moon turns new on the 2nd, which makes this a great time to spot a few shooting stars - not to mention a few fireballs. In the Northern Hemisphere, it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located at 23.5 south of the equator and runs through Australia, Chile, southern Brazil, and northern South Africa. A little over three degrees separate the pair, but towards the southeast, we have Mars and Jupiter with just a degree and a quarter between them. NASAs mission Psyche was named after its object of study the large metallic asteroid 16 Psyche located in the main asteroid belt. Much harder to spot is Venus; its very low over the horizon, but you may be able to catch it if you have an unobstructed view. The gap then widens, with your last chance to see the pair together in 10x50 binoculars on the 18th. However, some of the Perseid meteors are so bright that you could manage to see them regardless. The solar cross-quarter days occur midway between the equinoxes and solstices. The Moon itself is just over the border in Cancer, the Crab, but its light will drown out the faint stars of that constellation. These holidays are only celebrated by the Celts, according to astronomer Alan Hill. In half the number of days between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice, at Beltane, around May 1st, the Sun has moved approximately 71% of the distance between these two points on the horizon. Be on the lookout for Earthshine; this is the reflected glow from the Earth that illuminates the darkened portion of the Moons surface and allows the whole of the Moon to become visible. To find it, youll need to start at Hydor (Lambda Aquarii), hop southeast to Phi Aquarii (itll appear just on the edge of the same field of view as Hydor), and then continue the line from both stars until you come to a dim but conspicuously blue star. With that in mind, your best chance of seeing some meteors is probably between 3:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., when Perseus (the constellation from which the meteors appear to originate) is rising high in the northeast and the Moon is setting in the southwest. During the Quadrantids' peak in January 2022, less than 1% of the Moon will be illuminated, which is perfect for meteor hunting. :a-b00kl4x0a2-20220819: Combi LED+ . In this article, well tell you about space-related events that you shouldnt miss in 2022. Youll be able to see the waning crescent Moon within the same binocular field of view as the Beehive cluster this morning, but as the stars of the cluster are comparatively faint, youll need to get up early while the sky is still dark. The 2 solstices and 2 equinoxes are called the quarter days in many ancient traditions, since they divide the year up into quarters. astronomical cross quarter days 2022creekside middle school athletics. The timing of present-day rituals, traditions, and holidays wasinfluenced by the ancientCelts: For the ancient Celts, Cross-Quarter days signaled the beginningof a season! ET on the 18th. You can also watch our video about the most exciting sky events of 2022. Aprils full Moon is known as the Pink Moon, after the phlox flowers that bloom at this time of year. During this dark time of year, it was believed that the spirits of the dead wandered from sunset until midnight. Mars enters Capricorn. BONUS: Youll also receive our freeBeginner GardeningGuide! In 2022, the gas giant Jupiter will reach opposition on September 26. Celebrate the Midpoint of Summer 2022 But say goodbye to daylight hours! This month's Cross-Quarter Day is called Groundhog Day in the USA, and I'll bet that 99.9% of the population has + (The English church later celebrated this day as the birthday of John the Baptist, who foretold the coming of Jesus. The Geminids are a major meteor stream that can produce up to 150 meteors per hour. You can see them over the east-northeastern horizon at about 45 minutes before sunrise, but if you want to see Mercury, its best to look at about 30 minutes before sunrise. ET and is known as the Hunters Moon, as traditionally, this would be the time when people would hunt and stockpile food for the coming winter months. For anyone in a timezone further west, opposition will happen in the evening of the 7th. (Keep your eye on those two planets as theyll be drawing closer together over the next few weeks). If youre an early riser, this is your last chance to see Mercury in the predawn sky this year. Spring Equinox - around March 21st (at 9:00 o'clock). Soil, are stirred from their winter dormancy and their waters . On the plus side, the Moon is a waxing crescent in the evening sky and shouldnt pose any problems. Mars has been drawing closer to the Pleiades over the past few weeks, and now the pair is within the same binocular field of view. The planet is 45 degrees to the west of the Sun and rises some two hours before dawn, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the view in the morning twilight. Beltaine - May 5. The two-day-old Moon appears to the left of both worlds on the 24th and the pair will be at their closest on the 28th when just one and a half degrees will separate them. The days that marked the four major divisions of the year were called Quarter Days; they marked the solstice(when the sun sets at its most northern or southern point on the horizon) and equinoxes (when the sun sets due west). Originally, this daywas called Imbolc (lambs milk) because the lambing season began. Leo, the constellation from which the meteors appear to originate, starts to rise at around midnight, with the Moon following close to 2 a.m. It's also a fun read! ET (8:29 p.m. PT) to 12:53 a.m. In England, Wales and Ireland they are traditionally: 25 March, 24 June, 29 September and 25 December, although local authorities tend to use 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October. In theory, you can see the planet with just your eyes, but youd need to know exactly where to look, have clear skies, and have good eyesight. Samhain - around November 1st, the Celtic New Year (The black ball at 4:30 o'clock - between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice), Imbolc - around February 1st, the quickening (The seed planted at Samhain moves for the first time (the black ball is at 8:30), Beltane - around May Day, May 1st, the Cross-quarter day of fertility (The crops are up, let's work for their fertility (the black ball is at 10:30), Lughnasad (Lammas/Loaf-Mass) - around August 1st, the first harvest of the grain (ground into the first loaf of bread of the season for Loaf Mass/Lammas (the black ball is at 2:30). Along with the Quarter Days, they make up the "Wheel of the Year." These holidays "cross" the quarter days (the solstices and the equinoxes) by falling about halfway in between, thus dividing the year into four parts of approximately three months each. Referred to as Midwinter or sometimes Saturnalia. May Day was a time for the pairing of young couples, although not yet for their wedding, which would not come until the Quarter Day which was called Midsummer Day(June 24). (Fun fact: a vestige of the old system of quarter and cross-quarter days is Groundhog Day, also known as Candlemas on the Christian . Mercury is now 19 degrees away from the Sun in the sky and is at its best visibility in the evening sky. Winter Solstice 2022: The First Day of Winter. RobertBurns. Its 23 degrees away from the Sun and can be found to the lower left of Venus. This is a copy of a Druidic Cross that was given to me by the Welsh Druid Ray Kerley when I lived in Glastonbury, England in the mid-eighties. Discover the Quarter Days and theCross-Quarter Days of the ancient Celtic calendar. Put the point of your compass on E2. The four Greater Sabbats or "cross-quarter days" are Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. We currently have another opportunity to observe Mercury in the evening twilight, with the solar systems smallest planet at greatest elongation from the Sun today. When viewed from C' this will give you the Cross-quarter day Sunrises and Sunsets at a latitude of 51o. Cross quarters are half way between those . After passing Mars and then Uranus, the waning crescent Moon is now headed toward Venus and will be close to that planet in two days time. Many historians believe that it served as the start of the new year in the Celtic calendartheir New YearsDay.. Youll need a clear, unobstructed view toward the west to spot it, as it will only be about six degrees above the horizon at 15 minutes after sunset. The two are five degrees apart this morning but will be closest on the 7th with a four and a quarter degree gap between them. When corn rigs are bonie, As we ring the 2022 New Years' bells, love and money planet Venus will be in the midst of a 40-day retrograde period, which occurs approximately every . It starts with Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn in the evening twilight, but Mercury will make a brief appearance with Venus and Mars in the predawn sky by the end of February. (The black ball at 4:30 o'clock - between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice), (The seed planted at Samhain moves for the first time (the black ball is at 8:30), (The crops are up, let's work for their fertility (the black ball is at 10:30), (ground into the first loaf of bread of the season for Loaf Mass/Lammas (the black ball is at 2:30). The Moon turns full among the faint stars of western Virgo at 3:19 a.m. The date is still celebrated in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and other countries in the Northern Hemisphere by baking Lammas bread, making corn dollies, bundling twigs together and enjoying large feasts with friends andfamily. PT.) Jupiter is the third planet this year to reach opposition and is reasonably well placed among the faint stars of western Pisces. ET (1:09 a.m. PT). Log In. ET (3:41 a.m. PT), the partial phase ending at 7:49 a.m. This type of lunar eclipse is the most spectacular because it turns the Moon red! This gives you about five hours in the evening to enjoy the show! Although the Leonids have a reputation for producing some stunning displays, the reality is that most years its a fairly run-of-the-mill meteor shower. ArtesiaWells/GettyImages. Mid-eclipse, at 5:59 a.m. Do the same with I/s3 and I/s3. Unfortunately, the Perseid meteor shower in August coincides with the full Moon, but Saturn reaches opposition a few days later. ExoMars is a joint program of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Roscosmos. Through binoculars, it appears as a blue-green star, while a small telescope will show a tiny disc at around 100x. Check our planetary conjunctions list so as not to miss them! (Mercury and Venus dont reach opposition as they orbit closer to the Sun than the Earth.) ET (10:55 p.m. PT) with the entire eclipse ending at 2:50 a.m. Venus has been slowly moving away from the Sun and is now at its greatest elongation in the morning sky. The Druidic Cross to the left indicates the Quarter Days with the four arms of the Cross. May brings us a total lunar eclipse, June has the closest full Moon of the year, while July gives us a rare opportunity to see Mars and Uranus within the same binocular field of view - but once again, in the morning sky! 2023 is a busy year for spaceflight and exploration enthusiasts with countless launches, mission milestones and skywatching events . These occur at the exact mid-point between the Lesser Sabbats. The Cross-Quarter Days are somewhat more movable. To its upper left is Mars, while Venus shines brilliantly toward the east. Be sure to compare the colors of the planets; Saturn appears a pale yellow, Mars is coppery, Venus is a brilliant white and Jupiter is pale gold. Jan 2, 2022, 07:10. East Coast observers will . The second total lunar eclipse of the year takes place in the early hours of the morning - but not everyone in North America will get to see it. If you want to explore the night sky and always stay informed about the upcoming space-related events, download our stargazing apps Sky Tonight and Star Walk 2. The first one will happen on April 30 and will be visible throughout southern South America and parts of Antarctica. Besides its color, Uranus will give itself away by shining with a steady light, as opposed to twinkling as the surrounding stars do. In 2022, there will be two partial solar eclipses. Sign up for savings and product announcements. It was not held as a good omen if the day itself was bright and sunny, for that betokened snow and frost to continue to the hiring of the laborers 6 weeks later on LadyDay. Groundhog Day 2023: Did the Groundhog See His Shadow? In reallity, the horizon is usually elevated, which adds a third dimension. Here is what we know about it so far. The following is a chart of cross quarter dates based on the solstices and equinoxes for 2015 to 2019, all based on Eastern Standard Time. For those on the east coast, three degrees will separate the pair at about 30 minutes before sunrise, but that gap will have halved by the time it gets to 30 minutes before sunrise for observers on the west coast. All planets Sun Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Node Lilith Chiron. Meanwhile, Mars and Uranus are also drawing closer together in the predawn sky. Grab your binoculars and start scanning the east-southeastern horizon at about 20 minutes before sunrise; the pair is about 22 degrees to the lower left of Venus, and at magnitude -0.1, Mercury is the brighter of the two (Saturn is magnitude 0.8.) The quarter days are loosely based on or named after the Germanic pagan festivals and the cross-quarter days are similarly inspired by the Gaelic fire festivals. A blue-green star, while Venus shines brilliantly toward the east of the... The rhythm of the Celts, a cross-quarter Day marks the beginning - not the middle - a. 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