What’s Happening in the Sky
August 18-September 7
One of the most exciting
visions the heavens provide is the
phenomenon known as a
“shooting star.” Ranging all the
way from subtle whispers of
light to giant fireballs, these col
ored streaks against the night
sky are the result of matter en
tering and burning in our atmos
phere. When we realize that the
residue of shooting stars, called
“star dust,” drifts down to
Earth at the rate of 14,000 tons a
day, we get a dim idea of the
firework abundance in the sky.
And fireworks they are! For
example, a really large object
falling through the sky is occa
siOnally as orgnt as me run
Moon, or even as the Sun.
Shaped something like a tear
drop, it can be followed by a
scintillating trail that exhibits all
the colors of the rainbow while
shedding sparks that fade from
bright orange to red. Moreover,
thunder-like rumblings and the
fall of a meteorite can ac
company the event.
Far more common are the
streaks of light known simply as
meteors. These can be seen at a
rate of approximately 5 to 10 an
hour on a clear, dark night.
However, during a meteor
“shower,” like the Perseids in
early August, the frequency can
increase enormously. Imagine
how astounding it must have
been to have seen 40 “falling
stars” a second, as did people
watching a meteor shower in the
southwest U.S. on November
17, 1966. Even rain rarely falls as
fast!
When a shooting star or me
teor doesn’t turn completely to
dust and descends to Earth, it is
known as a meteorite. The an
cients, of course, were familiar
with these objects, accompanied
as they often were by brilliant
light and “thunder.” Thus, it’s
surprising that in the 1700’s
scientists discounted ancient
tales of stones falling from the
sky. Museum directors went so
far as to throw out genuine
meteorites from their collections
as “shameful relics of a supersti
tious past.” This scepticism was
finally and sheepishly aban
doned after a shower of over
2000 stones fell to the ground in
France in 1803.
Naturally, meteorites are still
falling occasionally from the
sky. Should you be lucky
enough to find one, it might be
more good fortune than you sus
pect, for these objects have been
known to contain lustrous dia
monds!
A remarkable celestial inter
action is showcased during the
upcoming Summer nights in the
realm of constellations. Whereas
in weeks past I’ve introduced
Hercules, Draco, and the “Sum
mer Traingle,” the adjoining
map shows the way these stars
are interrelated. Recollecting
that the archer Hercules has a
foot planted on the head of the
dragon, Draco, “his” arrow,
Sagitta, is appropriately seen fly
ing amidst the constellations
Cygnus the swan and Aquila the
eagle. Falling in the midst of this
celestial archery is Lyra, the lyre.
Its brightest star, along with the
brightest star from both Aquila
and Cygnus, makes up the
“Summer Triangle.” Should
you be able to find these re
markable patterns (by looking
straight up at 10 pm), you’ll see
- that they cover a vast portion of
the overarching sky.
After its long residence in the
evening twilit sky, Venus is no
longer a nightly marvel. If you
desire to see it again soon, you’ll
have to brave the pre-dawn
hours during the first days of
September, where it will be a
thin crescent (through binocu
lars) glowing a brilliant white.
Following quickly in Venus’
train is the ringed planet, Sa
turn, which is likewise on its way
out of our darkened skies. You
can still find it just above and to.
me CIL or me star spica as me
brightest object in the low south
west after sunset. Easier to
locate is the night’s brightest ob
ject after the Moon, Jupiter.
This planet with its 88,000 mile
girth and white appearance can
be found just to the left of
Saturn in the southwest. During
the next three weeks the Moon
may be observed going through
almost an entire lunar cycle, ris
ing about 52 minutes later each
evening. Look especially for it at
its full phase Monday, August
22, at 8 pm, when it will fill the
night with silvery reflected sun
light. Finishing off the night’s
entertainments with a crescendo,
the Sun spreads its light along
the eastern horizon at approxi
mately 6:30 am until early Sep
tember.
This Week’s Terrestial Eye
Opener (taken from the book,
The Seven Mysteries of Life by
Guy Murchie): “There may still
be more unknown than known
animal species, particularly
among the insects and microbes.
Even sizable species are being
discovered at a surprising rate: a
new species of bird on an aver
age of once a week, a new mam
mal every two weeks, a new rep
tile or amphibian about twice
yearly, and a new insect about
once an hour.”
—Larry Deckman
Christine Payne-Towler
Of
to
Psychic Counseling
Tarot Trance
Astrology
Psychic Growth
Private Training
Circle 'Mork
345-9599
STARS, STARS, STARS ?
The skies of the Pacific
Northwest have now been
recorded on a glow-in-the
dark star map. They are
available for 87 from Larry
Deckman or Sloan Heer
mance at 2406 Lawrence St.
in Eugene. Call 343-7166.
Q
SECOND
NATURE
USED BIKES
New and used parts
for the tourist,
racer, commuter
and cruiser.
BUY-SELL-TRADE
1712 Willamette
343-5362
Tues.-Sat. 10:00-5:30
SAVE OUR PARKS & WILDLIFE :
FeedWatt
to the
2.
Bears
00 Letta Grapncs1982
100% COTTON T-Shirt
printed brown on beige Adult Sizes $7
Childrens Sizes 2&4;S ML $5
, Allow 2 weeks • Wholesole avoilobl
BANYAN IREE • BOX 820 OR 97426
CLASSIMIEDS
COUNSELING
Self-affirming approach for individuals,
traditional and non-traditional relation
ships. Initial appointment free. Toni Tor
torilla, MS, 343-7413.
Wholistic Body Healing Work. Massage
polarity for women only. State licensed.
Call Helen, 6864)102.
Counseling. All answers are within. I help
with tools, experience. Dorothy Knowles,
BSW. 345-6677.
Therapeutic massage and bodywork re
laxes, relieves chronic tension, emotional
stresses. 5 years experience. Jill Wolf,
343-1937.
Psychic counseling, comprehensive Tarot
readings, healing bodywork, past life re
gressions, by appointment. Mitzi Linn,
345-0233.
ASTROLOGY—TAROT
Understand your potentials and appre
ciate your assets. Astrology answers the
question “why?” Birth charts, yearly and
monthly forecasts, relationship and career
consultations. Johanna Koch, 342-7272.
COUNSELING
Wholistic, eclectic approach. View
therapist role as “midwife,” coaching, en
couraging, supporting the process of crea
tive growth. Dorothy Knowles, BSW,
345-6677.
COUNSELING
Supportive Gestalt therapy and Psycho
synthesis. Effective relationship coun
seling. Gentle, focused, confidential.
Ruth Messer, M.Ed. 343-2384.
ASTROLOGY READINGS
with JUDY TOBIAS FRANZEN. Two
hour in-depth reading, $40. Yearly “Solar
Return,” $35. One-hour reading, $25.
Child reading, $25. Relationship reading,
$40-$50. 345-6677.
Treat yourself or friend to a great mas
sage. Peaceful, innervating. Nina .Cherry
485-8090. Lawrence St. Chiropractic.
Classical Homeopathy—healing the whole
person. No-cost initial consultation. Don
Webley, 345-6677.
Feminist counseling: first session free, fees
based on ability to pay. Call Diane Maria,
(h) 484-5157.
The Healing Power of Sound
Participants will find their own personal
life song, healing song, learn chants for
transformation, joy, and harmony. Ton
ing and Keening will be taught. Teacher
Laeh Maggie Garfield. Sept 23-25, $90.
Come enjoy the beauty of Breitenbush.
(503) 854-3501.
DANCE CLASSES
Dance-Oasis, a Eugene collective, offers
modern, ballet, and tap classes Tues,
Thurs and Fri evenings and Sat mornings.
$18 membership fee covers all classes. Call
343-1471 or 683-5014.
Massage, bodywork, foot reflexology for
women only (pregnant women tool). Nur
turing, relaxing, healing. Asil Flute,
683-5336.
Hatha Yoga with Ken Rowlett
A unique teacher with innovative tech
niques to help you increase flexibility, im
prove health, and reduce stress. Special
ized workshops and classes for groups and
businesses. Daytimes available. 345-4388.
Therapeutic Massage • Experienced •
Professional • Ingrid Vogt • LMT •
345-7189 • upstairs of Cafe Central.
Found: 6-1-83 light blue boys 10 speed
bicycle- volkeycle . Call 4844953 to iden
tify and claim;
FORSALE.
&=
CONGA DRUM, Gon Bop, $200; VIK
ING SEWING MACHINE does uphol
stering, $400; AUTOHARP 15-chord,
$85. 343-1413 days.
20*’ Ladies English 3-speed, completely
reconditioned, fenders, basket, depend
able and smooth. $70. 345-4173.
Tent: 1-2 person Moss Solus, lightweight
(3 lbs. 10 oz.), used only once. $140.
485-0495.
Mountaineering boots—Asolo Yukon
10%, excellent condition, $80 (retail
$150). Also Svea Climber 123R stove $20
(retail $40). Rob, 345-4085.
1970 VW Pop-Top Camper. Good con
dition. New radials, generator. Runs
great. $2,000. 343-4830 evenings.
20” Electric Fan, new, $15. Please call
343-7047
Top quality grass hay for sale, no rain, in
barn, U-haul. $55 per ton. Cottage Grove,
942-5206 evenings.
ALL CARDS 50% OFF!
Greeting cards, postcards, half price! Chi
nese hi-top sneakers $9.95. Diana’s, 126
W Broadway, downtown. 342-6245.
For Sale: Sunn Sceptre Guitar Amp Head,
400 watts, tubes. $125 negotiable. Mary
Lynne, 344-7548.
16 ft. Travel Trailer, older model with
wood interior, stove, fridge. Sleeps 4. Mit
zi, 345-0233.
Gibson copy guitar, 6 string. Beautiful in
lay, blonde wood, good condition. $200.
Call 688-1759.
Complete canner, 5 doz. jars, excellent
handbuilt food dryer, answering machine,
belly-dance costumes. 344-7696.
Honda 450 45 mpg 1973, excellent con
dition, $500. Toyota Corolla '69 1200,
good car—offers. Steve, 688-4501,
343-5487.
1972 Volkswagen 411 wagon. Needs sim
ple cosmetic work. Auto trans. $1700.
Call Michael at 342-3682.
BEAUTIFUL BUILDING GLASS! Tem
pered safety glass, new seconds. 33"x75"
—$14; 45”x75‘— $17.50. Other sizes.
345-9599.
(•) OREGON ZEN PRIORY
Free Introductory Meditation Workshops,
Weekly Zazen, Services, Monthly Retreats,
Resident Priests.
See Events Calendar
2255 Hilyard
Eugene, Oregon 97405
344-7377