Applegater Spring 2013 7
THE STARRY SIDE
Two- to three-dimensional
by GReeley wellS
As we define and speak of things, we
fix them in those forms and terms in our
minds. As we redefine and rename them
based on new insights, our knowledge and
understanding expands. Here’s an example
of this process that recently happened
for me. Because I was astounded and
enlightened by it, I want to pass it on to
you.
All of my schooling, all of the books
I’ve read, and all of the astrological pictures
I’ve seen show a two-dimensional (2D)
version of our solar system. You’ve all seen
it: concentric circles of planets surrounding
the sun at the center. This representation of
reality is how we have come to understand,
perceive, and describe how our solar system
works. Who could argue with that? We
all agree, even our scientists…
However, when we look three-
dimensionally (3D) at this, a whole new
reality and understanding unfolds. It’s not
that we’ve been wrong; it’s just that we’ve
long had limited 2D thinking about our
solar system, and to be woken to the 3rd
dimension is to come out of an ancient
sleep into the daylight of a new reality.
Just as the planets are not static, but
move around the sun, the sun is not static
either. The sun moves in its own path
through our galaxy; therefore, something
revolving around the sun is also moving
through space. This means the planets don’t
move in a true circle around the sun; their
movement actually forms a spiral shape,
because the sun and planets are moving
through new space together.
Now, get this: the galaxy itself is
moving through the universe, and the
universe itself is in motion as well as
expanding.
So from a 2D concept we are now
invited into a much greater, clearer, more
accurate understanding of what is really
going on in our solar system. The photo
illustrates what it looks like in that whole
“new” (to me and now perhaps to you)
reality. Isn’t it beautiful?
This spring, as you walk out into a
clear night with this new understanding
of the solar system, you’ll see Orion
standing upright in the west. To his left
is the brightest star in the sky: Sirius, the
heart of his faithful dog in Canus Major.
Above and to the left of Canus Major is
Canus Minor— quite minor, in fact: just
one bright and one dim star. Over Orion’s
head to the left are the Gemini twins (well,
they’re not identical twins, since one is not
quite as bright as the other). Our favorite
winter constellations (including Taurus the
Bull and Pegasus) are sliding into the west
along with Jupiter.
Meanwhile, the eastern sky is busy.
The Big Dipper is up early in spring,
bringing Arcturus (follow the arch) into
view. The Summer Triangle begins to rise
in the eastern night, with Vega first rising
in the northeast in April. In March, Leo
Note the northeast corner where Vega, in Lyra, the first star of the Summer Triangle,
rises—hello, summer to come. In the west, Orion, and Sirius in the
southwest, set—goodbye winter. Overhead (the zenith) are the Big Dipper north a bit, and
Leo just south with the little Leo Minor between.
Illustration from Guy Ottewell’s Astronomical Calendar 2012.
This illustration is the author’s view as an artist imagining the “real” paths
of the sun and earth spiraling around it. Original illustration by Greeley Wells.
the Lion has risen, with the Big Dipper
parallel to it. (They are overhead by April
and westerly in May; June finds them
setting in the west.) By May Deneb rises,
and June finds Altar up, completing the
Summer Triangle in time for the summer
solstice. This same pattern repeats every
spring.
You won’t find the Milky Way up in
May, because it’s around you at the horizon
line. We’re essentially standing on it,
looking out away from it. The rest of the
seasons, we are looking into it from our
vantage point on earth. The Milky Way
goes right through the summer triangle,
so they rise together.
THE PLANETS
Venus leaves the sky in February,
hiding shyly in the sun. She makes her
dusk debut in April—very low at first,
and rising higher all month while Jupiter
moves quickly lower. On May 10, if you
have a low western horizon, you’ll see a tiny
crescent moon to the lower-left of Venus
just after the sunset. Mercury also shows
up to join Venus and Jupiter.
Jupiter is the big deal of this season,
high in the sky next to the orange Aldebaran
in Taurus’ V-shaped head. They are joined
by a crescent moon on March 17, and again
on April 13 and 14. Watch the movement
of the moon each night relative to Jupiter
and Aldebaran. In May Jupiter heads to the
horizon line in the sunset, while Venus and
Mercury rise. All three can be seen close
together from May 28 - 31. On May 31
they form a diagonal line with Mercury on
top and Jupiter below. After sunset they are
very low in the western sky—you need a
clear view with no obstructions, so climb
a mountain!
Gotta get out
there to see
this planetary
Greeley Wells
play!
Saturn is rising in the east after sunset
in March and at sunset in April, when he
stays up all night. He’s rising just after
(and south of ) Arcturus. On April 26
the moon is just a few degrees away from
Saturn, so that would be a good day to find
Saturn. On May 22 the crescent moon is to
the lower-left of Saturn. By the end of May,
Saturn has moved fairly close to Spica.
Mercury is not visible in March or
April, but in May becomes visible low
in the sunset. Jupiter has also arrived
there from above and Venus from below,
creating a rare opportunity to see the
dim, sun-hugging planet. Whenever you
have brighter things around (Jupiter and
Venus) you can see the dimmer ones more
easily. (To locate Mercury, see the section
on Jupiter.)
OF NOTE
The full moon on March 27 is called
the Easter Moon this year. April’s full (April
25) has a bright visitor, Spica, all night.
This moon is called the Egg or Grass or
Paschal Moon. The Milk or Planting Moon
is May’s full moon (May 25).
Set your clocks forward at 2 am on
Sunday March 10 (“spring forward”).
That hour, from 2 am - 3 am, simply
doesn’t exist any longer; you killed it. The
other thing we’ve done by changing our
clocks is to change our relationship with
the sun. At 1 pm, not noon, the sun is
now straight up. Strange. I object to this
killing of time and manipulating of noon.
It “saves” nothing!
Wednesday, March 20, is the vernal
or spring equinox: day and night are of
equal length. Easter Sunday falls on March
31 this year.
Lyrid meteors show up on April
22; see if you can see some. Vega (of the
Summer Triangle) in Lyra is about at the
center (or radiant) of the shower. But the
full moon a few days later will decrease
your chances of seeing these dim meteors.
So right near dawn would be the time to
look, after the moon sets and before the
first light of day.
Eta Aquarids meteors have no moon
to outshine them on May 6. Give them a
look any time that night, although predawn
is the recommended time—great if you’re
an early riser! Remember, no one can
predict what meteor showers will actually
do; these pronouncements are based on
past experience and estimations…no
guarantees possible!
Good luck with all your meteor- and
star-hunting. And while you’re out there,
keep that 3D image in mind!
Greeley Wells
541-840-5700
greeley@greeley.me
