Tonight – August 20, 2015 – notice that the moon is moving away from the star Spica. It’s not nearly as close as it was last night. Tonight’s moon is more or less in between Spica and the planet Saturn. In a few more days, the moon will partner up with the planet Saturn.
That motion of the moon, by the way, is due to the moon’s actual motion in orbit around Earth.
Note on our sky charts: They are especially made for mid-northern North American latitudes, and similar latitudes around the world. But everyone around the world will see the moon in the vicinity of Spica and Saturn on the evening of August 20. For illustrative purposes, the moon appears larger than it does in the actual sky. So – when you see them flanking the moon in the real sky on the evening of August 20 – don’t be surprised if Spica and Saturn appear farther away from the moon than our chart indicates.
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The moon moves eastward relative to the background stars and planets of the Zodiac. The dark side of the waxing moon points eastward – in the moon’s direction of of travel. The green line depicts the ecliptic – path of the sun, moon and planets in our sky.
Spica is the brightest light in the large, rambling constellation Virgo the Maiden. Virgo is faint. Spica is all most people ever see of Virgo. And yet this constellation has a grand history in the lore of the sky.
The constellation Virgo has long been associated with Demeter, known to the ancient Greeks as the goddess of fruitfulness. It’s said that the god of the underworld, Hades, fell in love with Demeter or Virgo’s daughter, Persephone. But Demeter did not approve. She refused to allow them to marry. Eventually, Hades’ passions got the best of him. He swept Persephone away in his black chariot and took her to the underworld to live.
Demeter (Virgo) is said to have roamed the Earth searching for her daughter, neglecting her duties as Earth goddess. Seeds did not sprout, trees did not bear fruit, and a famine hung over the land. Finally, the king of the gods, Zeus, forced Hades to let Persephone go. But Zeus had warned Persephone not to eat anything while in the underworld. And she had eaten six pomegranate seeds! As a result, it’s said, she could not return to her mother permanently. She would have to spend six months with her husband and then six months with her mother each year.
According to the legend, when Persephone is spending her six months in the underworld, the Earth goddess Demeter grieves, and we have winter. But each year, when Persephone comes back to Mount Olympus, spring arrives.
Bottom line: Now the moon has moved in relationship to the star Spica. On the night of August 20, 2015, it is edging toward the planet Saturn. Spica is brightest light in the large, rambling constellation Virgo the Maiden. This constellation has long been associated with Demeter, known to the ancient Greeks as the goddess of fruitfulness.
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Donate: Your support means the world to us
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Tonight – August 20, 2015 – notice that the moon is moving away from the star Spica. It’s not nearly as close as it was last night. Tonight’s moon is more or less in between Spica and the planet Saturn. In a few more days, the moon will partner up with the planet Saturn.
That motion of the moon, by the way, is due to the moon’s actual motion in orbit around Earth.
Note on our sky charts: They are especially made for mid-northern North American latitudes, and similar latitudes around the world. But everyone around the world will see the moon in the vicinity of Spica and Saturn on the evening of August 20. For illustrative purposes, the moon appears larger than it does in the actual sky. So – when you see them flanking the moon in the real sky on the evening of August 20 – don’t be surprised if Spica and Saturn appear farther away from the moon than our chart indicates.
Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!
The moon moves eastward relative to the background stars and planets of the Zodiac. The dark side of the waxing moon points eastward – in the moon’s direction of of travel. The green line depicts the ecliptic – path of the sun, moon and planets in our sky.
Spica is the brightest light in the large, rambling constellation Virgo the Maiden. Virgo is faint. Spica is all most people ever see of Virgo. And yet this constellation has a grand history in the lore of the sky.
The constellation Virgo has long been associated with Demeter, known to the ancient Greeks as the goddess of fruitfulness. It’s said that the god of the underworld, Hades, fell in love with Demeter or Virgo’s daughter, Persephone. But Demeter did not approve. She refused to allow them to marry. Eventually, Hades’ passions got the best of him. He swept Persephone away in his black chariot and took her to the underworld to live.
Demeter (Virgo) is said to have roamed the Earth searching for her daughter, neglecting her duties as Earth goddess. Seeds did not sprout, trees did not bear fruit, and a famine hung over the land. Finally, the king of the gods, Zeus, forced Hades to let Persephone go. But Zeus had warned Persephone not to eat anything while in the underworld. And she had eaten six pomegranate seeds! As a result, it’s said, she could not return to her mother permanently. She would have to spend six months with her husband and then six months with her mother each year.
According to the legend, when Persephone is spending her six months in the underworld, the Earth goddess Demeter grieves, and we have winter. But each year, when Persephone comes back to Mount Olympus, spring arrives.
Bottom line: Now the moon has moved in relationship to the star Spica. On the night of August 20, 2015, it is edging toward the planet Saturn. Spica is brightest light in the large, rambling constellation Virgo the Maiden. This constellation has long been associated with Demeter, known to the ancient Greeks as the goddess of fruitfulness.
EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store
Donate: Your support means the world to us
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1TUQGfo
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