The Soul Calendar: Astronomy: Tonite Trio Saturn, Moon and Star Spica Triple Threat

The Soul Calendar: Astronomy: Tonite Trio Saturn, Moon and Star Spica Triple Threat: From Denny:  Does this month get any better?  We have a Super Moon on Saturday too.

Tonight, 3 May 2012, is a special treat for skywatchers about an hour after the sun sets.  Look up in the sky and you will get the special eye candy treat to behold a rare beautiful sight: a triple conjunction of the planet Saturn, the bright star Spica and our moon.

What is a conjunction?  It's simple.  It's just when two or more astonomical objects appear to be close together in the sky.  Of course, the reality is that they are definitely far apart but rather it is our perspective viewing them here on Earth that gives the suggestion they are so close together.

Astrologers and astronomers like to argue over whether a conjunction is significant.  The astrologers believe a conjunction can cause serious effects.  Astronomers take a more laid back approach and tell us just to look up and enjoy the beautiful sight.

The Soul Calendar: Awesome Space Station Videos of Glowing Earth Aurora

The Soul Calendar: Awesome Space Station Videos of Glowing Earth Aurora: From Denny: Check out the glowing rim of the Earth as seen from the Space Station. The sun was highly active exploding out a huge dose of electrically charged particles that spectacularly lit up our Earth's upper atmosphere.

These photos were assembled into a video from NASA's Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth and were taken during the period of 25 - 30 January 2012. Usually, the photos are taken at the speed of one frame per three seconds instead of one frame per second as done here. The result is a more leisurely video because it is a bit slower than the true speed of the space station. It gives you that dreamy "you are here" feeling as you watch it.

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The Soul Calendar: Space: Strange Different Neighborhood Just Outside Our Solar System

The Soul Calendar: Space: Strange Different Neighborhood Just Outside Our Solar System: From Denny: Just when you think "the grass is greener on the other side," as the proverb goes, well, in our celestial neighborhood, it just might be true. This week scientists are reporting Life is a lot different and downright strange just next door beyond our solar system.

What they find odd is the amount of oxygen present. Oxygen is actually dancing around like an all night party at a hip bar inside that solar system.

The Soul Calendar: Total Lunar Eclipse Put On Intense Red Display, Photos: 10 Dec 2011

LUNAR ECLIPSE: Five moons, a composite image of a lunar eclipse, showing the path of the moon into and then out of earth's shadow. (Telescope Image).   Source: Supplied

The Soul Calendar: Total Lunar Eclipse Put On Intense Red Display, Photos: 10 Dec 2011: From Denny: The 10 December 2011 total lunar eclipse was the last total lunar eclipse to be seen until April 2014. At least we can view a partial lunar eclipse on 4 June 2012. It was reported to be an intense red, putting on quite a show in the sky. In fact, the type of red color was considered a rare treat.

Of course, when I went out to view it here in south Louisiana all I got was a completely cloudy sky. It's time for me to move up to higher ground, like the mountains. The Gulf Coast just doesn't cut it for proper skygazing. :)

From atmospheric scientist and eclipse expert Richard Keen of the University of Colorado: "During the lunar eclipse, most of the light illuminating the moon passes through the stratosphere, where it is reddened by scattering. If the stratosphere is loaded with dust from volcanic eruptions, the eclipse will be dark. A clear stratosphere, on the other hand, produces a brighter eclipse."