Two weeks ago I finished reading “Fated Sky” by Benson Bobrick. The book is a historical overview of prominent astrologers thoughout history like Ptolemy, Dee, Brahe, and Sibley (to name but a few). I am quite happy I read it. It’s given me a new appreciation for the ancient art of astrology. It’s also helped to support my recent interest in the night sky.

This last week was quite a busy, productive, and exciting week. Some emotional loss, some financial gain, travel to a new place, research of the old and new and, well, quite a lot of fun.

This week also coincided with the viewing of two planets for the first time. With both my naked eye and using a telescope, I gazed upon Mars & Saturn for the first time.

Last Monday I read that Mars was very close to the moon. It was clear night in Tampa Florida and I had no problems seeing Mars. Each night since I’ve watched Mars drift farther away from the Moon along the ecliptic.

Frankly, it was quite neat- I have never watched another planet move in relation to the moon.

Early this morning I saw a small “star” next the moon without using a telescope, and after reading this I discovered that I was looking at Saturn!

Its cloudy tonight so I probably won’t be able to see Saturn’s movement which is diappointing.

To be continued…

• Time-lapse photograph of Mercury, Jupiter, and an airplane taking off
• A slightly blurry view of Mount Princeton from Buena Vista
• Time-Lapse Video of the Conjunction of Venus, Jupiter, and a Crescent Moon in Washington, DC
• Astrophotography of the conjunction of the Crescent Moon, Venus, and Jupiter
• Timelapse Astrophotography of Venus & Jupiter nearing their conjunction
• Short NASA video of the 2004 Transit of Venus
• Harvest Moon in Washington, DC Timelapse Video
• The Precessional Pentagram of Venus
• Jupiter traveling through the night sky of Washington, DC
• The Use of the Analemma - As explained around 1780
• the Phoenix Mars Mission
• Astrophotography by Anthony Ayiomamitis - Analemma with the Parthenon
• The first glimpse of Mercury's horizon
• Staring at the Sun in Stellarium
• Mercury is nigh [flyby stimuli]
• The Grand Design Lenz Quilt
• Messier 101 Mandala [birth/death of a star]
• Moon Mars Conjunction
• Seen in the night sky last week
• An updated Armillary Sphere
• An Interactive Astrological Calendar from 1544 for Google Earth
• icarus