The Feast of Epiphany, celebrating the manifestation of the savior to the Magi guided by a star in the east, has traditionally been on January 6th; which, of course, is the twelfth day of the Christmas season. And tonight is the vigil of that feast. "And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother." (Matthew 2:10-11) Twenty years ago, while studying in the middle east, I stopped at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. In the basement of that Church at the spot where tradition says Jesus was born, there is a beautiful multi-spiked star inlaid into the floor.

From a secular viewpoint, one reason this biblical story is interesting is because it is something of an accomodation between astronomy and astrology. Most of us don't cotton much with astrology. Yet, part of our "stargazing family" history is the brilliant Johannes Kepler who authored both, the laws of celestial mechanics and the Harmonies of the Spheres/Music of the Orbs. Strangely, this "accomodation" came to my mind last night when I read Jeff's article about looking for Mars. I too noticed Mars quite high in the sky and far from setting. The god of war is hanging on...at a time of war. However, the gods of political power (Jupiter and Saturn) are charging in from the East. Unfortunately, the goddess of love (Venus) and the god of communication (Mercury) are no where to be seen...kind of like what is happening in the world.......I too, like Jeff, was mesmerized by how Mars is hanging on, and how it is a subdued but a threatening glowing blood like presence in a rather empty part of the sky.

Epiphany is also a time a gift giving; the magi brought gifts. Though we exchange gifts at Christmas, we have also always had minor gift givings on the Feast of St. Nicholas (Dec. 6) and Epiphany (Jan.6). Tomorrow morning, one gift I am giving my youngest daughter are two homemade (Baader film; thank you for the advice Cor) solar filters for the 10X50 binoculars I purchased her for Christmas. The other night she and I went out with our binoculars to do a tiny star hopping party together. I had a reminder that most folk are not as familiar and comfortable with what's in the sky and finding things as we are. Last summer, I had this experience when T and I were out stargazing with the two very good professional astronomy teachers to Kentucky Governor's Scholars. They were absolutely amazed at how T knew what was in the sky and knew how to find them. When T was queried about this skill, T simply told them (what we here all know) to spend more time looking at the sky. Well, the same is true with my daughter. I had to be patient and relish in taking the views and star hops at her speed. The rewards of doing so are great. She has a creative mind and so she was creating all sorts of new asterisms, which were logical and fun. And she oohed and aahed over the Pleiades and the Great Nebula. And because of her pace and using binoculars, I recalled the pleasure of using binoculars; their picture-window view of a star studded sky. And I recalled that well know Scandanavian aphorism; "a joy shared is a joy doubled."

My daughter is not too much older than the 13 year old girl in Pittsburgh kidnapped by the internet perpetrator in W.Virginia. Fortunately, the guy was caught and the girl was not physically harmed. In order to catch the girl the FBI obtained (requested? coerced?) information from Yahoo.com to track the perpetrator. Some months back I discontinued my membership with all yahoogroups because Yahoo decided to market porno on its marketplace. Fortunately, Yahoo rescinded that decision. However, now Yahoo is marketing wireless cameras, using advertisements which tout and encourage secret voyeurism of women. I again have discontinued my membership in all Yahoogroups. I wish whoever was in charge of Yahoo would wake up and grow up. Part of the Epiphany story is the harm done to the innocents (babes) (Mt. 2:16ff..."a voice was heard in Ramah, of Rachel weeping for her children").

One of these nights I am going to survey what is happening between 7hr 8' and 8hr 12' and between +5 and +29 degrees. Specifically, I have earmarked the Beehive (M44), a double star in the Beehive (1.3"), our old friend zeta cancri(1.0" & 5.8"), the Eskimo nebula, delta geminorum (5.8") and two other doubles at 7hr12'+27 (1.2") and another at 8hr12' and +17deg 45' (1.0"), the green star at 7hr24' +14deg, M67. Jeff, you might want to take a look at this "green" star for our special star list. I would appreciate any suggestions any of you could give me as to other things to look at in this observational box. It would be an Epiphany gift.

And in honor of Epiphany, may the Morning Star always bring joy to our observing.

to: top of page

to: Contributing Writer's Page

to: Astro.Geekjoy Home Page

Email: Astro.Geekjoy