The Cr ystal Ball By John Amenhauser The Moon The Moon was New on Tuesday October 28th. During the first week of November, the crescent Moon should be visible in the SW after sunset; it stays up later each evening. The Moon is Full on Thursday November 13th, in Aries. The Moon is New on Thursday 27th. We may see the waning “crescent” just rising in the SE at dawn, any morning up to Tuesday 25th; but after New Moon, the new crescent won’t be visible in the south-west at sunset until Sunday 30th. Mercury Mercury is at “superior conjunction” (behind the Sun) on November 25th. We’re unlikely to see this elusive little planet at all this month. Venus Venus is gradually getting into the role of “Evening Star”. Look for it low in the SW, just after sunset. Even though the sky is still bright, Venus is such a brilliant object that it should show up clearly. At the start of November, it sets about 5:30 pm, but it stays up a minute or two later each evening. Relative to the stars, Venus is moving rapidly eastwards. Unfortunately, this is where the Sun is in midwinter, so, like the midwinter Sun, Venus is only above the horizon for a few hours. But as Venus continues eastwards, it will get higher in the sky, and we will get better views of it from next month onwards. Don’t confuse Venus with Jupiter. Jupiter is certainly bright, but it’s not as brilliant as Venus. At the start of November, Jupiter is further left and higher up; the two planets are over 30 degrees apart. The gap shrinks quickly; by the end of the month, Venus will be directly below Jupiter, just 2 degrees away! Mars Mars is almost directly behind the Sun (conjunction is on December 5th). So we won’t be able to see the “Red Planet” at all this month.
Jupiter The giant planet Jupiter is the only one we can see easily in the evening sky this month. It’s low in the SW at dusk, and sets about three hours after sunset. Jupiter looks like a very bright, steady star, brighter than any of the genuine stars, though not as brilliant as Venus, which is steadily approaching Jupiter from the lower right. Being so low down, it won’t be well placed for making detailed observations. On the evening of Monday November 3rd, the crescent Moon will appear almost directly below Jupiter; the two objects will be about 4 degrees apart. Saturn Saturn is rising in the early hours of the morning, and is well up in the south-eastern sky by dawn. It’s moving very slowly south-eastwards in Leo. Saturn is to well to the right of Arcturus, the brightest star in Boötes; it appears a little dimmer than Arcturus, but it shines with a steadier light. Before dawn on Friday November 21st, the waning Moon will be to the right of Saturn, about 7 degrees away. The following morning, the Moon will be directly below Saturn, about 11 degrees away. Meteors The Leonid meteor shower is generally active between November 15th and 20th; this year it will probably peak around midday on Monday 17th, so the best time to look would be shortly before dawn that day. Shower meteors all seem to spread out from a single radiant point; for the Leonids, this point is within the “Sickle” of Leo, about midway between the planet Saturn and the waning gibbous Moon on the 17th. Unfortunately, the light from the Moon will drown out all but the brightest meteors. John Claro
What Do You Know? Quiz 3
There is still no Connemara View Quiz Winner so the prize money is up to €30 for a correct set of November Quiz answers. Send entries to Connemara View, Clifden, Co. Galway or drop into the View Box at the Paper Shop.
November Quiz
Geography: This country has the fourth largest lake in Europe? History: Which Roman emperor competed at Olympia in a tenhorse chariot race? Local Interest: This name means brave warrior in Gaelic? Sports: What was the score of the first All-Ireland Hurling Final? Science: What is the only rock that floats in water? Cooking: What is the most widely eaten fish in the world? General Knowledge: What 19th century poets daughter made her own mark on history through computer programming? Politics: What famous philosopher said “Good government consists in the ruler being a ruler, the minister
being a minister, the father being a father, and the son being a son.”? Music: What is the oldest woman with a #1 hit on Billboards top 100? Art: Who was the court sculptor of Alexander the Great? Entertainment: What is the first movie to have its sequel come out in the same year? Literature: When and where was the first illustrated book for children published?
Answers to October Quiz Geography:: What is the poorest country in Europe? Moldova. History: In Co Mayo in 1798, who landed 1,000 men at Killala? General Humbert, of France. Local Interest:: What ancient tribal group were located in west Connemara during the early medieval times? Conmhaicne Mara Sports: What Republic of Ireland striker played for Liverpool and Tranmere? John Aldridge Science:: This activity occurs when underground water is heated by rising magma. Hydrothermal Activity.
CONNEMARA VIEW NEWSPAPER
General Knowledge: This person is the first person ever, whose voice was heard after his death. Robert Browning, poet. Politics: What country holds the highest turnover of governments? Bolivia, with almost 200. Music: Who was the first jazz musician inducted into the hall of fame? Miles Davis Art: What late 19th-century French painter was known for his pictures of ballet dancers? Edgar Degas. Entertainment: What film was the last Best Picture winner to be shot in black and white until Schindler’s List in 1993? The Apartment (1960). Literature: Who wrote ‘Romantic Ireland’s dead and gone / It’s with O’Leary in the grave’? W B Yeats. Cooking: What is the other main ingredient of champ with potatoes? Scallions (spring onions).
November 2008
N OV E M B E R TA RO T R E A D I N G
Past The Chariot
Present The Devil
Future 7 of Cups
In the past the Chariot reversed lets you know that you went a wrong direction or chose to do something that you should not have done. The Devil reversed in the present alerts to the fact that you are now suffering the results of that choice.The 7 of Cups reversed for the future is saying to dare to dream that you can and will find the way back to where you should be in your life.
NOVEMBER RUNES READING
Algiz, Sedge or Rushes, the Elk as the Action is letting you know that now is the time to speed thing up in your life, through right actions. But be mindful of your health. Wholeness, life force, the Sun’s energy as the challenge it is reminding you that need to dwell on the core of your individuality, not on the outside influences. The Overview, Constraint, Necessity, Pain tells you that there is no growth without Action Challenge Overview pain. The obstacles you enProtection Wholeness Constraint counter will be difficult to (Algiz) (Sowelu) (Nauthiz) face, but you are capable.
NOVEMBER HOROSCOPES “Rectif ication Comes Before Progress”
Aries (Mar 21 Apr 20) Don’t worry so much about all those things that you think are important. You will find that there are much more valuable things in your life. Taurus (Apr 21 – May 20) Start planning a trip away with your family or friends. This is the perfect month for you to get away from it all. Gemini (May 21 – Jun 21) Having trouble making up your mind about something this month Gemini? Don’t put so much effort into it, the more you think about it the more you will just confuse yourself. Cancer ( Jun 22 – Jul 22) Do something completely outrageous and out of character this month. Have some fun and take a few risks along the way, you never now what you may find. Leo ( Jul 23 – Aug 23) Someone has it in for you this month. Make sure you keep your back to the wall and your nose clean at all times. Don’t add fuel to any fires. Virgo (Aug 24 – Sep 22) Try your hand at a few new things this month just to see what happens. There are some exciting new opportunities on your horizon. Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 23) Pay attention to the advice of someone you trust, it will be the start of something very good for you. Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 22) Happy Birthday! You could not have a better month coming up if you tried. Love is in the air and romance abounds for you, enjoy it all. Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21) Feeling caught between two opposing forces? Trust your instincts and listen to your subconscious to be the guides you very much need this month. Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 20) Judge not less ye be judged. This is valid advice and you need to listen to it this month. Do not be to quick to jump on the bandwagon about things you don’t know all the facts about. Aquarius ( Jan 21 – Feb 19) The Moon is a strong influence for you this month. Its path across the heavens will dictate a great deal of what will be happening for you, so pay attention. Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20) Just because you don’t get everything you want or if things don’t go your way, don’t get down, this too will pass.
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