The Daze 2007
January 1st to August 31st 2007
Click here for August to December 2007
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(Copyright:- The Daze 2007 -All rights reserved, National chart data from The Book of World Horoscopes, All times quoted are GMT, Tropical Zodiac used throughout.)
Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak. Astronomy by Sky and Telescope Magazine.
BBC News UK Earthquake page CNN News.
George Bush in 2007 Tony Blair in 2007 Gordon Brown in 2007
Saturday December 30th 2006
Iraq's former leader Saddam Hussein has been executed by hanging. (End of an era chart below).
Hundreds of people are feared dead after a ship sank in a storm off the Indonesian coast, reports say.
Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamad Ghedi yesterday entered Mogadishu, a day after Islamist fighters fled the city.
A giant ice shelf the size of 11,000 football fields has snapped free from Canada's Arctic, scientists said. The mass of ice broke clear 16 months ago from the coast of Ellesmere Island but no one was present to see it in Canada's remote north. Scientists using satellite images later noticed that it became a newly formed ice island in just an hour and left a trail of icy boulders floating in its wake.
Saddam's execution chart
The end of an era. This chart is set for Baghdad 6.00am local time on 30th Dec. 2006. It is the moment of execution of Saddam Hussein. Pluto is exactly rising on the horizon of the city, symbolizing an irrevocable transformation of power.
Today the Moon rapidly waxes in Taurus.
Sunday December 31st 2006
Car bombs and a suicide bomber left at least 75 people dead and more than 100 wounded Saturday, the day former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was executed for crimes committed during his rule.
Spain has blamed a powerful bomb explosion at the country's busiest airport Saturday on Basque separatist group ETA, declaring it a violation of a nine-month cease-fire.
A crowded Indonesian ferry broke apart and sank in the Java Sea during a violent storm that sent towering waves over its deck, and the vast majority of the 600 passengers were still missing a day later, officials said yesterday. Raging seas have hampered rescue efforts and about 14 hours after the disaster, just 66 survivors had been found, many drifting in lifeboats, officials said. No bodies had been found, leaving more than 500 passengers unaccounted for.
This morning, the waxing gibbous Moon crosses the northern side of the Pleiades star cluster as seen from northwestern North America.
The Moon reaches gibbous phase 01:23 GMT 24 degrees Taurus and the procession to another Full Moon begins.
The Moon trines Venus and is void from 02:38 GMT.
The Moon occults the Pleiades visible from the Far East, Japan and North West North America around 11:00 GMT.
The Moon enters Gemini 11:17 GMT.
Mars in Sagittarius sextiles Neptune in Aquarius 13:05 GMT.
The year ends on a busy note.
January 2007
January 2007 starts with Mars, Jupiter and Pluto in Sagittarius and Mercury, the Sun and Venus in Capricorn.
Mars starts the month some 10 degrees from Pluto. Their conjunction is on 13th January 2007 at 27 degrees Sagittarius. The Moon joins the pair in Sagittarius on 16th Jan.
Jupiter in Sagittarius forms the first of three waning mutable square aspects to Uranus in Pisces on 22nd of this month. This one may well invoke sensational and shocking world events.
The year 2007 is one cram packed with lunar occultations. The planet Saturn is closely aligned to the fixed star Regulus for most of the year. By a curious geometry, the plane of the lunar orbit this year is orientated to this alignment resulting in an almost monthly 'double occultation' involving both these astronomical bodies. The year 2007 kicks off with such a double occultation next weekend. On Saturday 6th Jan 2007 the Moon exactly aligns to Saturn at 17:44 GMT. This conjunction is visible as an occultation from the Arctic. This is the 2nd occultation of Saturn in the current series of 12 monthly occultations. On Sunday 7th January a lunar occultation of Regulus occurs at 05:21 GMT visible to observers in North Siberia. This Regulus occultation is the 1st of 20 monthly lunar occultations of this star. This last one from anywhere on Earth occurred in October 1995.
That's two lunar occultations within 12 hours! The whole philosophy behind this web site is a recognition that every 'bit' of celestial event has a corresponding 'effect' and 'response' here on Earth. It remains to be seen what occurs next weekend, and during the course of this year of plentiful 'lunar occultations' .
Monday January 1st 2007
The year starts with the climaxing of a Full Moon on Wednesday.
The nearly Full Moon decelerating in Gemini forms a mutable T-square with Mars and the lunar node around 20-09 GMT.
This evening the Moon shines close to the nearly 1st-magnitude star Beta Tauri. The Moon occults the star as seen from northern South America and the southern Caribbean.
Tuesday January 2nd 2007
An Indonesian passenger jet carrying about 100 people that sent a distress signal after losing contact with flight controllers probably crashed, transport officials said on Monday. Rescue teams were searching for the Adam Air Boeing 737-400 aircraft that went missing in bad weather between the islands of Java and Sulawesi. Setyo Rahardjo, chairman of Indonesia's National Transport Safety Committee (NTSC), said the plane took off from Surabaya, on Java Island, at 2:07 p.m. (0707 GMT) and was supposed to land in Manado at 3:15 p.m. He said he suspected the plane crashed.
Blue-and-gold EU flags fluttered across Bucharest and fireworks thundered through the sky at midnight in Romania and Bulgaria as the two Balkan nations became the latest countries to join the European Union.
The U.S. military on Sunday announced its 3,000th fatality from the Iraq war. The identity of the 3,000th military death could not be precisely determined as the exact times of deaths late last week were not immediately available. On Monday, the military said two soldiers were killed Sunday in an explosion in Iraq's Diyala province, north of Baghdad, bringing the death toll to 3,002.
Today the 'nearly full' Moon in Gemini opposes Pluto 10-07 GMT and is void from that moment. The opposition is made 'easy' by Saturn. She enters Cancer 15:15 GMT.
After a 'busy buzzy' start the day will witness the climaxing full moon drawing emotion, melodrama and instinct to the fore.
Wednesday January 3rd 2007
Yesterday, the day before the Full Moon, Somalia's Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi said that rival Islamic fighters have been scattered, and he does not expect any more major fighting. His key Ethiopian backer said he would withdraw his troops within weeks.
Rescuers in central Indonesia were yesterday trying to locate the wreckage of a missing passenger jet, despite reports from aviation and transport officials that the crash site -- and survivors -- had been found.
Full Moon 13 degrees Cancer 13:59 GMT.
The Full Moon is trine Uranus and opposite Mercury. A reasonably positive affair. This Full Moon is the penultimate before the Total Lunar Eclipse on March 3rd 2007.
Interestingly this Full Moon hits George W. Bush's natal Sun head on.
The Moon becomes void of course at the moment of fullness and will remain void for 31 hours.
Thursday January 4th 2007
Yesterday's Full Moon was conjunct George W. Bush's natal Sun. President Bush and Democratic leaders in Congress traded jabs over the budget in what could be an indication of partisan fights to come. A minor affair to the rest of the world but interesting from the astrological standpoint.
Other world news as the Full Moon climaxed reported that a guard at Saddam Hussein's execution was being questioned over unofficial filming of his hanging.
Kenya shut its border with Somalia and said it will not allow any refugees fleeing conflict to enter the country
A British 14-year-old boy arrived in Antigua to become the youngest person to cross the Atlantic single-handed. Michael Perham, (photo above), from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, ended his 3,500-mile voyage when he sailed into Nelson's Dockyard at 1400 GMT. According to his own website he was born on 16th March 1992. He is of course Pisces sun sign, (the fish and the sea), Neptune (of course!) is currently 3 degrees from a conjunction with his natal Mars in Aquarius. Yesterday Mercury, Mars and Jupiter were making strong transits to their own positions in his natal Chart.
Today the Moon is void for most of the day, so don't expect too much to take off before 21:15 GMT.
Venus moves into Aquarius 03:32 GMT. This ingress is important. It may lighten the load somewhat, and free up affections. Venus will be conjunct Neptune in Aquarius on Jan 19th, the day of the next New Moon. On the road to that conjunction she (Venus) will make an expansive, positive and waxing sextile to Jupiter on Jan 12th.
Mercury sextiles Uranus 05:20 GMT. This aspect may well invoke inventiveness and unorthodox ideas which work, go with them!
The Moon enters Leo 21:15 GMT and begins to draw to a 'double barreled' occultation with both Saturn and Regulus in that sign at the weekend, the next astrological impulse. Mars also is drawing to his conjunction with Pluto. Stay tuned.
Friday January 5th 2007
Democrats yesterday took control of the US Congress, with a woman at the helm of the House for the first time. Nancy Pelosi - the new leader of the House has published a manifesto for the Democrats' first 100 hours. It includes a promise to raise the minimum wage and to clean out corruption.
Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1) is plunging toward the Sun. It won't hit, but at closest approach on Jan. 13th it will be only 0.17 AU away--much closer than Mercury (0.38 AU). When the hot comet emerges later this month it could be brighter than a 1st-magnitude star. Or not. No one knows what will happen. SPACEWEATHER.COM
Today the decelerating Moon wanes in Leo and all day moves to form a 'finger of fate' planetary pattern with the Sun and Mercury in Capricorn and Uranus in Pisces around 22:00 GMT. This is a potentially dangerous time fueled by possible lack of compromise and unexpected responses, take care.
The Moon, Saturn, and Regulus form a line in the eastern sky this evening, in that order from top to bottom.
Saturday January 6th 2007
Two occultations within 12 hours! (This sort of thing happens again on April 14th 2007, and three occultations occur within 34 hours of each other on June 20th/21st 2007).
Jupiter conjunct Antares
The Moon exactly aligned to Saturn 17:44 GMT. This conjunction is visible as an occultation from the Arctic. This is the 2nd occultation of Saturn in the current series of 12 monthly occultations.
At this time the Moon and Saturn are trine the building Mars Pluto conjunction.
The waning gibbous Moon shines near Regulus tonight for North America, below brighter Saturn. The Moon occults Regulus for northeastern Europe (around 05-21 GMT tomorrow). This is the first of 20 occultations of Regulus over the next 20 months and the first since October 1995.
Sunday January 7th 2007
Somalia's interim government on Saturday indefinitely postponed plans to forcibly disarm Mogadishu, as hundreds of people burned tires, looted vehicles and said they wouldn't give up their guns. Two people were reported killed and at least 17 people were wounded.
A black hole has been found inside a compact group of ancient stars known as a globular cluster. Astronomers say the discovery is interesting because many doubted black holes could exist in such locations. The black hole is located in a globular cluster associated with a galaxy named NGC 4472, some 55 million light-years away.
Bright Comet Near the Sun. There's a very bright comet in the sky right now, but there's a catch! It's very near the Sun so it can be seen only through bright twilight close to the horizon, as shown at right. The time to look is about 30 minutes after sunset. Sky and Telescope
Today the waning Moon trines Pluto at 00:56 GMT and becomes void, entering Virgo 06:19 GMT.
A lunar occultation of Regulus occurs today at 05:21 GMT from North Siberia. This is the 1st of 20 monthly lunar occultations of this star. This last occurred in October 1995.
Mercury is at Superior Conjunction 06:05 GMT
The Moon reaches disseminating phase 12 degrees Virgo 09:39 GMT.
With the Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Earth signs, this day and the next two are well 'grounded'. A practical, no nonsense atmosphere will prevail.
Monday January 8th 2007
The executions of two aides of ex-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein will go ahead this week, the government has said.
Activists and police clashed in Bangladesh on Sunday, injuring at least 50 people at the start of a three-day transport blockade aimed at derailing upcoming elections.
State of the sky:- The Sun is approaching 18 degrees Capricorn. There are 72 days to the vernal equinox.
The slowly waning Moon today forms a mutable T-square with Uranus in Pisces and Jupiter in Sagittarius during the first six hours of the (GMT) day. She will make an earthy trine with the Sun and Mercury conjunction in Capricorn at 18:11 GMT and 20:19 GMT respectively. The Moon undergoes a Total Eclipse visible from Europe on March 3rd in 53 days time.
Mercury was at Superior conjunction with the Sun yesterday in Capricorn and is now astrologically an 'evening star'. He will turn retrograde on Feb.. 14th 2007.
Venus is also an 'evening star' in Aquarius and will be conjunct Neptune in that sign in 11 days time.
Mars in Sagittarius now 4 degrees from his zodiacal conjunction with Pluto today trines Saturn in Leo at 18:05 GMT. Mars is conjunct Pluto next Saturday. This conjunction will continue to tighten all week and is the main astrological feature of the next six days.
In the 'outer solar system' Jupiter is square Uranus, and Saturn is opposite Neptune.
A very practical and constructive day is upon us.
Tuesday January 9th 2007
Dark matter model (see below).
When Venus was conjunct Pluto in December the major news story in the UK involved the serial murders of several prostitutes. An awfully tragic story but astrologically very fitting to this planetary conjunction. This month it is the time of Mars to be in conjunction with Pluto and we await with interest to see the corresponding events on earth.
Right now there is a smell! (and the symbolism of this is Neptune not Pluto, Venus is now applying to a conjunction with the current Neptune Saturn opposition), authorities evacuated buildings and shut down some trains as they looked for the source of a mysterious gaslike odor that stretched across a large part of Manhattan and into New Jersey.
Russia has cut oil supplies to Poland, Germany and Ukraine as a Moscow-Belarus trade row is escalating, (more Neptunian symbolism).
Police in China yesterday killed 18 people in a raid on an alleged Islamic militant camp in the western region of Xinjiang.
At least 37 people in Brazil have been killed in mud slides and floods caused by days of heavy rains.
Astronomers have mapped the cosmic "scaffold" of dark matter upon which stars and galaxies are assembled. (See graphic above).
The Andromeda galaxy, our largest galactic neighbour, may be five times bigger than previously thought.
Comet McNaught is so bright, it shines right through the evening twilight: see 'Sunday' above.
Today the very slow moving Virgo Moon squares Mars at 07:01 GMT and Pluto at 12:51 GMT. She is void from this moment for over five hours then enters Libra 18:15 GMT and starts her slow crawl to last quarter phase on Thursday.
This day progresses in three stages, the first up to 12:51 downright tough! The second from this moment 'till 18:15 rather empty and vacant. The day then turns social.
Wednesday January 10th 2007
Yesterday U.S. helicopter gunships attacked suspected al Qaeda terrorists hiding in Somalia,. The operation came a day after U.S. Special Operations forces launched at least two air attacks against suspected al Qaeda members in this restive Horn of Africa country.
At least 30 Turkish workers have been killed and two others injured in a plane crash near an airport north of Baghdad, Turkey's foreign ministry told CNN. The plane, reported to be an Antonov-26 operated by a company based in Moldova, went down in heavy fog on Tuesday morning about two and a half kilometers (1.6 miles) northwest of Balad, the ministry said.
Astronomers have found the first example of a triple quasar, the American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle has heard.
Mars is now 2 degrees from his conjunction with Pluto.
The Moon in Libra makes nice aspects today.
Moon apogee (slowest all day) 16:30 GMT.
Thursday January 11th 2007
Comet McNaught is plunging toward the sun, and the heat is causing it to brighten dramatically. A few days ago, it was barely visible in evening twilight, but now it pops into view while the sky is still glowing blue. Only Venus is brighter. This is possibly the brightest comet in 30 years, and it is heading for its own destruction in the Sun.
The slowly waning but now accelerating Moon in Libra reaches cardinal last quarter 12:46 GMT. A minor crisis in consciousness occurs with the last quarter Moon.
A lunar occultation of the star Spica occurs today at 19:43 visible from Antarctica.
Friday January 12th 2007
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki is living "on borrowed time", but that she is confident he can give Iraq security. Ms Rice was testifying to a Senate hearing about President Bush's new Iraq strategy, announced on Wednesday. Democrats and some Republicans in Congress have criticised the plan, with one senior Democrat, Senator Joe Biden, calling it a "tragic mistake". As part of the plan, Mr Bush will boost US troop numbers by more than 20,000.
Bangladesh's president yesterday resigned as interim leader and declared a state of emergency as disputed polls are put The 200-year-old mystery of where one of the world's largest flowers sit in the botanical family tree has finally been solved by scientists. To their surprise, the plants, which have a one-metre-wide, blood-red, rotten-flesh stinking flower, belong to a family of plants bearing tiny blooms.
Two nearby galaxies - long thought to be true companions of the Milky Way - may instead be drifters, passing through the cosmic neighbourhood. Astronomers say the Magellanic Clouds may be moving too fast to be gravitationally bound to our galaxy.
In the days ahead, Comet McNaught will pass the sun (temporarily disappearing in the glare) and emerge in good position for southern hemisphere viewing later this month. Meanwhile, solar heating will continue to puff up the comet, causing it to brighten even more. It could become one of the brightest comets in centuries, visible even in daylit skies.
Today the Moon in Libra sextiles Mars and Pluto at 00:00 GMT and 01:56 GMT respectively. She is void from this latter moment. She enters Scorpio 07:08 GMT.
The 'astrological back drop' of this day is then intense and static. However to the fore Venus in Aquarius sextiles Jupiter in Sagittarius at 12:45 GMT. A good vibration this one, a positively social wave of conviviality crashes on the shores of village Earth, use it well! At the same time Mars draws to his conjunction with Pluto which has been building up since Christmas and peaks tomorrow. This one is powerful and full of energy, maybe destructive, maybe difficult to handle but nevertheless very real.
Saturday January 13th 2007
The waning Moon in Scorpio presides over what can only be described as a strange day, with strange astrological and planetary patterns.
Mars conjuncts Pluto 09:58 GMT 27.5 degrees Sagittarius.
Watch the news carefully.
Sunday January 14th 2007
The Moon in Scorpio sextiles Mercury 15:50 and is void from this moment. She enters Sagittarius 18:12 GMT joining Mars, Jupiter and Pluto in that sign.
Monday January 15th 2007
Surprisingly low-key news surfaced as Mars was conjunct Pluto on Saturday. The US is committed to reviving the Middle-East peace road map, Condoleezza Rice yesterday told Palestinians.
France's governing UMP party elected Nicolas Sarkozy to run for president, but less convincingly than expected. India's Ganges river has been flushed with fresh water to improve bathing for millions of Hindus at a key festival.
The Sun reaches 25 degrees Capricorn today. There are 65 days to the vernal equinox.
Mercury enters Aquarius 09:25 GMT joining Venus and Neptune in that sign. The Moon and the Sun will enter Aquarius next weekend. The astrological energy right now therefore is modulating from Capricorn to Aquarius. Mercury is slowing down over the next month as he approaches his retrograde period starting on Feb. 14th once again. Mercury aligns to Neptune on Jan 26th.
A lunar occultation of Antares occurs 05:21 GMT today visible from north Siberia. Lunar occultations of Antares occur every month from Dec. 2004 to Feb.. 2010. There are none then till July 2023.
The Moon reaches balsamic phase 10 degrees Sagittarius 13:09 GMT is conjunct Jupiter 15:11 GMT at 11 degrees of that sign.
Venus aligns to Neptune (1.35 degree orb) early on Friday of this week which is also the day of the New Moon.
Mars spends his last day in Sagittarius today. Changes ahead!
Tuesday January 16th 2007
Mars enters Capricorn 20:54 GMT.
The Moon is conjunct Pluto 21:29 GMT and is void from that moment.
Three degrees separate the Moon, Mars and Pluto.
Wednesday January 17th 2007
The Moon enters Capricorn 01:50 GMT and spends the rest of the day applying in sextile aspect with Uranus.
Thursday January 18th 2007.
Experts assessing the dangers posed to civilisation have added climate change to the prospect of nuclear annihilation as the greatest threats to humankind. As a result, the group has moved the minute hand on its famous "Doomsday Clock" two minutes closer to midnight
Fourteen UN aid agencies working in Sudan's troubled Darfur region have warned that their relief operations will collapse unless security improves.
The very old Moon in Capricorn makes no major aspects today as she accelerates to her New Moon phase in the early hours (GMT) tomorrow.
Venus is today drawing to a close alignment with Neptune in tropical Aquarius which peaks at the time of the New Moon tomorrow.
This day is an interesting mix of practicality and far reaching vision. A day maybe to harness and make real your dreams.
Friday January 19th 2007
SINCERE APOLOGIES FOR NO DAZE DURING THE WEEKEND.
POWER FAILURE FOR 77 HOURS FOLLOWING STORMS IN UK ON THURSDAY 18th.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO MONDAY 22nd.
Two rather important days are ahead of us. A tight alignment of Venus and Neptune is followed by a New Moon, a lunar occultation of Mercury and a lunar occultation of Venus.
Venus aligns to Neptune (1.35 degree orb) 02:43 GMT
Venus is conjunct Neptune 02:48 at 19 degrees Aquarius.
New Moon 29 degrees Capricorn 04:02 GMT.
The New Moon makes no major aspects. It occurs at the end of Capricorn. The lunation is dominated by the conjunction of Venus and Neptune. Jupiter is square Uranus and this New Moon is on their midpoint. Venus and Neptune are applying in opposition to Saturn.
It is the penultimate New Moon before the partial Solar Eclipse on March 19th in late Pisces.
At the exact moment of New Moon, it is Moonrise at Tehran, Sunrise at Mecca and both the Sun and the Moon rise at Lusaka.
The Moon is void from the moment of 'newness'. She enters Aquarius four hours later at 06:16 GMT.
It really will feel like a New Moon day by then.
This fast moving newly born Moon is conjunct Mercury 18:57 GMT at 7 degrees Aquarius. This conjunction is a Lunar occultation of Mercury visible from Antarctica and the first of four such events in 2007.
This is the last day of the astrological month of Capricorn.
Saturday Jan 20th 2007
All of a sudden we are set amid a swirling mass of Aquarian energy.
The Sun enters Aquarius 11:01 GMT joining the Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Neptune in this sign. This is the start of a new astrological month.
The fast moving Moon is conjunct Neptune 14:03 GMT.
The Moon aligns to Venus within a degree at 17:19 GMT. This is visible as an occultation from the southern oceans at 16:53 GMT. There is one other lunar occultation of Venus in 2007 on June 18th.
Sunday January 21st 2007
The very fast moving Moon in Aquarius is sextile Pluto and void of course at 05:01 GMT. She slips rapidly into Pisces at 08:49 GMT and all day long she draws to yet another lunar occultation, this time with Uranus early tomorrow. Each occultation (and there are very many in 2007) serves as a 'mid course correction', and an opportunity to realign our current life pathway. Every bit of cosmic structure and cosmic event has its correspondence on earth
Venus fresh from her conjunction with Neptune is today drawing to her opposition to Saturn tomorrow. A somber note is sounding out.
An unfathomable depth of spiritual expression and experience is 'available' today.
Monday January 22nd 2007
RIGHT, BACK ON LINE!
The main news over the weekend has been about Hillary Clinton finally announcing that she is considering running for president in 2008 - a declaration anticipated for the past six years that puts a heavyweight contender into the race.
Yesterday Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas held talks with the exiled Hamas chief in Syria to try to end months of violence
The first wave of extra US troops arrived in Baghdad to boost security, as twin bombs killed seven people in the city.
Germany's Angela Merkel urged Russia to improve communications with the EU after the latest energy crisis.
The New Horizons probe is bearing down on Jupiter and a flyby that will swing the spacecraft out to Pluto.
Sunspot 939 burst onto the scene on Saturday, growing from an invisible speck to a Neptune-sized active region in less than 24 hours:
Today the very fast moving Moon at 12 degrees Pisces aligns to Uranus within a third of a degree 05:24 GMT. This is visible as an occultation of Uranus from the 'East Indies'.
Moon perigee 12:32 reaches crescent phase 17 degrees Pisces 13:24 GMT.
Venus opposes Saturn 15:39 GMT.
Mercury sextiles Jupiter 16:13 GMT
Jupiter is making a waning mutable square aspect to Uranus. 1st 22/1/07, 2nd 11/5/07, final Oct. 9th 2007,
Tuesday January 23rd 2007
As Venus opposed Saturn and the Moon occulted Uranus yesterday at least 100 people died in attacks on Baghdad and Baquba in one of Iraq's bloodiest days this year.
Today the fast moving piscean Moon squares Pluto at 07:12 GMT, and is void from that moment. She enters Aries 10:53 GMT. The Sun and Moon are then both in positive signs (together with Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto). The next two days correspondingly evoke self expression and impetus. The 'vibe' is not so easy for more reserved personalities but it is a barrel load of excitement for the more colorful characters.
The next astrological wave is caused by Mercury in Aquarius aligning closely to Neptune on Friday and opposing Saturn on Sunday. The waxing Moon forms fixed T-squares with these three through Friday night to Saturday morning. Tough times!
Wednesday January 24th 2007
Mercury in Aquarius, closing on an alignment to Neptune on Friday, today sextiles both the Moon and Jupiter around 09:00 GMT. The day continues with an urgent and an intrepid impetus.
She eases the Neptune Saturn opposition between 18:00 and 23:59 GMT allowing brief respite to this heavy weight doom laden opposition which peaks for the second time in February.
Look above the Moon tonight, by more than a fist-width at arm's length, for the main stars of Aries. They're lined up almost vertically.
Thursday January 25th 2007
Yesterday a US Senate panel rejected President Bush's Iraq plan, a day after he asked Congress to give it "a chance".
At the same time Iraqi forces backed by US helicopter gunships fought insurgents in the Sunni-dominated Haifa Street area of the capital, Baghdad.
Today The waxing Moon starting the day in Aries trines Pluto at 09:51 GMT becoming void from that moment. She enters Taurus 13:30 GMT. The Moon will have a very rough ride over the next two and a half days.
The Sun and Moon will both be in fixed signs for the next couple of days, (together with Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Neptune). The astrological energy now invokes stubbornness, intransigence and permanence. The advice is not to push too hard.
The Moon reaches fixed first quarter phase at 6 degrees Taurus 23:02 GMT
Late tonight the 6.3-magnitude star 32 Lyncis will be occulted (blacked out) by the faint asteroid 372 Palma along a 120-mile-wide path from Delaware to northern California. This is the best asteroid occultation predicted for North America in 23 years," says David Dunham of the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA).
Friday January 26th 2007
Yesterday Lebanon's army imposed a curfew after students from rival factions clashed in Beirut, reportedly leaving two dead.
Something exploded on the farside of the sun Thursday, hurling a coronal mass ejection over the sun's eastern limb.This means a new, active sunspot may be lurking just around the corner. If so, it should appear in a few days when the sun's rotation carries that part of the sun into view from Earth. Stay tuned for updates. spaceweather.com
Today Venus in late Aquarius sextiles Pluto in late Sagittarius at 10:57 GMT . This aspects 'generates' strong romantic action.
Mercury aligns to Neptune (orb 1.36 degrees) 14:39 GMT. A 'mystical', 'cosmic' and visionary alignment is upon us.
The Moon however has a 'heavy duty' role tonight (GMT) squaring Neptune and Mercury at 22:06 GMT and 23:18 GMT respectively. As this night progresses the waxing and decelerating Moon in tough cookie Taurus continues to wreak havoc as she also squares Saturn and forms a potent and dangerous Fixed T Square around 03:00 GMT tomorrow. A real powerful few hours. Take care!
Saturday January 27th 2007
Around 03:00 GMT the Moon, Saturn and the Mercury Neptune conjunction form a fixed T-square.
The day progresses with the waxing and decelerating Moon building to a square with Venus. She squares Venus at 16:09 GMT and becomes void at that time. She enters Gemini 17:10 GMT.
Things may ease from that moment. The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Neptune are in air signs. A 'lighter' atmosphere prevails dissipating the astrological trauma of the night before.
However Mercury still continues to build to his opposition with Saturn which peaks tomorrow.
Sunday January 28th 2007
Venus slips gently into Pisces at 03:32 GMT and will reside there until February 22nd. A subtle receptivity now starts to pervade our spirits leaving us a little more open to new impressions. Venus applies in conjunction to Uranus in Pisces, reaching him on Feb.. 7th in fairly tight alignment. Some shocks and surprises may well be in store for us at that time. That aspect I guess is the major event of her residence in Pisces.
Around 16:00 GMT today a strong mutable T-square forms involving the Moon, Jupiter and Uranus.
Mercury opposition Saturn 18:07 GMT. This day throws up serious thought forms and circumstances.
Monday January 29th 2007
The Moon reaches gibbous phase 24 degrees Gemini 11:52 GMT. The procession to another Full Moon begins in earnest from this moment. This Full Moon will dominate the working week ahead. The climax of this powerful lunation cycle is early on Friday.
The Moon today opposes Pluto 18:41 GMT, becoming void of course at that time before entering Cancer 22:17 GMT.
Tuesday January 30th 2007
Officials in Iraq say at least 200 militants were killed on Sunday during clashes with US-backed Iraqi troops ahead of a major Shia Muslim festival.
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir is again bypassed in his bid to become African Union chairman because of Darfur.
As scientists meet for crucial climate talks in Paris, new data shows glaciers are shrinking ever faster.
Today the waxing but decelerating gibbous Moon in Cancer makes a watery trine aspect with Uranus at 21:31 GMT and becomes void of course for the remainder of this calendar month! She reaches a powerful Full Moon climax in Leo early (GMT) on Friday. Pressure of 'experience and event' will increase all week.
From today Mercury currently traveling through late Aquarius enters territory which he will have to cover two more times because of his retrograde motion starting on February 14th.
January 31st 2007
At least 40 people died yesterday in attacks across Iraq at the climax of the Shia Muslim religious festival of Ashura.
The first all-female unit of United Nations peace keepers, from India, arrived in Liberia to help train local police.
Archaeologists say they have found a huge ancient settlement used by the people who built Stonehenge.
The skeletal remains of human "Hobbits" found in Indonesia belong to a new branch of our family tree, a study says.
Mercury in Aquarius and Venus in Pisces pictured above are actually at their closest in the zodiac on Feb. 6th at which point Venus starts to pull away from Mercury's approach. Mercury turns retrograde on Feb. 14th. He will try again in June to meet up with her to no avail. He finally catches up with her in August.
Today the decelerating and waxing gibbous Moon remains void of course all day in Cancer. Heavy emotional undercurrents are possible today. Care in the community is to the fore. General intensifying humdrum abounds.
February 2007
This month is astrologically 'reasonably quiet'. Once we have passed the powerful Candlemass Full Moon on Feb. 2nd we are however into another eclipse season. (The Moon on Saturday March 3rd 2007 will undergo a Total Eclipse visible from Europe), and Neptune and Saturn form the second of their current difficult oppositions on Feb. 28th. The month of February however starts with the Sun, Neptune and Mercury in Aquarius, Venus applying in conjunction to Uranus in Pisces, peaking on Feb. 7th, Mars in Capricorn and the nearly Full Moon in Leo.
Mercury slows down in Pisces and turns retrograde on Feb. 14th. He retrogrades into Aquarius on the last but one day of the month.
Thursday February 1st 2007
Yesterday Venezuela's assembly approved giving President Hugo Chavez new powers to "transform the country".
A Lagos woman was the first person in Nigeria to have died with the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu.
At least 30 suspected Taleban fighters have been killed in a ground and air attack by Nato-led forces in southern Afghanistan, local police said.
Mercury in Aquarius sextile Pluto 02:31 GMT
The nearly full Moon enters Leo 05:15 GMT.
Universal extroversion abounds. A high day. Climatic energy as the power of this Full Moon reaches its crescendo.
Friday February 2nd 2007
Watch out world this could be a big one.
Full Moon 13 degrees Leo 05:46.
This Full Moon is trine Jupiter and conjunct Saturn, she forms a dangerous and fairly tight 'finger of fate' picture with Mars and Uranus.
Jupiter is square Uranus, Mercury is sextile Pluto. Saturn is opposite Neptune.
At the moment of Full Moon the Moon is conjunct the local MC of Havana and is setting at Athens.
Mars rises at Madrid. Jupiter sets at Hong Kong. The Saturn Neptune opposition is aligned to a number of cities including Washington, New York, Lima, Montreal, Singapore, Saigon, Hanoi, Medellin and Ulan Bator.
This Full Moon is conjunct the natal Moon of Gordon Brown, the natal Pluto of George Bush, the natal Mars/Pluto conjunction of Hillary Clinton, the natal Mercury Uranus conjunction of the Iraq republic chart (1958), the natal Pluto of the Israel chart and the ascendant of Putin's chart.
With the passing of this Full Moon we enter another eclipse season. Today's lunation is the ultimate before the Total Lunar Eclipse on March 3rd 2007.
The Full Moon aligns to Saturn (0.18 degree orb) 22:48 GMT, zodiacal conjunction 23:34 GMT. This is an occultation from arctic latitudes. This is 3rd of the current monthly series of 12 Lunar occultations of Saturn.
Saturday February 3rd 2007
The main world stories arising over the Full Moon period:-
Human activity is likely to increase global temperatures by 1.8-4C over the next century, scientists warn.
Sporadic gun battles continue in Gaza between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions, despite a renewed truce.
Rescuers in Florida search for survivors after storms and a tornado kill at least 19 people in the US state.
All Italian matches are called off indefinitely after a policeman is killed during violence at the Catania-Palermo derby.
Up to 160,000 birds may be culled as experts try to identify which strain of bird flu killed 2,600 turkeys in Suffolk.
Today Mars in Capricorn sextile Uranus 10:41 GMT.
The Moon trines Pluto and is void of course from 10:55.
A lunar occultation of Regulus occurs today at 13:41 GMT from Canada, Alaska and Greenland. This is the 2nd of 20 monthly lunar occultations of this star.
She enters Virgo 14:34 GMT and opposes Mercury, Venus and Uranus over the next two days.
The Sun sextile Jupiter 15:48 GMT
Sunday February 4th 2007
Minor lunar occultation visible from the UK of star Rho Leo approx. 02:43 GMT.
The slow moving Moon opposes both Venus and Uranus from 06:00 to 18:00 GMT today. A challenging day is forecast.
At 06:20 GMT we reach the midway point between the Capricorn Solstice and the Vernal equinox as the Sun hits 15 degrees Aquarius. 'Stirring' begins in the northern hemisphere.
A Full Moon, two near occultations of Saturn, Regulus and the star Rho Leo over the last 48 hours and the major UK news Government is that vets have been working through the night at a poultry farm in Suffolk to contain an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 Asian strain of bird flu. A cull of nearly 160,000 turkeys has begun at the plant near Lowestoft.
Also in the wake of this powerful Full Moon Iraq's PM has vowed to put an end to attacks like Saturday's deadly truck bombing in Baghdad, which he blamed on followers of ex-leader Saddam Hussein. The vehicle blew up in the mainly Shia al-Sadriya district in central Baghdad, killing more than 130 people and injuring at least 300.
Torrential rain in Indonesia's capital Jakarta worsens flooding, leaving nine people dead and 190,000 homeless.
Terrorism, global warming and pandemics hit the headlines. Saturn is applying in his square to Neptune.
Monday February 5th 2007
The two most important astrological events this week are 1) the close conjunction of Venus and Uranus in Pisces on Wednesday. This one adds a touch of astrological electricity to the week. Sudden affections in personal affairs, and unlooked-for ripples in the world of finance are possible manifestations, and 2) the Sun aligning to the current Neptune Saturn opposition. The Sun is conjunct Neptune on Thursday. This one is more serious.
The slow moving, decelerating and waning Moon in Virgo today makes a solitary square to Pluto at 22:37 GMT and is void from that moment.
Tuesday February 6th 2007
Generally bad news ensued yesterday. U.S. and Iraqi forces on Monday were preparing to launch a major security crackdown in Baghdad to curb sectarian bloodshed as a wave of bombings pushed the country's death toll to more than 1,000 in seven days.
Floodwaters have forced more than 270,000 Jakarta residents from their homes, as the death toll from the natural disaster climbed to 25 Monday, according to the capital's flood crisis center.
Russia and Japan banned British poultry imports as Britain pressed ahead with a cull of 160,000 turkeys after the nation's first outbreak of a deadly strain of bird flu in farmed poultry.
Workers wearing white protective suits, black gloves and masks loaded the turkeys into crates to be gassed following the discovery of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu on a farm at Holton in eastern England run by Europe's largest turkey producer, Bernard Matthews
Today the very slow moving Moon enters Libra 02:15 GMT and reaches disseminating phase at 2 degrees Libra at 06:28 GMT.
The Sun and Moon (together with Neptune) are now both in air signs. After the rather 'matter of fact empiricism' of the last two days communication and social events are now favored.
Venus is closing on her alignment with Uranus, tightest tomorrow. We are in the 'foothills' of an eclipse season. There is a total lunar eclipse 3 weeks on Saturday and a partial solar eclipse on March 19th. Eclipse seasons herald changes and adjustments.
Wednesday February 7th 2007
The biggest science facility to be built in the UK for 30 years - the Diamond Light Source synchrotron - yesterday opened its doors for business. The vast machine, which covers the area of five football pitches, generates intense light beams to probe matter down to the molecular and atomic scale.
When the sun sets tonight, go outside and look west. You'll see Venus and Mercury beaming through the glow of sunset. This is a great week to enjoy the two planets together. Mercury reaches its maximum elongation (apparent distance) from the sun on Feb. 7th, making it unusually easy to see and a charming companion for always-bright Venus.
Mercury in Aquarius and Venus in Pisces pictured above are actually at their closest in the zodiac on Feb. 7th at which point Venus starts to pull away from Mercury's approach. Mercury turns retrograde on Feb. 14th. He will try again in June to meet up with her to no avail. He finally catches up with her in the evening skies of August.
Today the very slow moving Moon lazes in Libra reaching apogee (slowest all month) 12:39 GMT and then starts to accelerate towards an occultation of the fixed star Spica which occurs tomorrow.
Venus aligns to Uranus (0.67 degrees) 19:14 GMT (zodiacal conjunction at 13 Pisces 18:48 GMT). Stimulating eccentricities, shocks and surprises are on the cards. Interesting developments in the field of human relationships are most probable. The whole emphasis today is on 'relationships and communication'. Once the alignment is over Venus moves on to square Jupiter on Friday. Stimulation and surprise moves on to excess and indulgence.
Thursday February 8th 2007
Heavy snow falls are forecast for us here. Power outages and interruptions to The Daze may be a consequence.
Over the next three days the Sun 'hooks into' the current building Saturn Neptune opposition firstly by being in conjunction to Neptune today and then opposing Saturn on Saturday. The Moon squares the opposition on Saturday morning. All in all this is a challenging few days.
A lunar occultation of the star Spica occurs today at 03:51 GMT visible from Antarctica.
The Moon in Libra sextile Pluto at 11:39 GMT then is void of course for three and a half hours before entering Scorpio 15:10 GMT.
The Sun and the Moon (together with Saturn and Neptune) are now in fixed signs.
The Sun conjuncts Neptune 15:53 GMT at 19 degrees Aquarius.
An intense night of excess and intransigence is forecast.
Friday February 9th 2007
Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah yesterday agreed to form a national unity government.
The first day of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme ended with signs of progress from diplomats.
Mozambique's army has been ordered to evict some 2,500 people who refuse to leave their homes despite the floods.
Scientists have captured a beam of light and make it reappear elsewhere, potentially leading to advances in computing.
Today the slow moving Moon wanes and accelerates towards fixed last quarter phase in Scorpio.
Venus in Pisces squares Jupiter in Sagittarius 11:31 GMT.
A day of excess is followed by a time of serious reckoning..
'Crystallization of purpose' is made manifest right now.
Saturday February 10th 2007
The Moon forms a Fixed T-square with Saturn, Neptune and the Sun peaking around 10:00 GMT.
Moon last quarter 21 degrees Scorpio 09:52
Moon squares Saturn and is void from 10:40 GMT.
Saturn is opposite the Sun 18:42 GMT. This month is the last time for several years that Saturn will be as bright as magnitude 0.0, since the planet is heading out toward the aphelion (farthest point from the Sun) of its orbit and, in addition, its ring tilt will be closing for the next few years.
Three weeks now to the Total Lunar Eclipse.
Sunday February 11th 2007
Yesterday Democratic Senator Barack Obama formalised his bid for the White House, calling for US troops to leave Iraq. His astrological horoscope (no birth time available in the astrological community) is shown below. The Daze will examine his birth date in the future. In the meantime see below.
The astrological horoscope of Barack Obama
Russia's president yesterday said that America's "almost uncontained" use of force is fueling a nuclear arms race.
Security forces in Guinea yesterday killed at least seven people protesting against the president's choice of PM.
State of the skies:- Today the Sun is at 22 degrees Aquarius. We are 38 days from the vernal equinox. We are currently in an eclipse season being now 20 days from a Total Lunar Eclipse in Virgo and 36 days from a Partial Solar Eclipse in Pisces.
The waning and accelerating Moon now past last quarter enters Sagittarius 03:02 GMT joining Jupiter and Pluto in that sign for a couple of days. Both the Sun and the Moon (together with Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto are in positive signs).
Mercury, Venus and Uranus are currently in Pisces. Mercury is slowing down and turns retrograde on Wednesday. Venus in Pisces is sextile Mars in Capricorn on Tuesday.
A Lunar occultation of Antares occurs today at 22:17 GMT visible from the southern oceans. Lunar occultations of Antares occur every month from Dec. 2004 to Feb. 2010. There are none then till July 2023.
Monday February 12th 2007
Saturn is exactly conjunct the natal Venus of George Bush.
The waning Moon conjuncts Jupiter 09:17 GMT at 16 degrees Sagittarius.
Tuesday February 13th 2007
Iran's President Ahmadinejad (Scorpio Sun sign) yesterday warned the US that any attack on his country will be "severely punished".
At least 76 people were killed in a series of bomb attacks in market areas of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Inflation hit a record annual rate of 1,593.6% as Zimbabwe's economy faces chronic food and fuel shortages.
Today the accelerating but waning Moon is conjunct Pluto in Sagittarius at 08:46 GMT. After three hours of a 'void of course' state she enters Capricorn 11:43 GMT.
Venus in Pisces sextile Mars in Capricorn 22:47 GMT.
Mercury is about to turn retrograde, plans and projects will correspondingly change direction.
Wednesday February 14th 2007
Iraq will close its borders with Iran and Syria for up to three days as part of its new security plan for Baghdad.
The US Secretary of State yesterday welcomed a deal with North Korea over its nuclear programme as a "good start".
Two bombs exploded minutes apart near the Lebanese capital, killing three people and wounding 20 others.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has insisted that Tehran is open to talks on its nuclear programme. Speaking to US TV network ABC, he said he opposed any increased nuclear proliferation, but said Iran's rights must be safeguarded.
Sorry about the error with the timing of the lunar ingress into Capricorn yesterday. Caught myself out!
In early dawn Wednesday morning, look low in the southeast to find the waning crescent Moon. Look to the Moon's left by 8° or 9° (a bit less than a fist-width at arm's length) for dim, distant Mars. Binoculars will help. The red planet is still in the early stages of an apparition that will bring it to a bright opposition in the evening sky next December. Sky and Telescope
Mercury is stationary turning retrograde 04:39 GMT.
The accelerating Moon reaches balsamic phase 10 degrees Capricorn 06:01 GMT.
As each day now passes we are getting deeper into an eclipse season. We are currently in an eclipse season being now 17 days from a Total Lunar Eclipse in Virgo and 33 days from a Partial Solar Eclipse in Pisces.
Thursday February 15th 2007
Yesterday seemingly a Moon in Capricorn 'low news day', European lawmakers condemned member states which turned a blind eye to secret CIA prisoner flights.
President George W Bush insisted an Iranian military force is linked to some attacks on US forces in Iraq.
Today the briskly moving Moon in Capricorn is conjunct Mars 02:22 GMT. She sextile Venus 03:26 GMT and is void from that moment for 13 hours.
The Moon enters Aquarius 16:36 GMT joining Neptune and the Sun in that sign. From that moment the astrological lunar energy after a rather tough going day changes to the chic and the impersonal.
Friday February 16th 2007
The old but fast moving Moon 'burns out' in Aquarius and makes no major aspects today. All astrological energy is geared now to the New Moon tomorrow and the Total Lunar Eclipse which follows two weeks after.
Saturday February 17th 2007
The fast moving Moon is conjunct Neptune 01:48 GMT and is opposite Saturn 03:58 GMT.
The Sun sextile Pluto 13:04 GMT and offers some promise of renewal.
The Moon sextile Pluto at 16:02 GMT and reaches New Moon phase 13 minutes later.
New Moon at 29 degrees Aquarius 16:15 GMT.
The new Moon is quintile Jupiter and sextile Pluto. Saturn is opposite Neptune. Venus is applying in square aspect to Pluto. Jupiter squares Uranus. Mercury is retrograde. The astrological energy associated with this New Moon is potentially visionary and inspiring. It is wise to bear in mind Mercury's retrograde motion, and the forthcoming eclipse and refrain from major undertakings and new ventures. Rather this is a time of mediation on what now is and what may be at hand.
At the moment of New Moon the Sun and Moon are on the local MC of Manaus, the pair set at Prague and at Zagreb. Saturn rises and Neptune set over the eastern part of the UK, and Paris. Neptune straddles the prime vertical of La Paz and Caracus. Jupiter is on the local IC of Baghdad.
The Moon is void from the moment of fullness. She enters Pisces 18:31 GMT, joining Mercury, Uranus, Venus and the Lunar Node in that sign.
We are now deeply into an eclipse season with a powerful Total Lunar Eclipse due in two weeks time.
Sunday February 18th 2007
The New Moon in tropical Aquarius yesterday occurred as people across China are celebrating the arrival of the Lunar New Year - China's most important festival which is seen as particularly auspicious this year. The year of the pig is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity. But this time it is a golden pig year, which happens once in six decades.
Four people, including three teenagers, have been killed in London this month. The teenagers were all shot dead in south London - two of them in their own homes. And on Saturday, a 28-year-old man was shot dead in Hackney, east London, while three men are in hospital after being shot in two separate attacks in the Moss Side and Longsight areas of Manchester.
The US and Israel will shun a Palestinian unity government unless it recognises Israel, Ehud Olmert says.
The US-led coalition says one of its helicopters has crashed in south-east Afghanistan after reporting engine failure.
A Nasa mission to study the phenomenon known as the northern lights blasts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
This is the last day of the astrological month of Aquarius.
The very fast moving Moon is conjunct Mercury 08:44 GMT
The slender infant crescent Moon occults Uranus (visible telescopically at moon set from the UK around 17:53 to 18:46). The occultation starts with Uranus being occulted by the dark edge of the tiny moon at only 6 degrees of altitude (mid UK). A moment to savor. It ends a few minutes after Moon set.
Nova
Nova Scorpii 2007 wasn't a big deal when two Japanese nova hunters, Yuji Nakamura and Yukio Sakurai, independently discovered it at 9th magnitude on February 4th. But that was then and this is now. The nova has brightened all the way to about magnitude 4.0 as of Saturday the 17th.
That puts it in fairly easy naked-eye view if you don't have a too-badly light-polluted sky. Binoculars will show it very well from anywhere. .
Monday February 19th 2007
The Sun enters Pisces 01:09 GMT and a new astrological month starts.
Moon perigee 09:34
The Moon is conjunct Venus at 28 degrees Pisces 15:44 GMT.
She squares Pluto at 16:44 GMT and is void of course from that moment.
The Moon enters Aries 19:07 GMT.
Tuesday February 20th 2007
Survivors and witnesses have described the horrific scenes which followed two explosions on an Indian passenger train early Monday that killed at least 67 people. India and Pakistan say the train bombing will not disrupt their peace process.
On Sunday more than 60 people have been killed and 131 injured in three car bombs in Shia districts of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. Yesterday a number of bombings and mortar attacks in Iraq have left more than 20 people dead and many wounded. The violence comes despite an intensified security operation in the capital, Baghdad, and across Iraq.
SAN FRANCISCO, California (Reuters) -- An asteroid may come uncomfortably close to Earth in 2036 and the United Nations should assume responsibility for a space mission to deflect it, a group of astronauts, engineers and scientists said on Saturday. Astronomers are monitoring an asteroid named Apophis, which has a 1 in 45,000 chance of striking Earth on April 13, 2036. Although the odds of an impact by this particular asteroid are low, a recent congressional mandate for NASA to upgrade its tracking of near-Earth asteroids is expected to uncover hundreds, if not thousands of threatening space rocks in the near future, former astronaut Rusty Schweickart said.
Today Venus in late Pisces squares Pluto in late Sagittarius at 03:54 GMT.
The very fast moving Moon reaches crescent phase 17 degrees Aries at 22:34 GMT
Wednesday February 21st 2007
Iran's president yesterday rejected calls to suspend uranium enrichment, a day before a UN deadline runs out.
A tanker carrying chlorine gas exploded on Tuesday morning outside a restaurant in the Iraqi town of Taji, killing at least six people, an Interior Ministry official said. At least 105 other people were either injured by the blast or poisoned by the fumes
Venus enters Aries 08:22 GMT today sharing the residency of this sign with the Moon for 12 hours. Venus will be in Aries on her own until March 17th when she enters Taurus. Venus in Aries invokes love at first sight, love impulses and passion. The most important time of her residency in Aries is the period from March 6th when she forms a fiery grand trine (a love triangle!) with Saturn and Jupiter over the following few days up to March 11th.
Today the crescent Moon waxing towards total lunar eclipse (now 10 days away) trines Pluto 17:42 and becomes void of course from that moment. She enters Taurus 20:04 GMT.
We are deeply in an eclipse season right now. Mercury is retrograde and approaching inferior conjunction on Friday. This time is special. It is a period of waiting, and watching. It is a time to open to the new impulses but not to start new major projects.
Thursday February 22nd 2007
The decelerating waxing moon makes benevolent aspects from Taurus today. The astrological atmosphere today is passive, solid, 'rooty', submissive and subliminal.
Friday February 23rd 2007
Iran has boosted its nuclear research, defying the latest UN deadline to halt the work. Tension is rising it now seems.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano held crisis talks after the resignation of Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
Chimpanzees have been observed making and using wooden spears to hunt other primates.
A laser developed for military use is close to hitting a power threshold necessary to turn it into a battlefield weapon.
A tropical cyclone has struck central Mozambique with strong winds destroying houses and uprooting trees and pylons.
Today Mercury is at inferior conjunction with the Sun 04:46 GMT. A deep 'conception moment' of the mind, a 'New Mercury' is underway. New ideas and plans may surface into consciousness over the next few days and weeks.
The Moon forms a fixed T-square with the now tight Saturn Neptune opposition around 06:00 GMT.
The Moon trines Mars at 19:47 GMT and is void of course from that moment.
She enters Gemini 22:42 GMT and starts to make difficult aspects whilst in that sign over the next two and a half days.
A minor lunar occultation occurs centered on the UK of star Maia approx. 23:13 GMT.
Saturday February 24th 2007
State of the sky:- The Sun today is at 5 degrees Pisces. There are 25 days to the vernal equinox.
The waxing and decelerating Moon in Gemini squares the Sun and Uranus today. The Moon reaches first quarter phase at 5 degrees Gemini at 07:57 GMT. She is now one week from a Total Lunar Eclipse. We are currently deep in an eclipse season with next weekend's Total Lunar Eclipse being followed by a partial eclipse of the Sun occurring on March 19th.
Mercury is now a 'morning star' in Pisces, rising ahead of the Sun but still in retrograde motion.
Venus is a brightening 'evening star' in Aries.
Mars has less than 50 hours remaining in Capricorn. He will enter Aquarius on Monday.
Saturn is tightly opposite Neptune. Jupiter squares Uranus.
Today is a 'crisis in action day'. The astrological atmosphere is nervy and jumpy.
Sunday February 25th 2007
Around 03:00 GMT the Moon in Gemini forms a mutable T-square with Jupiter in Sagittarius and Uranus in Pisces.
Today has a similar 'feel' to it as yesterday. Restlessness and movement are on the cards.
Monday February 26th 2007
Iran insists it will continue its controversial nuclear programme, ahead of UN talks on possible new sanctions.
A combination of rocket and bomb attacks -- the worst taking place at the entrance to a university yesterday killed more than 50 people and wounded dozens of others in Iraq.
Today the Moon is opposite Pluto and is void of course from 01:21 GMT.
Mars enters Aquarius 01:33 GMT. Mars in Aquarius brings out the independent streak in us all. This is a time now to do your own thing. The most significant and important time of his residence in this sign is when he hooks up with the current Saturn Neptune opposition between the 22nd and the 26th March. Mars leaves Aquarius on April 6th.
At the current time then as Mars finds his feet in Aquarius Venus continues with her 'hot love' in Aries. This is a heady mixture of animus and anima energies and does indicate an exciting period for human relationships.
The Moon today enters Cancer 03:48 GMT. The Sun and Moon are then both in water signs, (with Mercury and Uranus). The 'astrological energy' today is essentially emotional. Pressures will be on the increase as we draw towards Saturday's Total Lunar Eclipse.
Tuesday February 27th 2007
The UN's top court yesterday cleared Serbia of genocide in the 1990s Bosnia war but says it failed to prevent the Srebrenica massacre.
At least three French nationals are shot dead in Saudi Arabia in what police regard as a terrorist attack.
The main news in the UK yesterday was the report that a set of points near the site of the Cumbria train crash was defective and caused a Virgin London to Glasgow service to crash at Grayrigg, near Kendal, on Friday February 23rd at 2015 GMT, at about 95 mph.
Today Mercury retrogrades into Aquarius 03:01 GMT and will reside in that sign for only 20 strange days. Mars and Neptune are already in that sign. Take care not to make your mind up about important decisions during this period, wait at least until Mercury turns direct in motion on March 8th, or better still until the current eclipse season is over, towards the end of March.
The Moon, four days from her Total Eclipse and three days from occultations with Saturn and Regulus is today trine Uranus and becomes void of course at 06:04 GMT for an unwieldy 29 hours.
The immediate days ahead are important and full of astrological energy. Today is odd, a strange lull before the storm.
Wednesday February 28th 2007
Although it's only been in interplanetary space for a year, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is already well on its way to reaching Pluto in July 2015. The probe is heading outward at 43,000 miles per hour, and it'll get an additional 9,000-mph boost when it encounters Jupiter today February 28th.
The Moon reaches gibbous phase 24 degrees Cancer 00:13 GMT. The final phase and procession towards Saturday's amazing Total Lunar Eclipse begins in earnest.
The Moon enters Leo 11:30 GMT. The energy is resplendent and powerful. She starts to draw towards Saturn and will occult this planet (as viewed from the UK) in the early hours of Friday morning.
Saturn opposes Neptune 12:02 GMT (1st 31/08/06, 2nd, 28/02/07, final 25/06/07).
Mercury sextile Pluto 13:13 GMT.
March 2007
In contrast to February 2007, March 2007 is astrologically dynamic. As the month starts Saturn is opposite Neptune, (the second of the three blasts of this 'sinister' alignment) and this opposition forms the planetary 'backbone' of many planetary pictures during the month.
As the month starts we are deeply into an eclipse season being on the verge of a huge Total Lunar Eclipse in Virgo which occurs on Saturday 3rd. The Moon occults Saturn and Regulus on the day before this eclipse.
Mercury completes and concludes his retrograde motion turning direct on the 8th.
Jupiter is in fiery trine aspect to Saturn, exact on 16th. Venus joins them to form a fiery grand trine and kite from 5th to 12th, peaking on the 9th
The Solar Eclipse on 19th is harshly placed squaring Pluto. The vernal equinox (dominated with Mars drawing to the Saturn Neptune opposition) occurs two days later.
Mars in Aquarius is applying to Neptune, reaching the 'old mystic' on the 25th having opposed Saturn 3 days earlier.
Breathless the month ends with Mercury almost conjunct Uranus.
Thursday March 1st 2007
The nearly full moon in pre-eclipse rapture trines Venus and Jupiter today.
Friday March 2nd 2007
What a week it has been as the Moon has waxed towards Total Lunar Eclipse on Saturday March 3rd and Saturn has been exactly opposite Neptune in the second of three of this 'sinister' aspect.
During the long lunar void of course period on Tuesday and Wednesday stock markets around the world were wobbling in response to human insecurity and lack of confidence. A drop in US markets yesterday, Thursday, pushed global markets lower for a third day, fanning fears of a sustained sell-off.
Today the nearly Full Moon aligns exactly to Saturn 02:48 GMT (zodiacal conjunction 02:12 GMT). This is an occultation from the UK, and northern Europe. The Moon opposes Neptune 02:33 GMT. This is 4th of the current monthly series of 12 Lunar Occultations of Saturn
The Moon trines Neptune 19:03 GMT and is void.
A lunar occultation of Regulus occurs today at 20:39 GMT from Siberia. This is the 3rd of 20 monthly lunar occultations of this star.
Burgeoning in fullness she enters Virgo 22:32 GMT and approaches her eclipse.
We are bathed in pre-eclipse energy. Stand firm.
Saturday March 3rd 2007
A warm welcome to theDaze on this special day. Please visit again!
A most 'socially accessible'
Total Lunar Eclipse
visible for all of Europe and Africa
obligingly occurring on a Saturday evening and night.
Total Eclipse of the Moon 13 degrees Virgo,
visible from Europe.
Central eclipse 23:21 GMT.
The Astronomy
Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak
The first of two total lunar eclipses in 2007 is unique in that it is partly visible from every continent around the world. The eclipse occurs at the descending node, 3.2 days before apogee and 1.9 days after the Moon occults Saturn (northern and eastern Europe). During the eclipse, the Moon is in southern Leo, about 13º east of the 1.3-magnitude star Regulus (alpha Leo). The Moon's orbital trajectory takes it through the northern half of Earth's umbral shadow. Although the eclipse is not central, the total phase still lasts 73 minutes. The timings of the major phases of the eclipse are listed below.
Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 20:18:11 UT
Partial Eclipse Begins: 21:30:22 UT
Total Eclipse Begins: 22:44:13 UT
Greatest Eclipse: 23:20:56 UT
Total Eclipse Ends: 23:57:37 UT
Partial Eclipse Ends: 01:11:28 UT
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 02:23:44 UT
At the instant of greatest eclipse (23:21 UT) the Moon will lie in the zenith for observers in Nigeria and Cameroon. At this time, the umbral magnitude peaks at 1.2331 as the Moon's southern limb passes 2.4 arc-minutes north of the shadow's central axis. In contrast, the Moon's northern limb will lie 6.9 arc-minutes from the northern edge of the umbra and 32.2 arc-minutes from the shadow centre. Thus the northern sections of the Moon will appear much brighter than the southern part, which lies deeper in the shadow. Since the Moon samples a large range of umbral depths during totality, its appearance will change dramatically with time. It is not possible to predict the exact brightness distribution in the umbra. The entire event will be visible from Europe, Africa and western Asia. In eastern Asia, moonset occurs during various stages of the eclipse. For example, the Moon sets while in total eclipse from central China and Southeast Asia. Western Australia catches part of the initial partial phases but the Moon sets before totality. Observers in eastern North and South America will find the Moon already partially or totality eclipsed at moonrise. From western North America, only the final penumbral phases are visible.
Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak.
The Astrology
Chart set for the moment of central eclipse at London.
At the moment of central eclipse the Moon is on the local MC of Rome and Copenhagen. It is Moonrise over Peru, Equador, Columbia and. Panama where Uranus sets and Jupiter reaches lower culmination . The eclipsed Moon is opposite Uranus. A highly charged atmosphere of potential sudden shocks and surprises may be evident.
The Saros
Today's eclipse is number 52 of 73 in lunar saros series 123. This series lasts for 1298 years.
The first eclipse in this saros occurred on August 16th 1087 AD. Central eclipse moment for that first eclipse was 21:05:57. The chart set at London for this first eclipse is shown below.
Lunar Saros Series 123
This Saros has an eminently positive and constructive vibration about it. Mars, Mercury and Saturn are in Earthy grand trine. Saturn sextile Uranus easing a testy Mercury/Uranus opposition. That moment so long ago saw Jupiter exactly aligned to Jerusalem and Tokyo. Neptune aligned to what would be Washington DC and the eclipsed Moon in Aquarius exactly aligned to the local MC of Baghdad.
The saros series peaked in September 1736, with its longest Total Lunar Eclipse in the series, and will end at 05:24:24 UT on Oct. 19th in year 2385. Today's eclipse is the 4th from last of 25 Total eclipses in the saros series.
The last five eclipses were on Feb. 20th 1989, Feb. 10th 1971, Jan 29th 1953, Jan 19th 1935 and Jan 8th 1917. The next one will be on March 14th 2025. Having lived through the previous two eclipse family members of this series I can personally recall the essential 'motivation to cause practical changes for the better' nature of the saros.
This is a momentous eclipse. Although its essential nature is constructive and purposeful the energy released at such a time can be unwieldy. Expect important developments.
Sunday March 4th 2007
The slow Moon having opposed Uranus at 02:29 GMT goes on and forms a mutable T-square with Jupiter and Uranus for from 03:00 GMT to 12:00 GMT peaking around 10:30 GMT.
In almost manic post eclipse trauma the Full Moon wanes and decelerates, applying in a long slow square aspect to Pluto all day. Very much a day to dab the wounds.
Monday March 5th 2007
In the run up to Saturday's total lunar eclipse we experienced world stock market falls on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and a spate of typhoons in the southern US states early Friday. On Saturday before the eclipse the main UK news was the kidnapping of several British tourists in Ethiopia.
State of the skies:- At the end of today (GMT) we are half way through the astrological month of Pisces.
We are now in immersed in deepest eclipse season straddled in time between Saturday's total lunar eclipse and the partial solar eclipse of the Sun on March 19th.
The slow moving Moon in Virgo squares Pluto and is void from 07:57 GMT. She enters Libra 09:26 GMT.
The Sun is conjunct Uranus 15:40 GMT.
Mercury is still retrograde for 3 more days.
A grand trine and 'planetary kite' in fire signs involving Venus in Aries , Jupiter in Sagittarius and the Saturn (in Leo) opposition to Neptune (in Sagittarius) is beginning to bite and build. The climax to this planetary picture is on the 9th March but the picture holds sway over the next week. This is a 'hot bed' and 'seeding ground' for new human relationships. Go with it!
Less than 16 degrees separate Mars and Neptune in Aquarius.
Tuesday March 6th 2007
The coppery eclipsed moon on Saturday night was clearly visible across much of Britain
Taking stock of world events in the wake of Saturday's Total Lunar Eclipse the following news stories dominate the stage. Nine Afghan civilians have been reported killed in US bombing, hours after President Karzai condemned earlier deaths. US and North Korean envoys are due to start talks in New York aimed at normalising relations. A search party looking for five missing Britons in northern Ethiopia has found three damaged vehicles. Global markets have endured another session of heavy losses Monday, following Japan's Nikkei 225 index which fell for a fifth day in a row in reaction to the strengthening value of the yen, wiping 8.6 percent off the value of shares since hitting a seven-year high a week ago. Police closed several major Toronto streets Monday after huge slabs of ice started skidding off skyscrapers in the city's downtown core.
Today the Moon very slowly wanes in Libra. She opposes Venus 18:49 GMT forming briefly at that time a' kite' pattern with Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. Venus forms a fiery grand trine (a love triangle!) and planetary kite with Saturn and Jupiter over the next few days. This is potentially an important time for human relationships.
Wednesday March 7th 2007
Yesterday up to 90 Shia pilgrims were killed and dozens were wounded in a double suicide bombing in central Iraq.
A powerful earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra, flattening hundreds of buildings and killing at least 70 people. The 6.3 magnitude quake struck close to the city of Padang in the west of the island, at 1049 local time (0349 GMT) March 6th 2007.
China will launch its first unmanned mission to the Moon later this year, a senior space official has confirmed.
A lunar occultation of the star Spica occurs today at 11:00 visible from Antarctica.
Moon apogee (slowest all month) 03:35 GMT. She makes pleasant aspects, finally sextiling Pluto at 19:52 GMT, becoming void of course at that time and entering Scorpio 22:18 GMT.
Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are currently in 'fiery grand trine' relationship, forming an equilateral triangle in the skies of earth. Constructive and creative potentials especially in relationships are to the fore.
Mercury is almost (apparently) stationary in late Aquarius turning direct tomorrow. Things will 'pick up' and get moving again soon.
We are now 12 days from a partial solar eclipse.
13 degrees now separate Mars and Neptune. The pair are in conjunction on March 25th.
Thursday March 8th 2007
Yesterday a suicide bomber killed more than 30 people in an attack on a cafe in a town north-east of Baghdad.
Investigators arrive to examine the wreckage of a jet which crash-landed in Indonesia, killing 22 people.
A giant space rock whizzed past the Earth on Monday under the close scrutiny of astronomers. The mountain-sized object had been classed as a "potentially hazardous asteroid", but scientists said it posed no danger to Earth. The asteroid 2004 XP14, as it is has been designated, was visible through good amateur telescopes. Its closest approach to Earth, above the west coast of North America, occurred at 0444 GMT. At this time calculations suggested it was about 432,709km (268,873 miles) from the Earth, only 1.1 times the planet's distance from the Moon.
Today the very slow moving but now accelerating Moon reaches disseminating phase 2 degrees Scorpio 02:38 GMT. The Sun, the Moon (together with Neptune) are now in water signs. There is an essentially emotional basis to the 'astrological weather' today and tomorrow.
Mercury is now stationary, turning direct 04:38 GMT at 25 degrees Aquarius.
Venus in Aries trines Jupiter in Sagittarius at 11:16 GMT. Both planets form a fiery Grand Trine and 'planetary kite' with Saturn and Neptune over the next few days. These are important and powerful days for relationships, best described as constructive, expansive and magical. The Sun is about to form a waxing square aspect with Jupiter, this adds a hue of 'excess' to the experiences. Care as always is advised!
Friday March 9th 2007
The kite planetary picture manifesting in the skies of Earth over these three days involving Neptune, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus is now at maximum strength.
Venus trines Saturn 08:41 GMT.
The Sun squares Jupiter 14:19 GMT.
The Moon at 21 degrees Scorpio hooks into the grand trine and kite around 17:00 GMT.
Another important and potentially far reaching day is in store.
Saturday March 10th 2007
The Scorpionic Moon squares Mercury 01:53 GMT and becomes void.
Around 07:00 GMT Mars is conjunct the Lunar/Venus midpoint, sextiling both.
Venus sextile Neptune 03:42 GMT.
The accelerating and waning Moon enters Sagittarius 10:38 GMT and starts to apply in conjunction to Jupiter.
From this time the Sun and the Moon (together with Jupiter and Uranus) are in mutable signs. 'Winds of change' may be blowing.
Sunday March 11th 2007
Lunar occultation of Antares occurs 06:15 GMT visible from the southern oceans and the south of South America. Lunar occultations of Antares occur every month from Dec. 2004 to Feb.. 2010. There are none then till July 2023.
The Moon is conjunct Jupiter in Sagittarius at 23:22 GMT.
Monday March 12th 2007
Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was arrested yesterday along with several colleagues as they tried to hold a rally.
Two bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, left at least 29 people dead, among them a group of Shia pilgrims.
People from Scandinavia to Alaska should be alert for auroras on March 13th and 14th. A solar wind stream is expected to hit Earth, possibly causing geomagnetic storms at high latitudes.
For the third day in a row, the eastern limb of the sun is putting on a fantastic display. Spaceweather.com
State of the skies:- The Sun is today at 21 degrees Pisces. There are 9 days to the vernal equinox.
We are one week from a difficult partial eclipse of the Sun in Pisces.
Mars, Mercury and Neptune are in Aquarius, the Sun, Uranus and the Moon's north node are in Pisces, the Moon, Jupiter and Pluto are in Sagittarius.
The accelerating and waning Moon reaches Last quarter phase at 03:55 GMT at 21 degrees Sagittarius.
The Moon is conjunct Pluto 18:27 GMT and is void. She enters Capricorn 20:35 GMT.
Mercury is a 'morning star' in late Aquarius. He is starting to pick up speed after his recent retrograde motion but is still slow. He will return into Pisces on Sunday.
Venus is a very bright 'evening star in Aries. She will enter Taurus on Saturday.
Mars continues to apply in conjunction with Neptune in Aquarius. Nine degrees separate the pair today. They are conjunct on March 25th. As this conjunction approaches expect a heady rush of adrenaline and glamour.
Jupiter is in the process of making a waxing fiery trine aspect to Saturn offering the prospect spirited and constructive enterprises at the time.
The week ahead is astrologically quiet. The days lead to the solar eclipse. That is our fate.
Tuesday March 13th 2007
The Moon in Capricorn accelerating towards Solar Eclipse in six day's time makes no aspects today.
Wednesday March 14th 2007
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was yesterday taken to hospital after appearing in court with cuts and bruises following two days in police detention. He was taken from Harare magistrates court with several other activists, many of them bandaged. They were badly beaten in custody after being detained at an opposition rally on Sunday, supporters said. One person was shot dead as riot police broke up the meeting, called to pray for the political and economic crisis.
A group of British embassy workers were released "in good health" 12 days after being kidnapped in Ethiopia.
Today the accelerating and waning Moon in Capricorn squares Venus in Aries and is void of course from 20:22 GMT.
We are now 5 days from a partial solar eclipse. Today is similar to yesterday. Achievement comes from effort.
Thursday March 15th 2007
Yesterday Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said his beating by police should be an inspiration for the struggle.
Wall Street followed a stocks sell-off in Europe as concerns about the US economy and mortgage industry continue to reverberate. London's FTSE 100 index slumped 160.6 points, or 2.5%, at 6,000.7. French and German markets were also hit.
Today the old Moon enters Aquarius 02:53 GMT. Four days remain to the partial solar eclipse.
The Moon reaches balsamic phase 10 degrees Aquarius at 19:52 GMT. Six planets are now amassed in Aquarius and Pisces. The astrological energy is visionary and prophetic. Thoughts and dreams are attuned to the future. The advice given here is 'wait and see'.
Friday March 16th 2007
Zimbabwe's President Mugabe said on Thursday that critics of his rule can "go hang", in response to accusations of beatings.
Ambassadors from six major powers announced an agreement on Thursday to impose new sanctions on Iran for its nuclear programs and sent the text to the 15-nation U.N. Security Council for a vote.
Clouded leopards found on Sumatra and Borneo represent a new species, research by genetic scientists and the conservation group WWF indicates.
Nasa's Cassini probe has found evidence for seas, probably filled with liquid hydrocarbons, at the high northern latitudes of Saturn's moon Titan.
A global geological map of the Jovian moon Europa is helping scientists understand the history of the icy moon.
During the following three days leading up to a partial eclipse of the Sun at 28 degrees Pisces there will be a 'barrel load' of astrological events. Follow the progress of the old but fast moving Moon as she make close conjunctions with Mars, and Neptune and occultations with Mercury and Uranus. Sense the ingresses of Venus into Taurus and Mercury into Pisces. Generally positive planetary aspects line this 'avenue' to a difficult eclipse at the very start of Monday. Each astrological event over the next three days 'fine tunes' our destiny in cosmic preparation for the coming eclipse.
The Moon is conjunct Mars (within 2 degrees) at 14 degrees Aquarius at 02:26 GMT.
The Moon is conjunct Neptune 14:19 GMT at 21 degrees Aquarius.
Jupiter makes a waxing trine Saturn 22:45 GMT. ( This is the 1st of 5 such aspects. The first two are in fire signs, the last three in earth signs), 1st 16/03/07, 2nd 6/5/07, 3rd 21/1/08, 4th 8/9/2008 5th 21/11/08. This is a really good aspect inducing all sorts of positive reforming developments within society and within the global community over the next 2 years.
Mercury in late Aquarius sextiles Pluto in Sagittarius at 23:30 GMT. This one attempts to clear and open minds. New ideas may emerge, take a chance.
Saturday March 17th 2007
A plethora of astrological ripples occur during the first quarter of this pre-eclipse day (GMT).
Venus trines Pluto at 00:15 GMT.
Mercury sextile Venus 01:23 GMT
Moon conjuncts Mercury at 29 degrees Aquarius (within 1.25 degrees) at 03:56 GMT. This is an occultation visible from the Antarctic at 03:07 GMT, the 2nd of 4 this year. The Moon sextile Venus 04:02 GMT and is void.
The old rasp of a burnt out Moon slithers snake like and unnoticed enters Pisces 04:02 GMT.
Venus enters Taurus 10:31 GMT
Sunday March 18th 2007
On this day before the difficult solar eclipse, the Moon almost exactly aligns to Uranus 06:06 GMT, (exactly at Sunrise for the UK). This is an occultation of Uranus from North Africa and Western and Northern Asia.
Mercury enters Pisces 09:35 GMT.
Monday March 19th 2007.
The main world news yesterday was centered on Zimbabwe. Four representatives of Zimbabwe's main opposition party were arrested as they tried to leave the country, including one who was badly beaten,
The US decided to have contact with some ministers in the new Palestinian national unity government.
At least three students were killed in an attack on an Islamic school in southern Thailand.
Partial solar eclipse at 28 degrees Pisces 02-32 GMT.
The first solar eclipse of 2007 occurs at the Moon's ascending node in Pisces and is visible from eastern Asia and parts of northern Alaska. Greatest eclipse takes place at 02:31:56 UT when the eclipse magnitude will reach 0.8754. The penumbral contact times with Earth are listed below.
Partial Eclipse Begins: 00:38:26 UT
Partial Eclipse Ends: 04:25:00 UT
Solar Saros series 149
This event is the 20th partial eclipse of Saros series 149. After one more partial eclipse, the series will produce its first total solar eclipse on 2043 Apr. 09. The first eclipse in this 'family of eclipses occurred on Aug. 21st 1664 at 08:58 GMT. The chart above is set for this time at London.
An animated view of Saros 149 can be seen here.http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEsarosanimate/149.gif
The Moon squares Pluto during the eclipse and is void from 03:59 GMT.
At the moment of maximum eclipse he Sun and Moon are rising over Saudi Arabia and Iran just to the east of Tehran. The Sun and Moon are on the local MC of Eastern Australia. This eclipse is potentially very difficult being tightly square to Pluto. The experience could be regarded as a 'difficult birth'. The young Saros series it belongs to however is generally positive. What ever befalls at this time may well in the long run work out for the best.
After the eclipse the very fast moving baby new Moon enters Aries 05:42 GMT and reaches perigee 18:49 GMT.
The Sun is square Pluto 22:11 GMT.
Five degrees now separate Mars and Neptune (both opposite Saturn).
As the (GMT) day ends we are only 24 hours from the Vernal Equinox.
Tuesday March 20th 2007
Yesterday's partial solar eclipse taken with India gate in foreground.
A methane explosion at a coal mine in Siberia has killed at least 61 people, Russian officials say. They said 88 miners, several of them injured, had been rescued after the blast at the Ulyanovskaya mine in the Kemerovo region. The officials said at least 168 miners were underground at the time of the blast. Dozens still remain trapped. The blast at Ulyanovskaya happened at about 1030 Moscow time (0730 GMT).
President Bush says it will take months to bring stability to Iraq, as the war enters its fifth year.
An international team of mathematicians has detailed a vast complex numerical "structure" which was invented more than a century ago. Mapping the 248-dimensional structure, called E8, took four years of work and produced more data than the Human Genome Project, researchers said.
After yesterday's hard eclipse today flows out in sweet contrast.
This is the last day of the astrological month of Pisces. Tomorrow is the vernal equinox.
The Moon forms pleasant aspects from Aries forming a fiery grand trine with Jupiter and Saturn around noon GMT. Despite this Mars is opposing Saturn and drawing to his conjunction with Neptune in five days time.
Wednesday March 21st 2007
A fairly weak news day yesterday, the last day of the astrological month of Pisces.
More than 50 people were killed in fierce fighting between rival militants in Pakistan..
A genetically modified (GM) strain of malaria-resistant mosquito has been created that is better able to survive than disease-carrying insects.
Today is the Vernal Equinox.
The Vernal Equinox 00:08:30 GMT.
The Sun crosses the equator and enters Aries at 8 minutes and 30 seconds after midnight GMT today. At that moment the Sun is about to rise at Calcutta. The Sun sets at Guatamala. It is local midnight at London where Mercury squares the Ascendant and Pluto squares the MC. Venus is at its lower culmination at Harare, Mars is conjunct the local MC of Tokyo. Pluto rises at Zagreb. Jupiter rises at Venice. Neptune, Mars and Saturn planetary lines straddle the Iran Afghan border. Jupiter is on the local MC of central India including Delhi, Bhopal and Hyderabad.
Jupiter is in trine to Saturn, the Sun squares Pluto, Mars is conjunct Neptune and opposes Saturn. The young Aries Moon applies in fiery trine to Pluto.
This equinox is a spirited and optimistic affair. The moment is youthful and energetic. Hard work and trouble may lie ahead but they will be met with courage and fortitude.
The Moon trines Pluto and is void from 03:34 GMT.
The Moon enters Taurus 05:16 GMT.
The day takes on a different hue with this lunar ingress.
The Moon is conjunct Venus at 4 degrees Taurus at 12:12 GMT. This combination of the Moon and Venus in Taurus can be especially gentle if allowed. However as the day follows through the harsh opposition of Mars and Saturn which peaks tomorrow gains the upper hand. The gentleness is short lived.
Thursday March 22nd 2007
This is potentially an eventful and difficult day.
The advice given here is not to push too hard.
The fast moving but decelerating waxing Moon reaches crescent phase 16 degrees Taurus 07:33 GMT
This waxing crescent Moon locks into yet another planetary quadrilateral today involving Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and Neptune. The peaking climax of this planetary pattern occurs around 17:00 GMT.
The precise timings of the day are as follows The Moon squares Mars at 11:16 GMT and squares Saturn at 11:43 GMT. The Moon squares Neptune and is void at 15:12 GMT.
Mars opposes Saturn 19:35 GMT.
Friday March 23rd 2007
Yesterday UN chief Ban Ki-moon was shaken but unhurt as a live news conference in Baghdad was rocked by a mortar attack.
Jamaican police questioned Pakistan's entire cricket squad over the shock death of coach Bob Woolmer.
There has been heavy shooting in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, between the opposition leader's guards and the army.
Six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear programme have ended without progress after its chief negotiator flew home amid a row over money.
A leading Zimbabwean cleric said on Thursday he was ready to face bullets in the street amid international condemnation of Robert Mugabe's regime and fears of a renewed wave of repression.
Today the waxing crescent Moon enters Gemini 06:07 GMT. From that time both the Sun and Moon (together with Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto) are in positive signs. The next two days are astrologically energetic.
Mars at 20 degrees Aquarius sextiles Jupiter at 20 degrees Sagittarius 16:02 GMT. This is a good day to communicate and keep on the move. There may be lots to talk about. A real buzz of energy may well be perceived.
The major astrological factor right now as we pull out of the current eclipse season is a close conjunction of Mars and Neptune in Aquarius on Sunday. There is vision, direction, motion and calling in this astrological wave. High ideals couple with dynamism. It should be an interesting weekend.
Let your magic tortoise go!
Saturday March 24th 2007
With the Sun in Aries and the Moon in Gemini we have a vibrant and diverse day in store.
The waxing and decelerating crescent Moon in Gemini today forms a mystic rectangle with Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and Neptune. The Moon opposes Jupiter at the same moment as she squares Uranus and the Lunar Node. The peak of this energy 'burst' is around 14:30 GMT.
All day long the astrological energy associated with tomorrow's planetary conjunction of Mars and Neptune intensifies.
Sunday March 25th 2007
The waxing and decelerating Moon in Gemini opposes Pluto 07:57 GMT and is void of course.
She enters Cancer 09:49 GMT. The mood changes.
Mars is zodiacally conjunct Neptune (within a degree) at 21 degrees Aquarius at 17:18 GMT.
First quarter Moon 18:17 GMT at 5 degrees Cancer.
The Moon makes pleasant aspects after the first quarter phase is reached.
Monday March 26th 2007
An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 has struck off the west coast of Japan's largest island, Honshu. Meanwhile, two quakes - measured at 7.2 and 6.0 by the US - hit near Vanuatu in the southern Pacific Ocean. There were no reports of damage or casualties. The larger quake struck at 0040 GMT Sunday, and was followed 28 minutes later by the magnitude 6.0 quake. Both were centred 335km (210 miles) south-east of the capital, Port Vila.
Iran's detention of 15 Royal Navy personnel is "unjustified and wrong", Prime Minister Tony Blair says.
At least 150 people have been killed in gun battles between government troops and militiamen in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa.
Leaders from the 27 EU nations adopt a declaration calling for institutional reforms within two years.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday it is important for Israel and the Palestinians to establish a "common agenda" to move forward on creating a Palestinian state.
The Pakistani cricket team arrived in London on Sunday after being permitted to leave Jamaica following further questioning of individual members about the death of coach Bob Woolmer.
State of the skies:- The Sun is a 5 degrees Aries. We are 85 days from the June solstice.
We are now coming to the end of the current eclipse season. The next Full Moon on April 2nd is the first since the Total Lunar Eclipse on March 3rd 2007.
The Moon today waxing past first quarter is decelerating in Cancer. She trines Uranus and is void at 14:37 GMT for the following 27 hours.
Mercury is accelerating as a morning star in Pisces.
Venus is a bright evening star in Taurus.
No sooner is the Mars Neptune conjunction (which was exact yesterday) over, that another planetary conjunction starts to bite. Mercury is within 8 degrees of Uranus and closing. This conjunction occurs on April 1st.
The week ahead sees the Moon waxing to the Full. There is a lunar occultation of Saturn on Thursday, and a lunar occultation of the star Regulus on Friday.
Tuesday March 27th 2007
Britain and Iraq are increasing pressure on Iran to release 15 British sailors and marines seized in what Tehran insists were its territorial waters.
Northern Ireland's major Protestant and Catholic parties yesterday hailed a deal to form a power-sharing government as a "new era of politics" to end three decades of sectarian conflict in the British province. Monday's breakthrough followed the first face-to-face talks between the Protestants of Ian Paisley's hard-line Democratic Unionist Party and the Roman Catholics of Gerry Adams' Sinn Fein.
Aftershocks jolted the west coast of central Japan on Monday, keeping residents on edge a day after a strong earthquake killed one person, injured nearly 200 and flattened homes.
For most of today the Moon waxes in a 'void of course' state in Cancer.
The energy modulates as the Moon enters Leo 17:05 GMT. The Sun and Moon are then both in fire signs (together with Saturn and Jupiter).
Wednesday March 28th 2007
Up to 600 people may have been killed in last week's clashes in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa, European Union diplomats say.
Insurgents yesterday blew up two trucks in the northern Iraqi town of Talafar, killing 48 people and injuring 100.
The UK government is trying to "discreetly talk" to Iran about the seizure of 15 navy personnel,
Today the Moon decelerates and waxes in Leo, applying all day towards occultations with Saturn (tomorrow) and with Regulus (on Friday).
Thursday March 29th 2007
A captured British female sailor was shown on Iranian state TV saying "we trespassed" in Iran's waters.
At least 70 Sunnis were yesterday shot dead in a north Iraqi town, in apparent reprisal for bombings in a Shia area.
Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was detained in a raid on his headquarters, his party says.
A petrol tanker explosion has killed at least 98 people in a remote village in north-western Nigeria.
An odd, six-sided, honeycomb-shaped feature circling the entire north pole of Saturn has captured the interest of scientists with NASA's Cassini mission. NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft imaged the feature over two decades ago. The fact that it has appeared in Cassini images indicates that it is a long-lived feature. A second hexagon, significantly darker than the brighter historical feature, is also visible in the Cassini pictures. The spacecraft's visual and infrared mapping spectrometer is the first instrument to capture the entire hexagon feature in one image. "This is a very strange feature, lying in a precise geometric fashion with six nearly equally straight sides,".
Today the slowly waxing Moon in Leo exactly aligns to Saturn 05:22 GMT. (Zodiacal conjunction 04:56 GMT at 19 degrees Leo). This is seen as a lunar occultation of Saturn from northern Scotland and Norway. The Moon opposes Neptune 10:04 GMT reaching gibbous phase 24 degrees Leo 14:40 GMT and opposes Mars 15:46 GMT.
The astrology of this day in keeping with current news stories indicate troublesome times.
From today we are in the procession towards another Full Moon which peaks next Monday.
Mercury is rapidly drawing to a conjunction with Uranus in Pisces which peaks on Sunday. This conjunction adds more than a touch of 'the unexpected' to the power of the coming Full Moon.
Friday March 30th 2007
The US Senate yesterday backed a March 2008 date to withdraw troops from Iraq, defying a presidential veto threat.
African leaders gave South African President Thabo Mbeki the task of mediating in Zimbabwe's political crisis.
Iran may delay its plan to release the only woman among 15 captured Royal Navy crew because of the UK's "incorrect attitude", an official has said.
Today the slowly waxing Moon trines Pluto and is void in Leo from 01:25 GMT.
There is a Lunar occultation visible from the UK of Regulus approx. 03:28 GMT. The Moon immediately enters Virgo.
The day continues in tense 'crisis ridden' fashion.
There are three astrological events about to take place, the first is the conjunction of Mercury and Uranus which peaks on Sunday and the second is an nuastere square aspect between Venus and Saturn first thing on Monday morning and the third is the approach of a dynamic and richly eventful Full Moon on Monday. The weekend ahead is dominated by these three 'waves'.
The evening has a 'pleasantly unusual' feel about it. The devil however is in the detail.
Saturday March 31st 2007
Another day with a tense and brooding feel in the ether!
Venus in Taurus sextile Uranus in Pisces 01:25 GMT.
The slowly waxing Moon in Virgo opposes Mercury at 07:56 GMT and Uranus at 11:43 GMT.
She then trines Venus 12:05 GMT.
Pluto turns retrograde at the very end of Sagittarius at 20:06 GMT.
Mercury is almost conjunct Uranus.
April 2007
April 2007 starts with Mercury aligning to Uranus on the 1st of the month, the Moon aligning to Uranus on April 14th and ends with Mars aligning even more tightly to Uranus on the 29th.
The month is astrologically dynamic and largely positive with several helpful and inspiring planetary pictures. There are also more challenging T-squares both in Fixed and Mutable signs at the month's end.
The month commences with the Moon nearly full, and a 'trapezoidal planetary pattern' in sway involving Venus, Saturn, Mercury conjunct Uranus, and Jupiter. This dissolves by the 5th, only to be replaced with a mighty strong and benevolent Saturn, Jupiter, Sun in fiery grand trine. Peaking on the 8th, the grand trine then orientates itself more strongly onto the Saturn Neptune opposition morphing to a Kite planetary pattern by the 12th.
As the wave breaks the Moon draws Jupiter and Saturn to fiery grand trine briefly on the 16th, the day before a good New Moon. It is then the time of Mercury to complete a fiery Grand trine with Jupiter and Saturn on the 22nd.
A mutable T-square then follows peaking on the 25th and tightening to a grand mutable cross with the Moon towards midnight (GMT) at the end of April 27th.
The month ends harshly and electrically with Mars aligning to Uranus squaring a Jupiter Venus opposition in fixed signs.
Sunday 1st April 2007
The slow moving Moon squares Pluto from Virgo and becomes void of course at 13:39 GMT. She enters Libra at 15:45 GMT. From this point in time the tenseness of the last couple of days gives way to the more socially orientated nature of the imminent Full Moon in Libra.
This day has an errant nature to it. Shocks and unexpected events are 'starred'.
Mercury aligns to Uranus (within 2 degrees) 17:16 GMT. Zodiacal conjunction at 16 degrees Pisces at 18:30 GMT.
Venus squares both Saturn and Neptune over the next few days. The T-square is in fixed signs.
As the day progresses and the Venus Saturn square aspect, the forerunner to tomorrow's Full Moon, bites hard. There is a touch of austerity amid the generally tumultuous feel of today.
Monday 2nd April 2007
Iranians on Sunday protested at the British embassy in Tehran against the "illegal entry" into their waters of UK navy personnel.
Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert invited Arab leaders to attend a regional peace conference.
Fifty-two people have been killed in fresh fighting between foreign militants and local tribesmen in Pakistan, the interior minister says.
Homes and businesses in Sydney turned lights out across the city to try to raise awareness of global warming. (Photo above).
Venus squares Saturn 07:01 GMT
The day begins with this hard square aspect.
The slow climax to today's Full Moon has then maximum momentum.
Full Moon 13 degrees Libra 17:16 GMT.
This Full Moon is the first following the Total Lunar Eclipse of March 3rd 2007. As such the changes and events initiated with that eclipse now begin to make themselves apparent. This is a climax of new beginnings.
This Full Moon is a dynamic affair with several astrological and planetary patterns manifest in the skies of Earth. These involve a 'mystic rectangle', and a fiery grand trine and a kite formation. The Full Moon herself in the 15 hours following the peak of the Full Moon will form a 'finger of fate' picture with a tight Venus and Mercury sextile.
Mercury is conjunct Uranus, Venus squares Saturn, Jupiter trines Saturn, Mars sextiles Pluto. This spells energy, temperance, action and event.
At the exact moment of Full Moon the Moon is rising over eastern Europe, the toe of Italy, the Balkans, Poland and Finland. The Moon is conjunct the local MC of Bangkok and the local IC of Panama and is setting at Los Angeles. Saturn is, most significantly, conjunct the local MC of Tehran.
This is very much a 'Full' day and may be a little exhausting.
After the moment of Full Moon she makes pleasant aspects.
Tuesday April 3rd 2007
On this day after the Full Moon, this very slow moving Moon in Libra forms a finger of fate with Mercury and, Uranus in Pisces and Venus in Taurus at 08:15 GMT. A fateful start to the (GMT) day is forecast.
The Moon reaches apogee (slowest all month) at 08:40 GMT.
The day has lazy, convivial and social potential. Diplomacy wins through.
A lunar occultation of the star Spica occurs today at 17:19 GMT visible from Antarctica. This is the penultimate lunar occultation of Spica in the current series. There is one more on the last day of this month. The next one after that is in April 2012.
Wednesday April 4th 2007
Pluto is conjunct the Moon/Mars midpoint, sextiling them both at 00:39 GMT.
The slowly waning Moon sextiles Pluto and is void of course at 02:31. She enters Scorpio 04:37 GMT.
This day has a razor edge, sharper and less diffuse than yesterday.
Mercury squares Jupiter 07:18 GMT.
Venus squares Neptune 18:16 GMT.
Thursday April 5th 2007
State of the skies:- The Sun is today half way through Aries. The slow moving but now accelerating Moon wanes in Scorpio. We have now left the eclipse season.
Mercury is a 'morning star' in Pisces.
Venus is a bright 'evening star' in Taurus.
Mars at the very end of Aquarius sextiles Pluto 00:17 GMT. Mars enters Pisces tomorrow.
The Sun is building to a wondrous fiery grand trine with Saturn and Jupiter which dominates the skies of Earth over the next week with great positive potential.
Friday April 6th 2007
Jupiter at 20 degrees Sagittarius turns retrograde 00:29 GMT
At 02:55 GMT the Moon on the point of voidness forms a fixed T-square with the Venus in Taurus and Neptune in Aquarius.
Mars enters Pisces 08:50 . Mars will reside in this sign until May 15th 2007. The major event during this residency will be his alignment to Uranus on April 29th 2007.
Moon reaches disseminating phase 2 degrees Sagittarius 20:14 GMT
At 16:57 GMT the Moon enters Sagittarius.
Saturday April 7th 2007
The world's poorest people will be hardest hit by climate change, experts at a summit on Thursday on global warming warned.
At least 27 people were killed yesterday in a suicide bombing in the city of Ramadi, as clashes erupted in southern Iraq.
The head of the Royal Navy defended the actions of 15 UK personnel seized by Iran (released on Thursday) and operations in the Gulf.
A solar wind stream is heading for Earth. Sky watchers from Scandinavia to Alaska should be alert for auroras when it arrives on April 9th A similar solar wind stream hit Earth on April 1st, causing the display shown above. "At one point the whole sky was covered in fantastic swirling arcs," says photographer Steve Faulkner of Lake Myvatn, Iceland. Spaceweather.com
Lunar occultation of Antares occurs 12:41 GMT visible from SE Australia and south America. Lunar occultations of Antares occur every month from Dec. 2004 to Feb.. 2010. There are none then till July 2023.
Mercury sextile Venus 16:10 GMT.
The fire trine involving the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn tightens all day.
Sunday April 8th 2007
The Sun, Saturn and Jupiter are in fiery grand trine.
The Moon is involved as she is conjunct Jupiter in Sagittarius at 07:52 GMT.
The Sun trines Saturn 11:56 GMT
Monday April 9th 2007
The planetary grand trine metamorphoses into a planetary kite in the skies of Earth over these next three days across the Saturn Neptune axis.
The Moon is conjunct Pluto and becomes void of course at 01:35 GMT. She enters Capricorn 03:36 GMT.
Tuesday 10th April 2007
The Sun trines Jupiter 00:07 GMT
Mercury squares Pluto 07:23 GMT
Moon last quarter 20 degrees Capricorn 18:05 GMT
Mercury enters Aries 23:07 GMT
Wednesday April 11th 2007
The Moon checks out in trine aspect to Venus 09:57 GMT, becomes void and enters Aquarius 11:23 GMT.
The Sun sextile Neptune 19:33 GMT
Thursday April 12th 2007
Water has been detected for the first time in the atmosphere of a planet outside our Solar System. The planet, known as HD 209458b, is a Jupiter-like gas giant located 150 light-years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus. China's prime minister has used a landmark address in Japan's parliament to urge Tokyo to face up to its wartime past. A blast on a bridge in Baghdad has killed at least eight people, sending cars toppling into the River Tigris below.
Today Venus enters Gemini 02:15 GMT This evening Venus is directly left of the Pleiades (as seen from mid-northern latitudes).
Mercury is now in Aries, Venus is in Gemini.
The Moon wanes and accelerates in Aquarius.
Friday April 13th 2007
The Moon is conjunct Neptune at 01:18 GMT. She is sextile Pluto 13:50 GMT and void.
She slips into Pisces 15:39 in an ungainly fashion squaring Venus.
The Moon then applies in tight conjunction to Mars and Uranus tomorrow.
Saturday April 14th 2007
A day of a double occultation!
The fast moving waning Moon aligns to Mars within a quarter of a degree 01:11 GMT at 6 degrees Pisces, (visible as an occultation from Somalia, the Indian Ocean, India and the Far East).
The Moon reaches balsamic phase 9 degrees Pisces 06:35 GMT.
She then almost exactly aligns to Uranus 20:24 GMT at 17 degrees Pisces, visible as an occultation from Japan, NE Asia, Alaska and Northern Canada.
Sunday April 15th 2007
The fast moving Moon squares Pluto and is void at 15:02 GMT.
She pushes into Aries 16:47 GMT and makes nice aspects over the new moon period.
Monday April 16th 2007
At least 35 people died in a series of bomb and suicide attacks yesterday in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
The BBC voiced concern at reports that reporter Alan Johnston is dead, but stresses there is no verification
Voters in Ecuador are deciding whether to back the president's call for moves towards a new constitution.
State of the skies:- The Sun is today at 26 degrees Aries. There are 64 days to the solstice. The Sun enters Taurus on Friday.
The very old but very fast moving Moon is conjunct Mercury at 9 degrees Aries 07:09 GMT. The next New Moon is tomorrow. This is the first New Moon after the partial solar eclipse on March 19th. As midnight (GMT) approaches today the Moon forms a fiery hot grand trine with Jupiter and Saturn.
Mercury is now a rapidly moving 'morning star' in Aries. He will be at 'superior conjunction' on the far side of the Sun on May 3rd. During the next week he will form a fiery grand trine with Jupiter and Saturn.
Venus is a bright evening star in Gemini.
Mars is in Pisces less than 10 degrees from his close conjunction with Uranus which occurs on April 29th.
The week ahead is coloured by tomorrow's strong New Moon and the positive grand trine in fire signs involving Jupiter and Saturn and Mercury. This really is a time to push ahead with all projects.
Tuesday April 17th 2007
Under the influence of an old Moon in Aries yesterday a lone gunman killed at least 21 people and wounded at least 29 more on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, before shooting himself,
Powerful spring storms battering the eastern US have claimed at least eight lives and caused widespread flooding and damage to property. A state of emergency has been declared in West Virginia and New Jersey, while 3,200 National Guards were deployed in the worst-hit areas of New York.
Today the old Moon is at perigee 05:50 GMT. At this moment the Moon is closer to the Earth than at anytime between 2005 and 2010.
'Close' New Moon 27 degrees Aries 11:37 GMT trine Pluto.
This is the first New Moon after the partial solar eclipse on March 19th. The New Moon in Aries is strongly trined by Pluto. Big positive changes are inaugurated from today's lunation.
At the moment of New Moon the Sun and the Moon are culminating at Amsterdam, Holland, Belgium, Eastern France, Algeries. Both bodies are setting over Mongolia, central China and western Thailand. The pair are rising over central USA. At Baghdad Mars sets and Venus culminates. Saturn is exactly rising at Munich.
The New Moon occurs on the natal Mercury of Tony Blair, and is within 3 degrees of the natal Mid heaven of George Bush.
The newborn baby moon trines Pluto and becomes void 14:27 GMT.
She enters Taurus 16:12 GMT
Under the beams of an infant Moon it is now the turn of Mercury to take advantage of the Jupiter Saturn trine. Another fiery grand trine builds up over the next five days.
Wednesday April 18th 2007
Police have named a student who shot dead at least 30 people at a US university as Cho Seung-hui, from South Korea. Immigration records show that he was born in South Korea on 18 January 1984 and had moved to the US in 1992, when he was eight. Astrologers will be interested to learn that on the date of birth of this man, the Moon was full in late Cancer square a Mars Pluto conjunction in early Scorpio. Yesterday's new Moon squared Full Moon position of his birth date.
Today the young Moon rapidly waxes in Taurus.
The Sun in late Aries applies in fiery trine to Pluto..
Mercury is in tightening grand trine relationship with Jupiter and Saturn. These next few days are good times to promote positive and assertive ideas and proposals Optimistic thinking strikes a common chord.
We can expect strong tides around the coasts of Earth today and tomorrow because of yesterday's New Moon at perigee.
Thursday April 19th 2007
At least 170 people were yesterday killed in a string of attacks in Iraq's capital, Baghdad - the worst day of violence since a US security operation began. In the deadliest incident, some 120 people were killed in a car bombing in a food market in Sadriya district. A witness said the area had been turned into "a swimming pool of blood".
The student who killed at least 30 people at a US university was admitted to a mental health unit in 2005. The student was born on the day of a Full Moon. (See yesterday's comment).
The UK pound has climbed well past the $2 mark, surging to a 26-year high against the troubled US currency.
Today is the last day of the astrological month of Aries.
The fast moving Moon in Taurus squares Neptune in Aquarius and is void of course at 02:30 GMT
The Sun trines Pluto 07:32 GMT.
The fast moving but now decelerating Moon enters Gemini 15:52 GMT and starts to apply in conjunction with Venus. The Sun and Moon (together with Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto) are now in positive signs.
Saturn turns direct 21:02 GMT today and begins the final phase of his residence in Leo which ends on September 2nd 2007 when he enters Virgo.
Mercury continues tightening in grand trine relationship with Jupiter and Saturn.
These are expansive days full of opportunity.
Friday April 20th 2007
Last year Earth's gravity apparently captured a tiny asteroid that ventured too near our planet. But this "second Moon" will only hang around until June, when it'll get shoved back out into interplanetary space.
Twenty-four Taliban fighters were killed during a seven-hour battle with Afghan and coalition forces at nightfall Wednesday in southern Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition command said yesterday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Iraq yesterday after a bloody 24-hour stretch in Baghdad that left more than 200 people dead. The announced visit came as another car bomb exploded in the Iraqi capital, killing 12 people.
The long-dormant Nevado del Huila volcano in southwest Colombia erupted late Tuesday and early Wednesday, provoking avalanches and floods that swept away houses and bridges and prompted thousands to evacuate." There were no reports of deaths or injuries. The volcano's eruption at 10:37 p.m. (presumably local time) Tuesday was its first on record since Colombia was colonized by the Spanish 500 years ago. A second eruption occurred at 2:57 a.m. Wednesday. Experts did not rule out more eruptions.
George W. Bush's progressed Moon enters Capricorn today.
Today the decelerating Moon is conjunct Venus at 10 degrees Gemini at 07:28 GMT.
The Sun enters Taurus 11:07 GMT and a new astrological month commences.
The Moon reaches crescent phase 15 degrees Gemini 16:50 GMT
Mercury is now in tight grand trine relationship with Jupiter and Saturn. Despite an essentially violent week in world news in the wake of the New Moon in Aries on Tuesday, there maybe a new optimism today invoked by this fiery grand trine. Use it well.
Saturday April 21st 2007
The days starts bin a busy and buzzy mood.
The planetary grand trine involving Mercury in Aries, Jupiter in Sagittarius and Saturn in Leo climaxes today.
Mercury trines Saturn 07:10 GMT
The crescent Moon in Gemini opposes Pluto 15:53 GMT and becomes void.
This waxing but decelerating Moon enters Cancer 17:51. The mood of the day changes. A more 'retentive' but still optimistic atmosphere prevails.
The Sun and Moon are now in negative signs.
Mercury trines Jupiter 22:40 GMT.
Sunday April 22nd 2007
The Moon waxes in Cancer. The background astrological atmosphere is homely and nourishing today but Venus is about to square Mars so conflicts between the collective anima and animus will be likely. This one is not good for personal relationships.
Monday April 23rd 2007
State of the skies:- The Sun is at 3 degrees Taurus. There are 57 days to the solstice.
The decelerating Moon squares Mercury and is void at 09:12 GMT. She enters Leo 22:39 GMT and approaches first quarter phase. The next Full Moon is in Scorpio and occurs on Wednesday May 2nd 2007.
Mercury in Aries is an 'morning star' (although visibly lost in the glare of the sunrise) on the far side of the Sun, he is moving quickly and today is sextile Neptune at 04:12 GMT.
Venus, a very bright 'evening star' in Gemini squares Mars 05:30 GMT, and makes a square with Uranus in Pisces and an opposition to Jupiter in Sagittarius over the next week.
Five degrees now separate Mars and Uranus in Pisces. This is the next planetary wave to engulf us. This one climaxes next weekend.
French voters yesterday flocked to the polls in high numbers for the most unpredictable presidential poll in decades.
Nigeria's biggest election monitoring group says Saturday's poll was so flawed it should be re-run.
More than 60 people have been killed in a fourth day of heavy fighting between Ethiopian troops and Islamist militia in Somalia's capital of Mogadishu.
Tuesday April 24th 2007
Yesterday Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who oversaw the demise of the Soviet Union, died aged 76.
Ruling party candidate Umaru Yar'Adua is declared the winner of Nigeria's controversial presidential poll.
The top two candidates in the first round of the French presidential election are beginning intense campaigning for the run-off on 6 May.
Twin Nasa spacecraft have captured 3D images that will aid the study of solar explosions capable of causing havoc on Earth.
Environmental officers have begun an assessment of the effects of a major sewage leak into the Firth of Forth (UK).
The Moon reaches first quarter phase at 4 degrees Leo 06:37 GMT today and appears to move steadily towards Saturn to which she almost exactly aligns tomorrow.
With the Sun and Moon in Taurus and Leo receptively (both fixed signs) we can expect a lavish and resplendent mixture of cosmic energies today and tomorrow. A fine time for children.
Wednesday April 25th 2007
Hundreds of people yesterday gathered to pay respects at a Moscow church, where the body of Boris Yeltsin lies in state.
An attack by gunmen in eastern Ethiopia has left 65 Ethiopians and nine Chinese oil workers dead.
Ethiopian tanks are pounding parts of the Somali capital, stepping up a week-long campaign against insurgents and fighters from the Hawiye clan.
Kryptonite is no longer just the stuff of fiction feared by caped superheroes. A new mineral matching its unique chemistry - as described in the film Superman Returns - has been identified in a mine in Serbia.
The discovery of a vast fossil forest hundreds of metres underground has provided an extraordinary picture of some of Earth's earliest plants.
Today the Moon aligns to Saturn in tropical Leo within a degree at 11:03 GMT. This is an occultation of Saturn from Alaska. This is 6th of the current monthly series of 12 Lunar occultations of Saturn. The Moon then trines Jupiter at 12:13 GMT and opposes Neptune at 17:18 GMT.
The following few days are astrologically dynamic. The major aspect is an alignment of Mars and Uranus in Pisces which peaks on Sunday. This alignment is hooked into a 'mutable T-square' with Venus and Jupiter which holds sway right up to the Full Moon on May 2nd. The period ahead is also dotted with occultations by the Moon of Saturn, (today), Regulus, (tomorrow), and Spica (next Monday). Fasten your seat belts Ladies and Gentlemen we are going on a ride.
Thursday April 26th 2007
Astronomers have found the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System to date, a world which could have water running on its surface. The planet orbits the faint star Gliese 581, which is 20.5 light-years away in the constellation Libra. Scientists made the discovery using the Eso 3.6m Telescope in Chile.
The Dow Jones, America's main share index, yesterday passed the 13,000 mark for the first time in its history.
From today Venus in Gemini , Mars in Pisces, Uranus in Pisces and the Lunar Node in Pisces and Jupiter in Sagittarius arrange themselves in a mutable T-square. This is an astrologically dynamic configuration which may well 'induce' important events on the world stage and in our personal lives over the next few days.
A lunar occultation of Regulus occurs today at 08:37 GMT from North West America and the Arctic. This is the 4th of 20 monthly lunar occultations of this star.
The slow moving waxing Moon in Leo at 07:03 GMT forms a fiery grand trine with Mercury and Pluto, she is then void of course, entering Virgo 09:25 GMT. From that moment the Sun and the Moon are in earth signs.
Mercury in Aries is trine Pluto in Sagittarius at 17:05 GMT.
Minor lunar occultation visible from the UK of star Rho Leo approx. 21:46 GMT.
Astrological pressure is now on the increase. Today may start on an positive note but could end awkwardly as Venus and Uranus hit their square aspect and 'set off' the mutable cross. There is a potential for aberration and critical mistakes as night falls (GMT).
Friday April 27th 2007
We are now in the midst of a very strange and special few days.
Venus squares Uranus 03:21 GMT.
Mercury enters Taurus 07:16 GMT.
What follows in the second half of this day is fairly remarkable. The Moon, the Earth, Mars and Uranus all align within a couple of degrees.
The slow moving Moon opposes Mars (within 1.5 degrees) at 18:13 GMT.
Venus sextile Saturn 20:07 GMT.
The Moon opposes Uranus 20:19 GMT within half a degree, and then squares the Venus Jupiter opposition.
At 22:45 GMT the Moon transforms the ongoing and tightening planetary T-square to a very tight Mutable cross around 18/19 degrees of the mutable signs.
Uranus appears less than 1° south of Mars on Saturday and Sunday mornings. On Saturday morning (for the Americas), 1st-magnitude Mars, 4.4-magnitude Phi Aquarii, and 6th-magnitude Uranus form a nearly straight little line 0.9° long, in that order from right to left. On Sunday morning, Mars is below the two faint dots. Try looking with binoculars or a telescope about 75 minutes before sunrise, depending on the clarity of the air.
Saturday April 28th 2007
This weekend is astrologically 'notable'.
Mars aligns with Uranus tomorrow. This planetary conjunction occurs every couple of years. It is an explosive mixture of planetary energies which usually inflames existing conflicts and initiates new ones. The entry into the theater of war in Afghanistan of 1000 US marines on Monday 26th November 2001 coincided with a conjunction of Mars and Uranus in Aquarius. On June 23rd 2003 the same conjunction in Pisces coincided with some of the first British military deaths in southern Iran. The last conjunction was on May 15th 2005. In The Daze 2005 of the time...I quote myself here. 'At 11:02 GMT Mars and Uranus 1°06 apart at 10 degrees Pisces. The single world event which seems to correspond with this cosmic fire cracker is the thousands seeking to escape the violence in the Uzbek town of Andijan and clashing with police near the Kyrgyz border. It is not clear how many died, but some residents report seeing hundreds of bodies. Thousands of protesters reappeared on the streets of Andijan on Saturday, despite the bloodshed. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has (suddenly) arrived in Irbil, Iraq as attacks claim lives in Baghdad and Baquba. The Daze 2005
The next (and final) conjunction of Mars and Uranus in Pisces occurs on April 15th 2009. The following five after that occur in Aries.
At the present time the Mars and Uranus conjunction is 'hooked into' a mutable cross with Venus and Jupiter. This add more power to the current situation.
Today as the current Mars Uranus conjunction draws to its climax so the slow moving Moon reaches gibbous phase 23 degrees Virgo 06:47 GMT. The procession towards her monthly climax then also commences.
Venus in Gemini opposes Jupiter in Sagittarius 12:44 GMT (eased somewhat by Saturn in Leo). There is an excess of energy associated with this arm of the planetary T-square. Remember today is potentially 'critically excessive'.
The Moon squares Pluto and is void at 19:15 GMT. The Moon enters Libra 21:46 GMT.
Sunday April 29th 2007
Mars aligns to Uranus (0.69 degree orb) 04:26 GMT at 17 degrees Pisces.
The Moon very slowly waxes to the full in Libra.
Monday April 30th 2007
An earthquake of at least 4.3 magnitude hits parts of Kent, on Saturday 28th April damaging homes and leaving thousands without power. The British Geological Survey said the tremor, which occurred at 0818 BST, was the largest British earthquake since one in Dudley, West Midlands, in 2002. The chart above set for the epicentre is that of the time of this UK earthquake. UK Earthquake page
Today the Moon in Libra reaches apogee (slowest moving all month) at 10:57 GMT, she then sextiles Saturn and Jupiter 11:00 to noon GMT, and goes on to form an airy grand trine, this time with Venus and Neptune, tightest around 18:30 GMT.
Mars (and Uranus) square Jupiter 22:22 GMT and are also square Venus.
A lunar occultation of the star Spica occurs today at 23:25 visible from southern polar regions. This is the last lunar occultation of Spica until April 2012.
As midnight approaches the Moon in airy Grand Trine with Venus and Neptune forms a weak kite across the Venus Jupiter opposition.
May 2007
May 2007 is astrologically reasonably quiet once the Full Moon on May 2nd is over. The UK however is subject to three daylight lunar occultations. The first on May 12th is of Uranus. The next is of Saturn on the 22nd and the last is of Regulus on 23rd.
Tuesday May 1st 2007
Venus trines Neptune 01:34 GMT
The nearly Full Moon sextile Pluto and is void from 08:07 GMT.
She enters Scorpio 10:42 GMT.
Wednesday May 2nd 2007
Turkey's constitutional court yesterday annuled a presidential election but the government vowed to hold a new vote.
At least 30 civilians were killed in the latest Nato-led offensive in Afghanistan.
Cuba's leader Fidel Castro did not appear at the annual May Day parade, fuelling speculation over his health.
Computer models of climate change have underestimated the pace of Arctic melting, a study concludes.
The peak of the next sunspot cycle is expected in late 2011 or mid-2012 -- potentially affecting airline flights, communications satellites and electrical transmissions. But forecasters can't agree on how intense it will be.
Today is the day of the Full Moon in Scorpio.
The nearly full Moon is opposite Mercury 08:00 GMT
Full Moon 12 degrees Scorpio exactly full 10:10 GMT
This (Walpurgis) Full Moon is the second following the Total Lunar Eclipse of March 3rd 2007 and the fourth one before an even deeper Total Eclipse on August 28th 2007. As such the events and energies 'set up' at the time of the March Eclipse are now made fully manifest.
This Full Moon is opposite Mercury. The major challenge at this time is one of communication and understanding. The quality of this lunation is intense and concentrated. At this time Jupiter is in fiery trine relationship to Saturn and in mutable square aspect to Uranus. There is great opportunity for spiritual growth here.
At the moment of the climax of this Full Moon (10:10 GMT today) the Moon is rising over Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia. It is Moonset and Sunrise over central America central South America and the Caribbean. The Sun and Mercury rise at Washington DC. The Moon is on the IC of Bucharest, Western Russia and Finland. Saturn is exactly rising at Budapest and Copenhagen. Neptune has just set over Western Turkey.
This Full Moon is conjunct the natal Venus at Vladimir Putin and is also conjunct the natal Saturn of the UK's Prince Harry.
From 23:00 GMT today the Moon arrays in tight geometric relationship with Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Uranus. The pattern holds sway up to the time of the superior conjunction of Mercury tomorrow.
Thursday May 3rd 2007
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni yesterday said she has told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign. Olmert is facing increasing pressure to quit after an interim report blamed him for rushing into last year's war with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Turkey's ruling AK Party on Wednesday proposed to bring forward a parliamentary election to June 24 to ease tensions after an increasingly bitter standoff between the Islamist-rooted government and the secular elite.
Small moons are acting as shepherds using their gravity to herd dust and boulders in Jupiter's faint rings, NASA scientists report. The finding is one of several discoveries made from images captured in late February by the New Horizons probe. (Jupiter's 'big red spot' graphic above).
The Superior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun occurs today at 04:06 GMT. This point in time symbolically represents a 'Full Mercury', a climax of thought processes revelation and objectivity. This occurs three times a year. After this moment Mercury is astrologically an 'evening star' and as such invokes a more reflective and 'backward looking' universal mentality.
The slow moving but now accelerating 'hung over' Moon in Scorpio today squares Neptune and is void of course from 06:42 GMT.
A long day of lunar 'voidness' ensues with the Moon eventually entering Sagittarius 22:48 GMT.
Friday May 4th 2007
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Syria's foreign minister on Thursday in the first high-level talks between the two countries in years. The meeting came hours after the chief U.S. military spokesman in Iraq said Syria had moved to reduce "the flow of foreign fighters" across its border.
Tens of thousands of protesters streamed to a central Tel Aviv square after sundown Thursday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert because of a scathing inquiry report about the way he ordered and handled last summer's bloody, costly but inconclusive war in Lebanon.
Turkey's Parliament on Thursday approved July 22 as the date for early general elections, which were called to resolve a government crisis over sharply rising tension between the pro-secular military and the Islamic-rooted government.
Both French presidential candidates claimed victory Thursday after meeting in a fiery and combative debate, the only face-to-face encounter between the two before the second round of voting on May 6.
Prime Minister Tony Blair led his beleaguered Labour Party into electoral combat for the final time Thursday in local and regional elections that, amid his unpopularity, could put Scotland on the road toward independence from the rest of Britain.
The Moon wanes and accelerates in Sagittarius.
A Lunar occultation of Antares occurs at 18:25 GMT today visible from S.E. Africa and New Zealand. Lunar occultations of Antares occur every month from Dec.. 2004 to Feb. 2010. There are none then till July 2023.
The weekend ahead (especially Saturday) is a far reaching and exploratory affair. Travel is favored.
Saturday May 5th 2007
The annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks before dawn Saturday morning; it's observable from the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere. But even there this isn't a good year for the Eta Aquarids, what with the bright moonlight. Sky and Telescope
The Moon is conjunct Jupiter in Sagittarius at 11:04 GMT. From this time she inaugurates a trapezodial pattern of planets (Mars and Uranus in Pisces, Sun and Mercury in Taurus, Saturn in Leo and Jupiter in Sagittarius) which hold sway in this relationship and dominate the astrology of the next 5 days.
At 21:20 GMT today we reach the midpoint in time between the Aries Equinox and the Cancer Solstice. In the northern hemisphere late spring is in full sway, in the south the autumn is fading.
Sunday May 6th 2007
The Moon is conjunct Pluto and void of course from 06:46 GMT.
Jupiter makes a waxing trine aspect to Saturn. 07:09 GMT. This is a good vibration inducing all sorts of positive reforming developments within society and within the global community over the next 2 years
( This is the 2nd of 5. The first two are in fire signs, the last three will be in earth signs, 1st 16/03/07, 2nd 6/5/07, 3rd 21/1/08, 4th 9/9/08 and 5th 21/11/08).
The Moon enters Capricorn 09:21 GMT and reaches disseminating phase 1 degree of that sign 10:23 GMT. Both the Sun and the Moon, (together with Mercury) are now in earth signs. The astrological energy today harnesses the movement and directions set out yesterday. Deep roots are established.
Monday May 7th 2007
Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy has won France's presidential election, and his rival concedes defeat.
Date of Birth 28 January 1955, Paris. Astrological horoscope below.Astrotheme
State of the skies:- The Sun is today at 16 degrees Taurus. There are now 44 days to the Solstice.
The Moon is waning and accelerating in Capricorn.
Venus an 'evening star' in Gemini opposes Pluto in Sagittarius 02:03 GMT today. Venus enters Cancer tomorrow.
Mercury is now also an 'evening star' in Taurus and today squares Neptune in Aquarius at 14:29 GMT. Mercury 'zips' into Gemini on Friday of this week.
Mars is in Pisces will square Pluto next Sunday and then enter Aries a week tomorrow.
A fixed T-square involving the Sun in Taurus, Saturn in Leo and Neptune in Aquarius will dominate the skies up to the 14th May.
Tuesday May 8th 2007
Scientists have discovered that Mercury's core may be partially molten, making it a little more Earth-like than once thought. "Essentially, our radar observations have shown that the innermost planet Mercury has a molten core," said Cornell University's Jean-Luc Margot, who led the research published in the journal Science on Thursday. Using radar and telescopes, Marmot's team measured the spin rate of Mercury and discovered that it wobbles too much to have a solid core.
Today Venus enters Cancer 07:28 GMT. She will reside in this sign until June 5th 2007.
The Moon in Capricorn sextiles Mars and is void of course from 07:35 GMT for 10 hours. She enters Aquarius 17:48 GMT.
The Sun in Taurus sextiles Uranus in Pisces 20:25 GMT.
A fixed T-square involving the Sun in Taurus, Saturn in Leo and Neptune in Aquarius grips the skies from today up to the 14th May.
Wednesday May 9th 2007
Northern Ireland's major Protestant and Catholic parties came together Tuesday to form a power-sharing government, marking a "new era of politics" and an end to three decades of sectarian conflict in the province
An Israeli archaeologist on Tuesday said he has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land -- a potentially major discovery that capped a 35-year quest for the researcher.
France's defeated Socialists called for an end to post-election violence Tuesday after anti-Sarkozy protesters took to the streets for a second night, leaving cars burned and store windows smashed in Paris as well as unrest elsewhere.
Scientists have just released images of the brightest stellar explosion recorded. The supernova, known as SN 2006gy, was believed to be about 150 times as massive as the sun. The explosion could help astronomers better understand how the first generation of stars in the universe died."This supernova stands out as the brightest supernova that's ever been observed," said Nathan Smith, astrophysicist at the University of California at Berkeley. "The reason we're so excited is because it was so powerful we think it may require a new type of explosion mechanism that we've never observed before," said Smith at a news conference from NASA headquarters in Washington. A supernova is a rare and often dramatic phenomenon that involves the explosion of most of the material within a star. Supernovas can be very bright for a short time and usually release huge amounts of energy. A graduate student using a robotic telescope that was part of the Texas Supernova Search project first detected SN 2006gy on September 18, 2006. For about 70 days it got brighter, peaking with a brightness comparable to 50 billion suns, much brighter than most other supernovas. Supernovas are usually bright for a couple of weeks at most. Astronomers captured the star's demise using NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory, and ground- based telescopes at the Lick Observatory in California and the Keck Observatory in Hawaii. The explosion was estimated about 238 million light years away from Earth.
Today Mercury in Taurus rapidly sextiles Mars in Pisces 00:39 GMT.
The Moon wanes and accelerates towards last quarter phase in Aquarius. The Sun and Moon, (together with Mercury, Saturn and Neptune) are in fixed signs today. General intransigence dominates the next two days.
The Sun in Taurus squares Saturn in Leo 12:05 GMT. This square aspect forms one part of the current T-square between these two planets and Neptune. This one has just got to be gone through. It's not easy and turbulence follows in its wake. Nevertheless it will pass.
Thursday May 10th 2007
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to announce his intention to step down as Labour Party leader today, ending weeks of speculation about his departure and setting the clock ticking on the final weeks of his 10-year premiership. Blair's official spokesman said the prime minister would set out his intentions to Cabinet colleagues this morning. He is then expected to travel to his Sedgefield constituency in northern England to make a public announcement.
Election workers began counting votes yesterday in East Timor's presidential race, with both candidates confident of victory in a contest that could sharpen bitter political rivalries in Asia's newest and poorest nation. The winner will have to heal deep divisions in the struggling nation, where many people are disillusioned eight years after voting for independence from decades of brutal Indonesian rule in a U.N-organized referendum. Wednesday's vote took place without violence, observers said, and full results were expected by tomorrow.
Today the Moon reaches last quarter phase 19 degrees Aquarius at 04:28 GMT. She is conjunct Neptune 09:27 GMT.
The accelerating and waning Moon squares Mercury and is void from 21:48 GMT.
She slips into Pisces at 23:32 GMT joining Mars, Uranus and the north Lunar Node in that sign.
These days are dominated by a fixed T-square involving the Sun, Saturn and Neptune (see yesterday's comment).
Friday May 11th 2007
Turkish MPs yesterday backed the election of the president by popular vote amid political tensions over Islamic influence.
Thousands gathered at a stadium in Sao Paulo to hear Pope Benedict XVI after he meets Brazil's president.
Military officers from North and South Korea have given the go-ahead for the first train crossing over the heavily fortified border in more than 50 years. (Attentive Daze readers may recall that at the exact moment of the last Full Moon, May 2nd, the Full Moon was rising over Korea).
Tony Blair announced he will stand down as UK prime minister on 27th June.
Today Jupiter in Sagittarius makes his second waning mutable square aspect to Uranus in Pisces at 03:32 GMT today. The first was 22/1/07, the final hit will be on Oct.. 9th 2007. This aspect is one of the hallmarks of 2007 and may well be remembered for invoking sensational and shocking world events.
Mercury enters Gemini 09:17 GMT today and will speed through the sign in just 18 days. He opposes Jupiter and squares Uranus on May 20th. During the last week of May, Mercury sextiles Saturn trines Neptune and opposes Pluto. These next 18 days will witness very fast moving events and communications. We may get carried away with a multitude of ideas and communications. Mercury will leave Gemini on May 29th, and turn retrograde in Cancer on June 15th. He will not however be retrograding into Gemini.
The weekend ahead has difficult astrological aspects. Mars squares Pluto on Sunday, there are no aspects potentially more violent than this one, I guess, and earlier that day, the 'Sun square Neptune corner' of the current T-square rings out. Serious aberrations there I feel.
Monday may well be quite a relief!
Saturday May 12th 2007
The swift moving but waning crescent Moon occults Uranus ('centred' on the UK) . This 'daylight occultation' is a 'grazing occultation' (for mid latitudes UK) with Uranus touching the lower limb of the crescent Moon around 06-29 GMT. This is the last lunar occultation of Uranus anywhere on earth until 2011.
The Moon then rapidly draws all day long to a conjunction with Mars which hits at 23:02 GMT.
The Moon desperately squares Pluto at 23:54 GMT and is then void.
These days are dominated by a fixed T-square involving the Sun, Saturn and Neptune.
Sunday May 13th 2007
The Moon enters Aries 02:20 GMT.
The Sun squares Neptune 02:56 GMT
The fast moving Moon reaches balsamic phase 7 degrees Aries 14:33 GMT.
Mars squares Pluto 15:11 GMT. Not nice.
Monday May 14th 2007
At least 55 people were yesterday killed and dozens wounded by two separate bombings in Iraq.
The Taleban's military commander in Afghanistan was killed in what Nato says is a "serious blow" to insurgents.
At least seven people died in new Karachi clashes, a day after Pakistan's worst political violence in years.
Rewards totaling £2.5m have been offered to anyone who can help with information leading to the safe return of Madeleine McCann from Rothley in Leicestershire. Madeleine disappeared from her parents' Portuguese holiday apartment on 3 May. Her disappearance has captured the hearts of UK citizens and dominates all UK news reports at this time. Her 4th birthday was on Saturday. Neptune and Saturn both square her natal Sun this season (and everyone's born on her birthday). Her disappearance occurred the day after the last Full Moon in Scorpio which formed a tight fixed cross with her natal Mars, Mercury and Jupiter. The major tightest aspect ahead of her solar chart (in the absence of a birth time) is Saturn trine natal Pluto at the end of May. Mars enters Aries tomorrow, lets hope this planetary ingress forces the issue and she is found alive.
State of the skies:- The Sun is today at 23 degrees Taurus. There are 37 days to the Solstice. The Sun has one more week in Taurus.
The fast moving and accelerating old Moon makes conciliatory aspects from Aries today. The next New Moon is on Wednesday. This lunation looks to be a 'difficult birth' but one which frees us from confusion.
A grand trine in fire signs occurs today at 08:00 GMT involving the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter. This has the power to blast away the negativity of the past weekend.
Mercury is a very fast 'evening star' in Gemini.
Venus is a decelerating 'evening star' in Cancer.
The week ahead is dominated by the New Moon in Taurus on Wednesday.
Tuesday May 15th 2007
Yesterday the Palestinian Authority mobilized all its security forces and called for order, after an upsurge in factional fighting.
A strike in Karachi paralysed the city after 41 people die in two days of violence in the Pakistani city.
A Nigerian satellite, expected to boost broad band Internet services in Africa, was launched by China.
Today the very fast moving Moon in Aries trines Pluto and is void of course from 00:25 GMT.
She enters Taurus emphatically at 02:50 GMT, her path to the New Moon phase tomorrow in this sign is unhindered.
Mars spearheads himself into Aries today at 14:07 GMT. He will remain in this sign until June 24th. On Monday June 4th 2007 Mars trines Jupiter. One week later on June 11th Mars trines Saturn, he sextiles Neptune two days later. On Thursday 21st June 2007, the solstice day, Mars trines Pluto 13:32 GMT. The whole period will be characterized by an impulsive urgency in all activity. This is an exciting and productive period starting today.
Moon perigee (fastest all month) 15:11 GMT.
This is very much an 'old Moon day'.
Wednesday May 16th 2007
The US will not let Russia veto its missile defence plan in Europe, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday.
Hundreds of Fatah loyalists entered Gaza after special training in Egypt, on a bloody day of factional fighting.
Astronomers have found one of the best pieces of evidence for the existence of dark matter, a mysterious quantity that pervades our Universe. They have identified what appears to be a ghostly ring in the sky which is made up of this enigmatic substance. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, the scientists have established that the ring formed long ago after a colossal smash-up between two galaxy clusters. Details of the research are to appear in the Astrophysical Journal.
All day long today the rapidly moving but 'ancient' Moon approaches her new phase by squaring Saturn at 08:40 GMT and squaring Neptune at 13:50 GMT. This is the difficult part of the day. The New Moon occurs at 19:28 GMT.
New Moon 26 degrees Taurus 19:28 GMT.
(The New Moon is tightly quintile the Lunar Node and separates in square aspect from Neptune).
This New Moon is the second following the partial Solar Eclipse of 16th March 2007, and the fourth before the partial solar eclipse on September 11th 2007. The positive young 'Saros energy' of the March eclipse and the changes it induced are now becoming manifest.
This New Moon is separating from a square with Neptune and Saturn. This is a difficult New Moon but 'one which may free us from confusion'.
At the exact moment of New Moon the Moon is rising over Japan, north east China and eastern Russia. It is Moonset over Western Europe. The Moon is on the local MC of Calgary. The Moon has just past lower culmination at Karachi. The UK is 'starred' as the Lunar Nodal axis aligns itself to this country and forms a mutable cross with Jupiter in Sagittarius and Mercury in Gemini. There may be much 'movement' here.
The Moon is void of course from the moment of New Moon, and remains that way for the remainder of the (GMT) day.
Thursday May 17th 2007
As yesterday's New Moon approached at least 17 people were killed as violence worsened in Gaza, with factional fighting and Israeli air strikes.
At least 32 people have been killed and 50 injured in a suspected chlorine bomb in Iraq's Diyala province. The attack happened in an open-air market in the village of Abu Sayda at about 1600 GMT on Tuesday.
The 'new born' Moon starting the (GMT) day void of course in Taurus enters Gemini 02:35 GMT. All day long she draws to a conjunction with Mercury at 13 degrees of that sign peaking at 23:32 GMT.
This day is a tentative start to the new lunar cycle. Its focus could be said to be on the re-establishment of communication.
Friday May 18th 2007
Yesterday Israeli aircraft struck a number of targets in Gaza, including a Hamas office, in response to rocket fire.
Gordon Brown was selected unopposed to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister.
The Moon today makes busy noises from Gemini. Firstly around 07:00 GMT she forms a mutable T-square with the current Jupiter Uranus square and then makes 'easy' the Saturn Neptune opposition. She ends the (GMT) day however drawing to an opposition with Pluto.
Saturday May 19th 2007
The Moon opposes Pluto and is void from 00:58 GMT
She ingresses Cancer at 03:39 GMT.
The Sun in late Taurus and the Moon in Cancer today confer an endearing and domestic quality on the day. Home cooking is in tune with this vibration.
Venus pairs up with the crescent Moon to create a head-turning spectacle high in the west during twilight.
Sunday May 20th 2007
This is the last day of the astrological month of Taurus. It's 'feel' will be similar to yesterday. The astrological energy will change tomorrow but today the 'homely' and 'conserving' atmosphere prevails. As the day progresses and Mercury tightens in square aspect to Uranus, there may be a 'nervy feel' to proceedings.
The young but decelerating Moon aligns to Venus within half a degree at 01:50 GMT and reaches crescent phase 14 degrees Cancer 03:08 GMT
Mercury opposes Jupiter 05:31 GMT. These two planets and the Earth are linearly aligned within 1.5 degrees at that time.
Mercury squares Uranus 23:26 GMT.
The planetary picture involving Mercury, Jupiter Uranus and Saturn lasts for three days.
There are 100 days to another Total Eclipse of the Moon. (Not visible from the UK)
Monday May 21st 2007
At least 37 people were killed yesterday in fighting between Lebanese troops and gunmen from a Palestinian refugee camp.
Israel's security cabinet backed plans to step up Gaza operations in response to Palestinian rocket attacks.
Tens of thousands of Turks maseds in the city of Samsun in the latest demonstration supporting secularism.
The waxing but decelerating crescent Moon enters Leo 07:57 GMT and start to apply to an occultation with Saturn which peaks tomorrow evening (GMT) and to an occultation with the fixed star Regulus which occurs on Wednesday.
The Sun enters Gemini 10:12 GMT and a new astrological month begins. The Sun and the Moon are then in positive (self expressive) signs together with Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto. This will suit extrovert personalities.
Mercury in Gemini sextiles Saturn in Leo 10:48 GMT conferring a 'constructively intellectual' vibration on the day. He speeds on to make a trine aspect to Neptune on Wednesday, who on hearing the message Mercury brings, turns retrograde on Thursday.
The week ahead looks to be astrologically more pleasant than last week.
Tuesday May 22nd 2007
Troops and Islamist militants battled at a refugee camp in Lebanon, with nine civilians reported dead on Monday.
A deal on immigration reform heads to the US Senate for debate amid signs of continuing opposition.
Thousands of villagers in China rioted over fines for having too many children, reports say.
The major astronomical and astrological event today is a lunar occultation of Saturn. The waxing crescent Moon in Leo occults Saturn in daylight (visible telescopically from the UK).
Make a note of the GMT times, and take a look around you as the occultation occurs. The times are 19:08 GMT to 20:12 GMT. (45 degree altitude for mid UK latitudes). This is 7th of the current monthly series of 12 Lunar occultations of Saturn.
Wednesday May 23rd 2007
A truce declared by the militant group Fatah al-Islam in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon ended soon after it was announced Tuesday, when a U.N. relief convoy in the camp came under fire.
Researchers have planted a tracking beacon on a two-billion-tonne block of ice floating off the Canadian Arctic coast. For 3,000 years, this colossal block of ice was securely fixed to the coast as part of the Ayles Ice Shelf - but now it is drifting free. Its current location is about 600km (400 miles) from the North Pole, in what is one of the fastest warming regions on Earth.
The Ayles Ice Island calved off the Ayles Ice Shelf in August 2005 (In that month Jupiter was in airy trine to Neptune).
The calving event was the largest in at least the last 25 years
A total of 87.1 sq km (33.6 sq miles) of ice was lost in this event
The largest piece was 66.4 sq km (25.6 sq miles) in area
This made the slab a little larger than Manhattan
Ayles Ice Island has moved some 50km (30 miles) since calving
Today Mercury in Gemini trines Neptune in Aquarius 07:48 GMT
The Moon in Leo trines Pluto and is void from 13:09 GMT. During this period of voidness the Moon in Leo occults Regulus (daylight grazing occultation 'centred' on the UK around 35 degree altitude around 15-09 GMT).
The Moon enters Virgo 16:27 GMT and reaches 'mutable' first quarter phase 21:04 GMT 2 degrees Virgo. From that moment the Sun and the Moon (together with Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus) are in mutable signs. There will be more 'movement' in many earthly circumstances over the next couple of days.
Thursday May 24th 2007
Photograph of yesterday's lunar occultation of Saturn. Last night, the Moon passed directly in front of Saturn, producing a rare lunar eclipse of the ringed planet visible from Europe, parts of Africa and the Middle East:
Iran has not only ignored a U.N. Security Council deadline to stop uranium enrichment activity but expanded it, according to a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency report obtained by Reuters yesterday.
Tony Blair yesterday said that new nuclear power plants are needed to cut carbon emissions and provide secure supplies in the UK.
Today the Moon decelerates and waxes in Virgo.
Neptune at 22 degrees Aquarius turns retrograde.
Venus currently in Cancer makes an endearing watery trine aspect with Uranus in Pisces early (GMT) tomorrow. Today is a good day to take full advantage of this 'pleasant surprise' vibration.
Friday May 25th 2007
The coming months in Iraq will be critical to the success of US strategy, warned President George W Bush yesterday.
Heavy gunfire erupted at a refugee camp in Lebanon where Islamist militants are defying Lebanese troops.
Underwater footprints reveal that some dinosaurs were capable of swimming, scientists yesterday reported.
Two nights ago a geomagnetic storm sparked bright auroras over Antarctica. On May 19th at 12:52 Universal Time, a magnetic filament erupted on the sun. The blast sent shock waves billowing through the sun's atmosphere; those waves, in turn, generated strong solar radio emissions. The sun has been remarkably "radio-active" lately.
Today the slowly waxing and decelerating Moon very tightly opposes Uranus at 04:46 GMT. The Moon, Earth and Uranus are almost in a straight line at that time.
Venus trines Uranus 06:42 GMT.
Fastidious movement today. Inability to see the wood from the trees. Drowning in moving air and sand. Choose your direction with great care.
A weak mutable T-square involving the Virgo Moon, Mercury in Gemini and Pluto in Sagittarius is in operation from 19:00 GMT for six hours. The Mercury opposite Pluto component of the T-square peaks on Sunday and cast a slightly manic air on proceedings which would otherwise be graceful and social this coming weekend.
Saturday May 26th 2007
The very slow moving Moon squares Pluto at 00:44 GMT and is then void.
She gracefully swans into Libra at 04:17 GMT. The Sun and Moon (with Mercury, and Uranus) are then all in air signs again. Social communication binds us in shared crisis.
The Moon, Earth and Mars are linearly aligned within a degree at 21:38 GMT.
Sunday May 27th 2007
Lazy Sunday afternoon? (well the Moon is in lazy Libra). Plenty cause to worry? (Mercury opposes Pluto 15:11 GMT). Keep it light and airy if you can.
Moon at apogee (slowest all month) at 22:08 GMT and reaches gibbous phase 21 degrees Libra 23:24 GMT.
The procession to the next Full Moon then begins in earnest.
Monday May 28th 2007
Iran and the US are holding their first bilateral talks in almost three decades to discuss Iraq.
Afghan police shoot dead at least five supporters of notorious Uzbek leader General Dostum, reports say.
Spanish police arrest 14 suspected Islamists allegedly involved in recruiting jihadi volunteers.
State of the skies:- The Sun today reaches 7 degrees Gemini. There are 23 days to the Solstice.
The very slow moving but now accelerating gibbous Moon starts the day in Libra trines Mercury and is void of course from 16:17 GMT. She enters Scorpio 17:12 GMT.
During the week ahead this Moon slowly waxes to her Full phase in Sagittarius. The time of exact fullness is on Friday at 01:05 GMT. The coming Full Moon is a very exciting lunation mid way between Total Lunar Eclipses. The Full Moon forms a planetary 'fire kite' pattern at that time and at the exact moment of fullness Uranus in Pisces rises in the UK. Electric fish rising for the UK I say.
Mercury is an evening 'star' in late Gemini, entering Cancer tomorrow. He is now decelerating and will turn retrograde on June 15th. Its that time again, reflection with backward glances flows the river of our thoughts.
Venus is also an 'evening star' but already in Cancer. She too is decelerating, as she draws to her close conjunction with Saturn in Leo on July 1st. (Mighty stuff this) It's as if she senses her doom. She turns retrograde on July 27th meeting Saturn again (in Leo) on August 13th and again (finally) on October 14th (in Virgo). Serious love lessons are ahead of us all. This union of the 'young maid' and 'the old man' (merry is their meeting) will cast a memorable hue on all events over the forthcoming months. Already they can be seen inching closer in the evening sky!
Mars fights and storms his way through Aries. The time is urgent. Shoot first, palaver later.
Saturn opposes Neptune on June 25th for the third and final time. This malediction has one more fateful dose for us all.
Sheer poetry. Stay tuned to TheDaze!
Tuesday May 29th 2007
Yesterday the US called on Iran to stop arming militants in Iraq following their first direct talks for almost 30 years.
Today Mercury enters Cancer 00:56 GMT, joining Venus in that sign, (who will leave Cancer on June 5th). Mercury will reside in Cancer until Aug.. 4th, a long time, and his retrograde 'loop' will occur during that period. He is now decelerating and will turn retrograde on June 15th. The 'collective mind' during this period will deal with situations shrewdly and instinctively. Thrift, circumspection, and tenacity are the hallmarks of thinking processes right now.
The Moon waxes to fullness in Scorpio and makes no major aspects today. There is an intensity about today which will only increase as the week unfolds. We are all now hooked into the approaching full moon which triumphantly climaxes early Friday.
Wednesday May 30th 2007
Four British bodyguards and their British client were yesterday kidnapped from the Iraqi finance ministry.
Umaru Yar'Adua was sworn in as Nigeria's new president, as opposition activists held small protests.
US President George W Bush announced fresh sanctions on Sudan over the four-year conflict in Darfur.
Russia has test-launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile, Russian military officials say. The launch took place at the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia at 1420 (1020 GMT) on Tuesday.
Twenty-eight new planets orbiting stars beyond our Solar System are detected by an international team.
Today a weak fixed T-square involving the gibbous accelerating Moon in Scorpio, Saturn in Leo and Neptune in Aquarius is in effect from 07:00 GMT to 14:00 GMT.
The Moon then ardently trines Venus in Cancer at 17:12 GMT and becomes void of course for 12 hours.
Pressures are building. 'the full moon is coming, the fever is high..'
Thursday May 31st 2007
President Bush and President Vladimir Putin will meet July 1 and 2 in Kennebunkport, Maine, administration officials said on Wednesday. Venus will align to Saturn in Leo and oppose Neptune at that time, it looks to be a newsworthy event.
Don't miss the two innermost planets shining after sunset in Gemini and watch them moving rapidly from day to day. (The blue 10° scale is about the size of your fist held at arm's length.) Sky and Telescope
Mercury and Venus appear closest on June 2nd but then Venus pulls ahead to leave Mercury to his retrograde motion. Mercury will eventually catch up with Venus in Leo on August 16th.
Mercury today is at the point in the zodiac (3 degrees Cancer) that he will return to in retrograde motion turning direct on July 10th. Many earthly matters pertaining to a multitude of decisions during the period between today and July 10th will be have to be revisited.
The almost full moon enters Sagittarius at 05:07 GMT. The Sun and Moon (together with Jupiter and Uranus) are now in mutable signs. Today will be broadly expansive. Adventure, enterprise, and direct approaches are favored. Seize the day.
June 2007
Once the current dynamic full moon is over, June 2007 will be astrologically 'cool' although there are some rather punchy points in time. Three lunar occultations occur within 34 hours of each other! On June 18th The Moon occults Venus at 12 degrees Leo (daylight occultation visible telescopically from the UK around 14-00 to 15-18 GMT). The next day waxing crescent Moon then aligns exactly to Saturn at 06:53 GMT, seen as an occultation from Eastern Europe and central Asia. On June 20th the Moon occults Regulus from most of North America around 00:21 GMT
On the solstice day, the Moon, the Earth and Uranus are in near exact linear alignment (one minute of arc out) at 13:10 GMT.
Mercury turns retrograde at 12 degrees Cancer on June 15th. He is in inferior conjunction with the Sun on June 28th. He regains direct motion on July 10th and enters new territory on July 25th.
Venus an 'evening star' in Cancer, enters Leo on June 5th. She too is decelerating, as she draws to her close conjunction with Saturn in Leo on July 1st. She turns retrograde on July 27th meeting Saturn again (in Leo) on August 13th and again (finally) on October 14th (in Virgo). Serious love lessons are ahead of us all. This union of the 'young maid' and 'the old man' (merry is their meeting) will cast a memorable hue on all events over the forthcoming months. Already they can be seen inching closer in the evening sky.
Mercury and Venus appear closest on June 2nd but the Venus pulls ahead leave Mercury to his retrograde motion. Mercury will eventually catch up with Venus in Leo on August 16th in Leo.
Mars fights and storms his way through Aries. The time is urgent. Shoot first, palaver later.
Saturn opposes Neptune on June 25th for the third and final time. This malediction has one more fateful dose for us all. We are pleased that this is the last dose.
Friday June 1st 2007
A Lunar occultation of Antares occurs 00:35 GMT visible from South America. Lunar occultations of Antares occur every month from Dec. 2004 to Feb. 2010. There are none then till July 2023.
Full Moon 10 degrees Sagittarius 01:05 GMT
Uranus rises over the UK at the moment of Full Moon.
The Full Moon occults Antares 30 minutes before the climax of this full moon. The Moon is applying in a conjunction with Jupiter and forms a planetary 'fiery kite' pattern involving Saturn and Mars.
This Full Moon is a very exciting lunation situated mid way in time between the Total Lunar Eclipses of March 3rd and Aug.. 28th. Karmic forces are balanced, this is a special time.
At the exact moment of fullness it is Moonrise across central north America exactly at Toronto, Nashville and Mexico City. The Moon is on the local MC of Dakar and she sets over Tehran.
Pluto is rising at New York and is conjunct the local MC of Algiers and Paris.
Saturn is conjunct the MC of San Francisco.
Mars rises over central Europe and Africa exactly at Capetown, Tripoli, Rome and Munich, and is the local MC of Jakarta and Ulan Bator.
Uranus in Pisces rises in the UK. A sudden twist of fate, I wonder.
This Full Moon is energetic, exploratory and open. The energy wild and free. Expect many events and developments worldwide.
Once the Full Moon moment is over the Moon continues to accelerate in Sagittarius towards Jupiter.
The Moon is conjunct Jupiter 11:19 GMT. She then applies in conjunction to Pluto whom she 'meets' tomorrow.
This day is very much dominated by a 'wildly hung over' full moon, take care.
Saturday June 2nd 2007
The Moon is conjunct Pluto 11:29 GMT and is void of course from this point.
She enters Capricorn 15:10 GMT, and the astrological energy modulates to more earthy and grounded avenues of expression. This is the start of a rough ride. The Moon has to oppose both Mercury and Venus and square Mars during the next couple of days.
Sunday June 3rd 2007
At the start of the day the Capricorn Moon is square Mars. She accelerates and wanes. The day is a bit of a slog.
Around 18:00 she is opposite Mercury.
Sunday night blues can be heard playing in the ether.
A fire trine between Mars in Aries and Jupiter retrograde in Sagittarius invokes vocal and muscular responses. A day and a night to push forward
Monday June 4th 2007
Violence broke out yesterday at a second Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, this time in the south of the country.
Russia may point missiles at Europe if the US goes ahead with its missile defence plans, President Vladimir Putin said.
State of the skies today:- The Sun is at 13 degrees Gemini. There are now 17 days to the Solstice.
The accelerating waning Moon hits disseminating phase 21:12 GMT 29 degrees Capricorn. She opposes Venus 21:45 GMT and is void. She enters Aquarius 23:16 GMT. The Sun and Moon are then both in air signs. The next New Moon occurs a week on Friday and is exactly rising over the UK at the exact moment of New Moon. There are 85 days to the Total Eclipse of the Moon (not visible from the UK) which occurs on August 28th 2007.
Mercury is an 'evening star' at 7 degrees Cancer is now appearing to slow down. He turns retrograde at 12 degrees Cancer on June 15th.
Venus is also an evening 'star' in Cancer. She enters Leo tomorrow. She too is decelerating, as she draws to her close conjunction with Saturn in Leo on July 1st. She turns retrograde on July 27th meeting Saturn again (in Leo) on August 13th and again (finally) on October 14th (in Virgo).
Mars in Aries makes a waxing fire trine to Jupiter in Sagittarius at 14:58 GMT. Mars is approaching Earth and will brighten considerably over the coming months.
Jupiter is at opposition to the Sun tomorrow. Jupiter is currently retrograding in the middle of Sagittarius will be conjunct Pluto on December 11th 2007
Saturn is opposite Neptune for the final time on June 25th 2007. Saturn is conjunct the 'royal star' Regulus at the end of August and will enter Virgo on September 2nd 2007.
The week ahead is astrologically quiet.
Tuesday June 5th 2007
Nato yesterday condemned Russia's threat to aim weapons at Europe over the planned US missile defence shield. President Vladimir Putin's threat to target missiles at Europe indicates that the hostility between Russia and the West is more than a passing phase. It has become a permanent part of world diplomacy.
Putin was undergoing transiting Mars in Aries opposing his Libran Sun when he made the statement on Sunday. The current opposition of Saturn and Neptune is aligned to the MC/IC axis of his astrological chart. Furthermore his progressed Moon has recently slipped into Gemini and reaches progressed Full Moon phase in Sept. 2008. I have not been looking at Putin's chart for a few years, this has crept up on us! All hail the new cold war.
Kurdish rebels yesterday killed at least seven Turkish soldiers in a raid on a military outpost in eastern Turkey,.
A solar wind stream is buffeting Earth's magnetic field and causing mild geomagnetic storms. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Spaceweather.com
The Sun and Moon are both in air signs today. There is a need for no nonsense communications.
Today the Sun in Gemini opposes Jupiter in Sagittarius 23:13 GMT. Jupiter is at opposition, opposite the Sun in our sky. So it rises at sunset, is highest in the middle of the night, and sets at sunrise. This is also just about when Jupiter is closest to Earth. Sky and telescope.com
The Moon wanes and accelerates in Aquarius.
Venus enters Leo 18:00 today. A new story begins. The story of Venus now involves her retrograde phase and her three encounters with Saturn over the next 4 months. The timetable of her story is below.
June 22nd Venus passes the point in the zodiac she will later return to.
July 1st Venus conjunct Saturn in Leo, first shot.
July 14th Venus enters Virgo
July 27th Venus stationary, turning retrograde
Aug. 9th Venus reenters Leo.
Aug. 13th Venus conjunct Saturn in Leo for the second time.
Aug. 18th Inferior conjunction of Venus with the Sun in Leo.
Sept. 8th Venus stationary turning direct
Oct. 8th Venus reenters Virgo
Oct. 14th Venus conjunct Saturn in Virgo, Venus enters new zodiac territory at this time.
Wednesday June 6th 2007
A major new particle accelerator is to be built at Hamburg, Germany, that is capable of producing super-brilliant, ultra-short flashes of X-ray light. The intense beam made in the 3.4km-long (2.1 miles) machine will probe how matter is pieced together atom by atom. The properties of the X-ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL) should make it possible, for example, to film the very moment a chemical reaction occurs. Construction of the 986m euro (£668m) facility will begin later this year.
US President Bush yesterday said Russia "derailed" democratic reforms, as a row over missile defence stokes tensions.
A huge landslide has destroyed a large part of the Valley of the Geysers, one of Russia's greatest natural wonders.
Today the accelerating waning Moon in Aquarius opposes Saturn in Leo 11:45 GMT and is conjunct Neptune 15:10 GMT within 1.5 degrees.
Thursday June 7th 2007
The G8 summit opened yesterday in Germany amid discord over climate change and a rift between Russia and the West
A German man tried to jump into Benedict XVI's popemobile during a general audience at the Vatican.
UK researchers have published the results of the largest ever study of the genetics behind common diseases.
The Moon in Aquarius sextiles Pluto 01:48 GMT and is void. She enters Pisces 05:25 GMT.
The Sun and Moon are then both in mutable signs (with Jupiter, Pluto and Uranus). Venus and Mars now both in fire signs (together with Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto).
There is a different 'feel' to today but these are quiet news days. Vacancy, movement, and mediation pervade all human affairs.
Friday June 8th 2007
Putin sun sign Libra, Merkel and Bush sun sign Cancer.
U.S. President George W. Bush tries to calm rising tensions with Moscow over a planned missile defense system ahead of a meeting (Thursday) with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the world's richest nations.
Today the fast moving Moon reaches last quarter phase at 17 degrees Pisces at 11:44 GMT and then moves on to align with Uranus (orb 0.73 degrees) at 15:07 GMT.
This day dreams, bubbles sparks and drifts.
The weekend ahead somewhat more tempestuous is punctuated with a difficult Sun square Uranus aspect on Saturday evening. (GMT).
Saturday June 9th 2007
The fast moving and accelerating Moon squares Pluto 05:53 GMT and becomes void.
She hurtles herself into Aries 09:28 GMT. A more urgent emotional response is invoked with this lunar ingress.
The Moon hits her balsamic phase 6 degrees Aries 20:35 GMT .
The Sun squares Uranus 20:08 GMT. Ouch!
Sunday June 10th 2007
The fast moving Moon applies all day to a conjunction to Mars in Aries at 18:25 GMT.
The Sun and Moon (together with Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto) are in positive signs. Today the mood is racy and assertive.
After a reasonably 'quiet astrological period' over the past week we are about to be launched into a bustle of astrological energies which deliver us to almost to the middle of July. Read ahead my friend.
Monday June 11th 2007
State of the skies:- The Sun today is at 20 degrees Gemini. There are now only 10 days to the Solstice. The Sun sextiles Saturn 19:40 GMT.
The very fast moving old balsamic Moon starts the day in Aries trines Pluto and is void from 07:58 GMT. She enters Taurus 11:30 GMT. The Moon is New on Friday.
Mercury is slowing down in Cancer and will turn retrograde on Friday just after the New Moon.
Venus in Leo is 15 degrees from the first of three conjunctions with Saturn. This first one occurs on July 1st.
Mars in Aries trines Saturn 22:43 GMT
The Sun, Mars, Saturn and Neptune, are currently forming 4 points of a hexagon.
Neptune is opposite Saturn for the final time on June 25th.
Tuesday June 12th 2007
The old Moon in Taurus is perigee (fastest moving all month) 17:13 GMT. She squares Saturn 21:07 GMT and squares Neptune 23:18 GMT and is then void of course.
Wednesday June 13th 2007
The Sun trines Neptune 07:30 GMT
The aged Moon breezes into Gemini 12:25 GMT.
Mars sextile Neptune 20:36
Thursday June 14th 2007
The Askariya Mosque -- one of Iraq's holiest Shiite shrines -- has suffered devastating damage in an attack by insurgent bombers that destroyed the Samarra site's minarets.
Gaza is 'ablaze' inter faction strife. Watchdog group says some violence in Gaza amounts to "war crimes"
Attack on Fatah compound comes as Hamas declares control over northern Gaza
Peace protester, relief workers among 70 killed in three days of factional fighting
President Mahmoud Abbas may abandon unity government if "madness" goes on
Today the old Moon 'dries out' in Gemini. We have arrived at the last day before a vibrant (and healing?) New Moon.
Friday June 15th 2007
Heavy fighting continues in Gaza City, with reports that Hamas now virtually controls the whole Gaza Strip.
In the small hours (GMT) a remarkable new Moon occurs.
New Moon 24 degrees Gemini 03:14 GMT
Moonrise occurs over the UK at the moment of New Moon
This lunation is situated midpoint in time between the partial solar eclipse of March 2007 and the partial solar eclipse of Sept. 11th 2007. This latter eclipse is a member of a very young 'Saros sequence' of eclipses. Consequentially from today we start again to become increasingly under the effect of this young Saros for the first time since 1989.
This is an energetic and startling new moon. The New Moon is opposite Pluto but eased powerfully by Mars in Aries. Saturn is opposite Neptune but this opposition is also eased by Mars. Mars is trine Saturn. Saturn is opposite Neptune.
At the exact moment of New Moon the following array of 'astrocartographic' alignments are occurring.
The New Moon in Gemini is rising with Jupiter setting over the UK and France. Venus in Leo is at lower culmination at these places. The New Moon is aligned to the local 'Mid heaven's' of Darwin, Vladivostok and Yakutsk.
It is local midnight at Belem. Mercury in Cancer and about to turn retrograde rises at Baghdad, Pluto sets at Jerusalem, Venus in Leo rises over India, Mars in Aries culminates at Kabul, Uranus in Pisces is on the MC of Moscow.
The Saturn Neptune opposition, now nearly peaking for the final time, is aligned to Quito, Rome, Copenhagen, Rangoon, Tripoli, and Mandalay.
This New Moon is a seeding ground for new ideas. Mercury is about to turn retrograde so the advice given here is to hold back on direct action at this time.
The New Moon directly falls on the natal Uranus of Hillary Clinton and the India and Israel independence charts. It also falls on the ascendant of the UK labour party.
Once the New Moon moment is passed we enter a 'holy celebration period' between it and the solstice which occurs in 6 days time.
Later on in the day the new infant Moon opposes Pluto 09:59 GMT and is then void of course.
The tiny baby moon enters Cancer 13:46 GMT setting a 'domestic agenda' for the weekend ahead.
Nearly ten hours later Mercury turns retrograde 23:34 GMT at 12 degrees Cancer. He is in inferior conjunction with the Sun on June 28th. He regains direct motion on July 10th and enters new territory on July 25th.
We are now at the start of a 25 day period of potential delays in travel and communication. Expect about turns.
Saturday June 16th 2007
The young Moon is conjunct retrograde Mercury in Cancer 09:21 GMT. The astrological basis to the day is essentially emotional.
Sunday June 17th 2007
The Moon in Cancer squares Mars in Aries 07:40 GMT and is void.
The Moon parades into Leo 17:25 GMT. This ingress sets a back drop for an astrologically special few days.
Monday June 18th 2007
Three lunar occultations now occur within 34 hours of each other!
The thin waxing crescent Moon occults Venus today at 12 degrees Leo in daylight for northeasternmost North America and most of Europe. The occultation happens spectacularly in twilight for parts of the Middle East, and after dark for Pakistan and India. (14-00 to 15-18 GMT).
At this time the Moon reaches exact crescent phase (45 degrees ahead of the Sun) 15:07 GMT at 12 degrees Leo
Tuesday June 19th 2007
Wow what a day!
The waxing crescent Moon now aligns exactly to Saturn at 06:53 GMT, seen as an occultation from Eastern Europe and central Asia. This is 8th of the current monthly series of 12 Lunar occultations of Saturn.
The Sun opposes Pluto 06:46 GMT.
The Moon opposes Neptune 09:22 GMT.
A 'kite pattern' forms today. Mars, Pluto, the Moon and the Sun obligingly arrange themselves in the Kite centering around 18:00 GMT.
The Moon sextile the Sun at 21:22 GMT and is then void.
Venus trines Jupiter 22:48 GMT.
Wednesday June 20th 2007
The Moon occults Regulus from most of North America around 00:21 GMT and enters Virgo 00:46 GMT.
Thursday 21st June 2007
On this solstice day, the Moon, the Earth and Uranus are in near exact linear alignment at 13:10 GMT.
Mars trines Pluto 13:32 GMT
The Cancer Solstice 18:07:30 GMT
The Solstice moment is 30 seconds and 7 minutes past 6 PM GMT. At this instant the Sun enters Cancer and the climax of the year in the northern hemisphere is reached. In the south it is the mid winter moment.
We are hurtled into the whirlpool of the past. The door of incarnation stands wide open. The moment is holy and special and sets the tone for the months ahead.
The chart for the summer solstice, set for London, is shown above.
The solstice this year is dominated by the difficult tight opposition of Saturn and Neptune which forms the 'backbone' of a planetary kite pattern involving Saturn Pluto and Mars in fire signs. Planetary kites bring bear titanic planetary force (for good or bad) onto earthly situations. This kite invigorates inflames and consolidates. This solstice is a mighty mixture of the astrological elements fire and water. There is urgency and sensation at this time amid a profoundly dangerous world stage. The Moon in Virgo adds a critically sharp edge to the situation.
Friday June 22nd 2007
The Sun is now in Cancer and the Moon waxes in Virgo.
Moon squares Pluto 06:50 GMT and is void. She enters Libra 11:44 GMT and arrives at first quarter phase 1 degree Libra 13:16 GMT.
Saturday June 23rd 2007
Venus is now applying in conjunction to Saturn peaking on July 1st.
Uranus turns retrograde 12:29 GMT.
Sunday June 24th 2007
The Moon forms a 'finger of fate' pattern with Saturn and Uranus around 08:00 GMT. She then makes pleasant aspects during the day till she finally sextile Pluto 19:23 GMT and becomes void of course 19:23 GMT.
Mars enters Taurus 21:27 GMT.
Moon apogee 14:28 GMT
Monday June 25th 2007
An Iraq court on Sunday sentenced three former aides to Saddam Hussein, inlcuding the man known as "Chemical Ali" to death by hanging for their role in a 1980s genocide campaign that that killed up to 100,000 Kurds.
Pakistani officials Sunday continued to search for survivors a day after heavy rains collapsed buildings and brought down power lines in Karachi, killing more than 230 people, provincial health and police officials said. The storm cut electricity to most of Karachi's 13 million residents, compounding the heat from temperatures that have soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 C) in recent days.
Gordon Brown vowed to change Britain to meet new priorities as he took over leadership of the Labour Party from Tony Blair on Sunday, days before he becomes prime minister.
The Treasury chief, who will succeed Blair as British leader on Wednesday, pledged sweeping reforms to tackle poverty and improve health care and said he recognized global extremism would not be defeated by military force alone.
The Moon enters Scorpio 00:27 GMT.
Saturn opposes Neptune today at 15:56 GMT. 1st 31/08/06, 2nd, 28/02/07, final 25/06/07.
A loose grand trine in water signs involving the Moon, her node and Mercury peaks around 20:30 GMT.
Tuesday June 26th 2007
Moon gibbous phase 20 degrees Scorpio 16:01 GMT. She squares Neptune 20:08 GMT and Saturn 20:24 GMT, becoming void of course at that time..
Wednesday June 27th 2007
The Daze web site is still experiencing technical problems.
Our internet connection is faulty.
Apologies for the lack of continuity.
Hopefully normal service will be resumed soon.
A consequence of our recent experience of poor telecommunications is that The Daze may be hosted on another domain in the near future.
Please note that the URL www.thedaze.co.uk will continue to automatically connect you to this site. If you use this address on your browser no adjustment we be necessary.
This astrological commentary has been in existence since 1999. I believe it was the world's first daily astrological commentary, if not the first and longest running 'Blog' in the world, although I dislike the word. This site is nonprofit making. The Daze will continue.
Today, if all goes to plan, Gordon Brown becomes the Prime Minister of the UK. At the moment of the last New Moon on June 15th the New Moon was rising at London. This I guess is the start of a new era in the destiny of the UK.
The nearly full Moon enters Sagittarius 12:25 GMT today. We are hooked into the slip stream of another climaxing Full Moon which peaks on Saturday at 13:50 GMT. The good news is that whilst The Daze has been 'off the air' the Saturn Neptune opposition with all its sinister symbolism and connotations and which has been dominating world events for nearly a year now is over. Its final peak was on Monday.
Mars is now in Taurus (until early August) and brightens all the time, Venus is drawing to her close alignment to Saturn in Leo (and opposing Venus) once the full Moon is over, Mercury is of course retrograding in Cancer and is at inferior conjunction tomorrow.
Come on folks, better times are coming.
Thursday June 28th 2007
A lunar occultation of Antares occurs 07:49 GMT visible from Western Australia and South America. Lunar occultations of Antares occur every month from Dec. 2004 to Feb.. 2010. There are none then till July 2023.
The slowly accelerating gibbous Moon is conjunct Jupiter in Sagittarius at 12:10 GMT.
Mercury is at inferior conjunction 18:40 GMT . This is a 'New Mercury'. New thought forms will begin to emerge in consciousness over the next few weeks, make a point of recognizing the moment today. Stay high dry and thoughtful.
Friday June 29th 2007
Our technical problems now being sorted out.
The accelerating and burgeoning full Moon in Sagittarius is conjunct Pluto at 17:09 GMT and is then void. Take a deep breath.
The day leaves us breathless.
The Moon is nearly full.
Venus and Saturn are about to align in Leo, both planets opposite Neptune in Aquarius.
The UK has been plagued with floods all week occurring as Saturn opposed Neptune for the final time and as a new British Prime Minister took up his responsibility.
The weekend ahead is astrologically significant.
The Moon enters Capricorn 22:06 GMT
Saturday June 30th 2007
The Moon opposes Mercury 08:54 GMT within a degree of exact linear alignment. The Full Moon occurs some 5 hours later.
Full Moon 8 degrees Capricorn 13:50 GMT
This Full Moon is the fourth Full Moon following the Total Lunar Eclipse on March 3rd 2007 and the penultimate Full Moon before the even deeper Total Lunar Eclipse on August 28th 2007. The Saros energy of this later eclipse is, from the moment of this current full moon, making itself felt ever more strongly.
At the time of this Full Moon, the Moon herself is separating in opposition to a retrograde Mercury. Venus and Saturn are tightly opposing Neptune. Mercury is sextile Mars. This is a tense tough and confusing lunation, dominated by the Venus Saturn alignment opposite Neptune configuration. There are hard lessons of love and life here.
At the exact moment of Full Moon the Moon rises over north and east India. Venus and Neptune are aligned to the horizons of Hong Kong, and Jakarta. They are aligned to the prime vertical of Cape town where also Jupiter rises. Jupiter has also just risen at Tehran. Venus, Neptune and Saturn are closely aligned to Cincinnati, Augusta and Savannah in the USA.
This Full Moon hits the natal Sun of the UK (1801 chart). It is conjunct the natal Uranus of the UK Labour Party. It is conjunct the natal lunar Node of Condoleezza Rice.
Once the lunation is over the time is held in ultimate confusion by Venus opposing Neptune at 15:31 GMT.
Once the Sun has set look for the alignment of Venus and Saturn in the western twilight skies as the Full Moon rises in the East. See below
July 2007
July starts with Venus and Saturn conjunct in Leo and Saturn opposite Neptune. Mercury is retrograde.
July 2007 is marked with a another set of lunar occultations and the tight planetary alignment when Venus aligns to Saturn on the first day of the month.
Sunday July 1st 2007
The waning accelerating 'hung over' Moon sextiles Uranus at 08:46 GMT and is void of course all day.
The 'hung over' full moon stumbles and bumbles void of course in Capricorn.
Venus aligns to Saturn (orb 0.66 degree) 09:44 GMT at 22 degrees Leo. Zodiacal conjunction 14:39 GMT. This is the first of three conjunctions of Venus and Saturn this year. The next is on August 13th also in Leo and the final parting shot is on October 14th in Virgo. Love's lesson has to be learnt.
Mercury retrograding in Cancer sextiles Mars in Taurus 19:08 GMT
Monday July 2nd 2007
The Full Moon in Capricorn over the past weekend has coincided with foiled terrorist attacks in the UK. The country remains on 'critical alert'.
Israel has begun releasing tens of millions of dollars in frozen tax funds to the Palestinian Authority's President Abbas. Russian President Vladimir Putin is heading to the US for talks with President Bush aimed at easing tensions.
A mysterious chamber has been found inside the Chinese imperial tomb guarded by the famous Terracotta Army.
Hong Kong's red flag was raised into a cloudy blue sky on Sunday as the former British colony marked the 10th anniversary of its hand-over to China and bid farewell to a rocky decade of financial woes, disease outbreaks and economic recovery
State of the skies:- The Sun is today at 10 degrees Cancer. There are 80 days to the Autumn Equinox in the northern hemisphere
The waning and accelerating Moon enters Aquarius 05:25 GMT. The Moon is in massive Total Eclipse (visible from the Pacific areas) in 56 days time. The next New Moon, a reasonably benign lunation in Cancer, is in 12 days time.
Mercury is in retrograde motion as a 'morning star' rising ahead of the Sun in Cancer. Mercury resumes direct motion in just 8 days time.
Venus is an 'evening star' slowing down in late Leo and turning retrograde on July 27th.
Mars is a brightening object in Taurus.
It looks like a quieter week ahead.
Tuesday July 3rd 2007
Authorities suspect the two men who rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into Glasgow's airport on the day of the Full Moon (Saturday) are the same people who parked two car bombs in central London a day earlier. A bomb disposal unit yesterday performed at least two controlled explosions on a suspicious device at a hospital where one of the suspects in Saturday's Glasgow airport attack is being treated.
Today the accelerating Moon in Aquarius occults Neptune at 19:23 GMT from the Antarctic. This is the first of 20 such events over the next 20 months. The last occultation of Neptune anywhere on Earth was on September 19th 2002.
The Moon is zodiacally conjunct Neptune 20:08 GMT. She opposes Saturn 21:53 GMT
Wednesday July 4th 2007
Police in the Pakistani capital yesterday clashed with radical Islamist students outside a controversial mosque.
Eight people arrested over failed car bombings in Glasgow and London all have links with the NHS.
The death toll from flooding and severe rains that have swept through Pakistan in recent days has risen to some 240, relief officials say. Another 200 people, mainly in Balochistan, are missing.
British prime ministers by Sun sign, (including Gordon Brown):- (Ben Schott, The Times June 27th 2007)
Aries 11.5%
Taurus 9.6%
Gemini 9.6%
Cancer 5.8%
Leo 5.8%
Virgo 7.7%
Libra 11.5%
Scorpio 7.5%
Sagittarius 3.8%
Capricorn 5.8%
Aquarius 7.7%
Pisces 9.6%
Only two Sagittarians, Winston Churchill and Benjamin Disraeli.
Harold Wilson and Neville Chamberlain were the previous two Pisceans before Gordon Brown.
Today the accelerating and waning Moon in Aquarius opposes Venus in Leo 00:22 GMT, reaches disseminating phase 27 degrees Aquarius 05:25 GMT and sextiles Pluto 06:03 GMT, becoming void of course at that moment.
The Moon briskly enters Pisces 10:53 GMT.
The Sun and the Moon are then both in water signs (together with Mercury and Uranus).
The astrological 'pressure' is now reduced, these are quieter times.
Thursday July 5th 2007
BBC reporter Alan Johnston has said it is "just unimaginably good to be free" after 114 days in captivity in Gaza. He said his ordeal felt like being "buried alive", and was "sometimes quite terrifying". Mr Johnston, 45, was handed over to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza City yesterday. Britain said the group had played a key role in his release. The reporter said he had not been tortured by the Army of Islam group which seized him on 12 March.
The terror threat level to the UK has been downgraded to "severe", from "critical", the home secretary says.
Today the fast moving Moon at 19 degrees Pisces aligns to Uranus within 0.59 degree 19:16 GMT.
Friday July 6th 2007
The fast moving and still accelerating Moon in Pisces squares Pluto in Sagittarius at 10:09 GMT and becomes void. She blazes into Aries 14:57 GMT, and makes her approach to her cardinal Last Quarter phase.
Saturday July 7th 2007
All 7s today 7th of the 7th 07.
We are exactly midway through the astrological month of Cancer.
The Moon rapidly hits last quarter phase 15 degrees Aries at 16:55 GMT. A New Moon in Cancer (trine Uranus and tightly inconjunct Neptune) occurs next Saturday.
Sunday July 8th 2007
A truck bomb yesterday devastated a market in northern Iraq, killing 105 people and injuring 240 others.
A senior Pakistani soldier was shot dead in fresh clashes with Islamist students inside an Islamabad mosque.
A star-studded concert in New Jersey ended the day-long Live Earth series of gigs to highlight global warming.
Today the Moon in Aries, Venus in Leo and Pluto in Sagittarius form a tight fiery grand trine centred on 12:30 GMT. The Moon is void from 13:00 GMT.
The very fast moving Moon enters Taurus 17:54 GMT
Mercury in early Cancer will turn direct on Tuesday.
Venus turns retrograde in 19 days time.
These are astrologically quieter days.
There are 50 days to the Total Lunar Eclipse.
Monday July 9th 2007
Venus in Leo trines Pluto in Sagittarius 01:04 GMT
The very rapidly moving Moon is conjunct Mars at 10-11 degrees Taurus at 11:67 GMT
Around 21:00 the Moon forms three points of a pentagon with Jupiter, Neptune and the Sun.
Moon perigee 21:43 GMT
Tuesday July 10th 2007
A three-year-old British girl was yesterday reunited with her parents after being freed by kidnappers in southern Nigeria who had held her for four days.
Pakistan's president has sets up a negotiation team to try to end a week-long stand-off at a radical mosque in Islamabad. A special meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, approved the return of inspectors to North Korea.Boeing launches its new 787 jet, billed as the most environmentally-friendly plane ever built.
Mercury turns direct 02:10 GMT today at 2 degrees Cancer. He will pick up speed over the next few weeks entering new territory on July 25th, and entering Leo on August 4th. Mercury's next retrograde period is from October 12th 2007 to November 1st 2007.
This recent retrograde period of Mercury has coincided with technical problems here at the Daze. We will be changing providers shortly. Both url addresses thedaze.co.uk and thedaze.biz will connect you to this site. There will still be some interuptions in the publication of this site until the changeover is complete. Many thanks for your continued support.
The fast moving waning Moon in Taurus, Saturn in Leo and Neptune in Aquarius form a loose fixed T-square from 06:00 to 09:00 GMT. Expect no let up in people's intransigence.
The fast old Moon squares Venus 16:54 GMT and becomes void of course.
The Moon enters Gemini 20:10 GMT
Wednesday July 11th 2007
Up to 50 Islamic militants died as security forces attacked a controversial Islamabad mosque early Tuesday. Loud explosions and gunfire were heard coming from the mosque area as the assault began at about 0400 (2300 GMT Monday).
At least six people have been killed and 20 hurt in a suicide bombing in south Afghanistan.
More than 8,000 villagers have been evacuated from the slopes of a volcano erupting in east Indonesia.
The fast moving but now decelerating towards her new Moon phase on Saturday reaches her balsamic phase at 3 degrees Gemini 01:55 GMT today
The Sun in Cancer trines Uranus in Pisces 05:33 GMT.
The Moon opposes Jupiter and squares her nodes at 14:35 GMT
Thursday July 12th 2007
Research suggests that changes in the Sun's activity (e.g. Sunspots) cannot be responsible for modern-day global warming.
Today the old Moon in Gemini is busy decelerating towards New Moon phase on Saturday before sextiling Venus at 21:13 GMT and becoming void of course from that moment. She enters Cancer at 22:40 GMT.
This evening and tomorrow evening, Venus is passing only about 1.7° below Regulus. Look low in the west at dusk. Saturn is now 6° off to their right.
Venus is at greatest brilliancy.
Friday July 13th 2007
Astronomers say they may have detected the light from some of the earliest stars to form in the Universe. They have pictures of what appear to be very faint galaxies that shone more than 13 billion years ago, a mere 500 million years after the Big Bang.
Today is very much a 'Day of the old moon'.
The very old Moon conjuncts Mercury 03:34 GMT at 3 degrees Cancer, a time for comforting words.
This ancient cancerian Moon forms a finger of fate with Mars in Taurus and Jupiter in Sagittarius around 21:00 GMT. Emotions to the fore, ghosts of the past, old money.
Saturday July 14th 2007
New Moon 22 degrees Cancer 12:05 GMT
This New Moon is the fourth New Moon following the Partial Solar Eclipse on March 19th 2007 (in Pisces) and the penultimate New Moon before the Partial Solar Eclipse on September 11th 2007 (in Virgo).
The Full force of this lunation is focused on the local MC of South East England, France, NE Spain and Algeria. The UK has been 'starred' repeatedly over the last few lunations. This period has coincided with a New UK Prime Minister being installed.
At the New Moon moment the New Moon is rising at Mexico City, Vancouver, Pendleton, Monroe, and Anchorage.
Saturn rises at Boston (where Mars culminates) and Montreal. Saturn is on the local MC of Ankara. Neptune sets at New York, and is on the IC of Kiev and Odessa.
Venus shines brightly on the MC of Moscow. The Sun sets at Rangoon.
This New Moon directly hits the USA national natal Mercury, and the UK natal Moon. (The 'special relationship about to be recharged by the Bush Brown relationship I wonder?) The New Moon is conjunct the natal Sun in the Iraq republic chart, the MC in the Israeli chart and the natal Moon in the chart of Madagascar.
This New Moon is widely conjunct the natal Jupiter and Uranus of Nicolas Sarkozy, and the natal Moon of the late Princess Margaret of UK, (did we hear something about her will last week?).
This New Moon occurs with Mercury recently direct in motion sextile to Venus, and Mars sextile Uranus. The Moon herself is trine Uranus and tightly inconjunct (150 degrees) Neptune. There is enough positive and healing energy here to carry us through this last fateful inconjunction.
The Moon is void of course from the New Moon moment for the remainder of the day.
Six hours after the New Moon today Venus enters Virgo (18:24 GMT).
On July 27th Venus appears stationary, turning retrograde. On Aug.. 9th Venus re-enters Leo. On Aug.. 13th Venus conjunct Saturn in Leo for the second time. (The first hit was July 1st). On Aug.. 18th the inferior conjunction of Venus with the Sun occurs in Leo. On Sept. 8th Venus turns direct and she re-enters Virgo one month later on October 8th. On Oct. 14th Venus is conjunct Saturn in Virgo a third time, she enters new zodiac territory at this time. Venus finally leaves Virgo on November 8th. This whole period is one where personal love and personal values undergo profound changes. This period is love's clearing house.
Sunday July 15th 2007
The following news stories were hitting the wires as the New Moon in Cancer occurred yesterday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended the application of a key Cold War arms control treaties. In a statement, the Kremlin said the choice was due to "extraordinary circumstances" affecting security. Russia has been angered by US plans to base parts of a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
A team of UN monitors arrived in North Korea to supervise the planned shutdown of its main nuclear reactor.
Eight Pakistani soldiers died in a suicide attack amid fears of reprisals for the Red Mosque assault.
The infant tender Moon enters Leo 02:44 GMT and commences a 44 hour application to her occultation with Saturn tomorrow.
Monday July 16th 2007
Pro-Taleban militants in Pakistan end their truce as three attacks in two days kill more than 50, mostly troops.
Tokyo bracies itself for a deadly storm that has killed three people and forced thousands from their homes. Typhoon Man-yi has now been downgraded to a tropical storm but still carries gusts of up to 162km/h (101mph). Man-yi struck the southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku on Saturday and is moving up the eastern coast.
State of the skies:-The Sun today is at 24 degrees Cancer. There are 67 days to the Libran Equinox. The astrological month of Leo starts next Monday.
UN inspectors have begun verifying that North Korea has really closed down its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, the top US nuclear envoy has said.
The very young decelerating Moon at 24 degrees Leo aligns to Saturn (0.7 degree) 22:43 GMT. (Zodiacal conjunction 22:33 GMT). This is an occultation visible from west and central South America and is 9th of the current monthly series of 12 Lunar occultations of Saturn. The Moon occults Regulus tomorrow.
Mercury, a 'morning star' rising ahead of the Sun, is now direct in motion and picking up speed in early Cancer. Mercury enters new territory on July 25th, and enters Leo on August 4th.
Venus a bright 'low evening star' is now slowing down in Virgo as she pulls in towards the Earth on this side of the Sun. On July 27th Venus appears stationary, turning retrograde.
Mars in mid Taurus also drawing closer to Earth is this week sextile Uranus, next week square Neptune, and the week after square Saturn. With both 'personal planets' Venus and Mars now in earth signs these are constructive and fertile days with regards to romantic relationships. The head rules the heart.
Saturn is now applying to a 'one off' fire trine aspect to Pluto.
Tuesday July 17th 2007
A strong earthquake has damaged a nuclear power plant in Japan, reportedly causing a leak of radioactive material.
The following preliminary information is available for this earthquake:
DATE : 16 July 2007
ORIGIN TIME : 01:13 28s UTC
LAT/LONG : 37.57° North / 138.44° East
DEPTH : 55 km
MAGNITUDE : 6.7 Mw
LOCALITY : Near west coast of Honshu, Japan
Latest reports indicate that two people have been killed and more than 150 others injured. Several buildings have been damaged, especially in the Niigata area where some wooden buildings have been destroyed. A tsunami warning was issued, but it was later lifted, though waves with estimated heights of up to 50 centimetres were observed along the coastline. Yesterday morning's earthquake is located approximately 65 km southwest of Niigata, Honshu, 240 km NNW of Tokyo, Japan, and 325 km south of of maginitude 7.7 earthquake that occurred on 26 May 1983 and killed 104 people.
Globally the Moon in Leo was applying into a Fixed T-Square with Chiron and Mars, locally Mercury was about to culminate the local MC of the epicentre and Pluto was just past lower culmination of the epicentre at the time given above.
Japan, recently subject to a typhoon and now this earthquake, was especially 'starred' by astrocartographic alignments at the time of Saturday's New Moon, the recent summer solstice and the previous Full Moon.
The UK yesterday expelled four Russian diplomats after the refusal to extradite the suspect in the Litvinenko murder.
Bomb attacks in the northern Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk killed at least 85 people and wounded more than 180.
Today the waxing young Moon in Leo trines Pluto and is void from 03:55 GMT.
The Moon occults Regulus ( daylight occultation 'centred' on the UK 07:44 to 08:22 GMT), and enters Virgo 09:40 GMT.
The Moon is conjunct Venus in Virgo at 11:41 GMT. (Healing feeling).
Wednesday July 18th 2007
Families of Libyan children infected with HIV yesterday dropped demands for six foreign medics to be sentenced to death.
At least seven died in a suicide attack on a rally which was to be addressed by Pakistan's top judge.
Hundreds of Ukrainian villagers are at risk from a giant toxic cloud formed when a freight train caught fire.
Officials at a Japanese nuclear power plant have reported 50 malfunctions caused by Monday's strong earthquake near the town of Kashiwazaki.
Russia's deputy foreign minister has said Britain's expulsion of four diplomats from London could jeopardise co-operation on counter-terrorism.
An astrological analysis of the Brown Putin relationship chart coming soon to thedaze.
Brown/Bush relationship click here
Today the slow moving and decelerating Moon at 8 degrees Virgo forms a mutable T-square with Jupiter and the north lunar node at 02:00 GMT.
The Moon reaches her crescent phase at 10 degrees Virgo 05:11 GMT
The day continues with a circumspect, diligent and 'fine tuning' atmosphere pervading all matters.
Today and tomorrow favor all jobs of work where care and attention to detail are imperative.
Thursday July 19th 2007
A passenger plane crashed and burst into flames at Brazil's busiest airport, in the heart of Sao Paulo, killing up to 200 people. After touching down on the main runway at 1850 local time (2150 GMT) (BBC timings) on Tuesday, the jet began to skid and then dropped down a steep slope at the end of the runway. Investigators are now searching the wreck of the Brazilian jet.
At least 17 Pakistani soldiers were yesterday killed in an attack by militants near the Afghan border.
Democrats failed to force a vote on a US troop withdrawal from Iraq, following an all-night Senate debate.
Today the slowly waxing Moon in (practical and complaining) Virgo squares Pluto 13:45 GMT and is 'then void of course' for six hours.
The Moon enters Libra 19:54 GMT.
The Sun and the Moon are then both in cardinal signs (together with Mercury). The day has two chapters, the first hair splitting and methodical, the second generating new social opportunity.
A couple of interesting planetary arrangements occur over the next couple of days.
Friday July 20th 2007
Britain became separated from mainland Europe after a catastrophic flood some time before 200,000 years ago, a sonar study of the English Channel confirms. The images released yesterday reveal deep scars on the Channel bed that must have been cut by a sudden, massive discharge of water. Scientists tell the journal Nature that the torrent probably came from a giant lake in what is now the North Sea. Some event - perhaps an earthquake - caused the lake's rim to breach at the Dover Strait, they believe.
Footage of the plane that crashed in Brazil on Tuesday killing up to 200 seems to show it landing at high speed. At the time of the disaster globally the Moon was opposite the (very violent) Mars/Pluto midpoint. At Sao Paulo Chiron (again!) was rising in Aquarius in fixed T-Square arrangement with Mars and the local MC.
More and more trouble in Pakistan yesterday where at least 33 people were killed in two separate bomb attacks amid growing insecurity in the country.
Today the slow moving 'gracefully growing' Moon in Libra, the Sun in Cancer, Mars in Taurus and the lunar node in Pisces form 4 points of a regular pentagon pattern around 15:10 GMT. The 'missing point' is 22 Sagittarius. This is a fairly uncommon planetary arrangement so watch events carefully.
Mars in Taurus sextiles Uranus in Pisces 22:13 GMT. Very inventive, genius at work!
This day has interesting possibilities of a social nature. War and peace are in the balance.
Saturday July 21st 2007
A unit of peacekeepers in Ivory Coast is suspended as the UN investigates claims of serious sexual abuse.
Brazil's President Lula promises to improve air safety, after Sao Paulo's air crash that killed nearly 200 people.
Pakistan's president says he will abide by a court ruling to reinstate the chief justice, a vocal opponent.
Political campaigning has ended in Turkey ahead of Sunday's general election, seen as one of the most important in the nation's history.
A new moon has been discovered orbiting Saturn - bringing the planet's latest moon tally up to 60. The body was spotted in a series of images taken by cameras onboard the Cassini spacecraft. Initial calculations suggest the moon is about 2km-wide (1.2 miles) and its orbit sits between those of two other Saturnian moons, Methone and Pallene. The Cassini Imaging Team, who found the object, said Saturn's moon count could rise further still.
A severe dust storm is underway on Mars, causing an energy crisis for NASA's Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. This storm began in late June and quickly spread around the entire planet.
Two fairly unusual planetary pictures today.
At 09:30 GMT the very slow moving libran Moon forms a 'finger of fate' picture with Mars in Taurus and Uranus in Pisces.
At 23:30 GMT the Moon, approaching her first quarter phase, is in trapezoidal arrangement with the Sun, Mars and Neptune.
Sunday July 22nd 2007
Pratibha Patil (Date of Birth: December 19, 1934) has won India's presidential election and will become the country's first female president. She was born about 40 hours before a Full Moon in Gemini. Powerful outer body aspects dominate her astrological birthchart, Jupiter in Scorpio was exactly sextile her Virgo Neptune, Uranus in Aries in was square Pluto in Cancer, Saturn in Aquarius was sextile Uranus.
Today is the last day of the astrological month of Cancer. The very slow moving Moon reaches first quarter phase 29 degrees Libra at 06:30 GMT.
She is void of course from that time up to when she enters Scorpio at 08:19 GMT. The Moon is at apogee 08:40 GMT.
From 08:19 GMT the Sun and the Moon (together with Mercury, the Lunar Node and Uranus) are in water signs. One day only of this particular mixture because of the Sun's ingress into Leo the Lion tomorrow.
On Sunday evening, Comet LINEAR (C/2006 VZ13) passes within kissing distance of the great globular star cluster Messier 3. At closest approach, around 23:30 UT on July 22nd, the centers of the bodies will be slightly more than 20' apart, and the halos may appear to overlap. European observers are best placed to view this event. But the celestial pair will still fit together into a low-power telescopic field several hours later when they become visible in the Americas. Sky and Telescope
Monday July 23rd 2007
Afghan forces yesterday surrounded Taleban fighters holding 23 South Koreans, as the body of a German hostage was found. Intensive efforts are under way to free the 23 hostages held by the Taleban in Afghanistan.
The people of Turkey voted in a general election seen as a key test of the country's secular tradition.
An unfinished skyscraper in the Gulf state of Dubai has become the world's tallest building, its developers say.
Rescue teams have been dealing with the aftermath of severe flooding which has wreaked havoc across England and Wales. This flooding in certain parts of the UK followed the New Moon in Cancer on July 14th which was aligned to this country.
At 03:00 GMT the very slow (but now accelerating again) Moon at 9 degrees Scorpio forms a weak watery grand trine with her node and Mercury, this pleasant picture tries to off set the long and loose Fixed Grand Cross which follows over today and tomorrow (and the inevitable pain associated with such a planetary configuration).
The Sun enters Leo 05:00 GMT joining Saturn in that sign and a new astrological month begins.
The Sun, the Moon are now both in fixed signs (together with Mars, Saturn and Neptune).
Mars in Taurus is about to make his waxing Fixed Square to Neptune in Aquarius. This aspect peaks tomorrow and draws the Moon into a really difficult set of aspects tomorrow. Wednesday however is different, and a more exhilarating and freedom loving atmosphere may well be evident as next weekend approaches.
Venus appearing to move very slowly and drawing to a standstill this week turns retrograde on Friday.
The Full Moon in Aquarius is one week today.
An astrologically difficult night and day now ensue.
Tuesday July 24th 2007
US President George Bush's top adviser on HIV/Aids warns that the world is losing the battle against the virus.
Turkey's re-elected leader says he will continue reforms, and vows to respect the country's secular tradition.
Police in India say they have found nearly 30 bags full of babies' body parts in a rubbish tip in Orissa state.
In the UK up to 350,000 people are losing their water supply in Gloucestershire, (graphic above) and floods continue to swell the Thames.
A hard day is in store today.
The Moon opposes Mars 01:44 GMT squares Neptune 02:59 GMT and Squares Saturn 10:32 and is void from that moment. She enters Sagittarius 20:31 GMT.
Mars squares Neptune 23:10 GMT.
Tonight, sometime after sunset, step outside and look south. Clouds permitting, you'll see a bright triangle in the sky with the Moon, Jupiter and red giant star Antares as vertices. It's nothing special, just very pretty. Spaceweather.com
Wednesday July 25th 2007
Six medics jailed in Libya for infecting children with HIV yesterday arrived in Bulgaria and were pardoned by the president.
President Mugabe told MPs that strict price controls will continue as Zimbabwe battles its worst ever economic crisis.
In the UK people in flood-hit areas were urged not to panic as massive efforts begin to get drinking water to those stranded.
Today Mercury enters new territory today after his recent retrograde motion. Expect new business., This is an expansive day.
A Lunar occultation of Antares occurs around 16:04 GMT visible from the southern oceans. (Lunar occultations of Antares occur every month from DEC. 2004 to Feb.. 2010. There are none then till July 2023).
The Moon 'increasing in light and motion' is conjunct Jupiter at 10 degrees Sagittarius 16:27 GMT.
Thursday July 26th 2007
French President Nicolas Sarkozy went to Tripoli yesterday to boost EU-Libya ties, after the release of six foreign medics. The next Full Moon on Sunday is positioned on his natal Aquarius Sun.
Britain is to get a "unified border force" to boost the fight against terrorism.
Fresh floods yesterday hit Oxford as communities further along the Thames were warned they are also at risk.
In Europe a heat wave is believed to have contributed to up to 500 deaths in Hungary, record-breaking high temperatures kill 12 in Romania and a fast-moving brush fire has forced people in Italy to run for their lives.
Today the Moon reaches gibbous phase 18 degrees Sagittarius 07:31 GMT. Her slow acceleration to the next Full Moon is now underway in earnest, and dominates the coming weekend.
Around 13:30 GMT the Moon at 21 degrees Sagittarius forms a trapezium pattern with Neptune, Saturn and Mars.
This is a day to be alive, wild and free.
Friday July 27th 2007
Full Moon a coming!
The Moon increasing in light and motion is conjunct Pluto 00:14 GMT and void of course from that moment.
She enters Capricorn 06:23 GMT.
Venus turns retrograde 17:25 GMT today and appears to move backwards in the skies of earth for 43 days. On Aug.. 9th Venus re-enters Leo. On Aug.. 13th Venus conjunct Saturn in Leo for the second time. (The first hit was July 1st). On Aug.. 18th the inferior conjunction of Venus with the Sun occurs in Leo. On Sept. 8th Venus turns direct and she re-enters Virgo one month later on October 8th. On Oct. 14th Venus is conjunct Saturn in Virgo a third time, she enters new zodiac territory at this time. Venus finally leaves Virgo on November 8th. This whole period is one where personal love and personal values undergo profound changes. This period is love's clearing house.
Saturday July 28th 2007
State of the skies:- The Sun today is at 5 degrees Leo, there are 55 days to the Libra Equinox.
The accelerating Moon waxes heavily to the Full. Today she is in Capricorn, and that usually means 'tough cookie'. With the passing of Monday's Full Moon in Aquarius we enter an eclipse season, with eclipses of the Moon and the Sun on August 28th and September 11th respectively. Eclipse seasons invoke changes.
Mercury is an accelerating 'morning star' in Cancer. He trines Uranus early tomorrow and enters Leo on August 4th. This is a good time to plan new projects, inventiveness and enterprise are to the fore.
Venus is an 'evening star' in Virgo and is now retrograde. See yesterday's comment about love tests.
Mars is in Taurus and is applying in fixed square to Saturn exact on Tuesday. This one is a bit like 'driving with the brakes on', something overheats, take care. Mars enters Gemini on August 6th.
Saturn is applying to a one off waning fiery trine to Pluto. This is a powerfully constructive aspect which peaks on August 6th.
Sunday July 29th 2007
Polls open in Japan for upper house elections that could see Prime Minister Shinzo Abe forced from office. His birthdate is September 21, 1954.
Gordon Brown reaffirms the UK's close relationship with the US on the eve of his visit to see President Bush.
Click here to read about the astrological relationship of Bush and Brown.
The Lammas Full Moon is upon us.
The 'fast' and burgeoning nearly Full Moon in Capricorn trines Mars and is void at 02:24 GMT.
Mercury in Cancer trines Uranus in Pisces 03:26 GMT.
The Moon enters Aquarius 13:14 GMT.
Universal extroversion.
Monday July 30th 2007
Full Moon 7 degrees Aquarius 00:49 GMT
This is the ultimate Full Moon before the massive Total Lunar Eclipse on August 28th 2007.
At this time Saturn is in trine aspect to Pluto, Mars is square Saturn, Mercury is trine Uranus and the Sun is trine Jupiter. The Full Moon in Aquarius applies in a waxing sextile aspect to Jupiter in Sagittarius.
This Full Moon is freedom loving, independent and opportunistic. Go with it!
The Full Moon at its peak is aligned to the local MC of extreme SW Ireland, SW Morocco, Guinea, Liberia and Mauritania, in particular the city of Monrovia.
The Sun rises (and the Moon sets) over Afghanistan.
The Moon rises over SE and Central East USA, Niagara and Toronto.
Neptune rises at New York. Pluto rises at Vancouver.
This Full Moon directly 'hits' the natal Suns of Nicolas Sarkozy and Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), also the natal Venus of model Kate Moss and the natal Jupiter of actor George Clooney.
With the passing of this full moon we are once again in the 'foothills' of another eclipse season.
Tuesday July 31st 2007
In the wake of Monday's full moon,the US president and new UK prime minister yesterday pledged to work together on key global issues, at their first formal talks.
Today the fast moving Moon in Aquarius occults Neptune at 01:27 GMT. This is visible as an occultation from the Antarctic. This is the 2nd of 20 monthly events up to DEC. 2008
The Moon, Mars in Taurus and Saturn in Leo form a fixed T-square from 09:30 to 10:30 GMT.
The Moon sextiles Pluto at 11:56 GMT and becomes void of course six hours.
The Moon enters Pisces 17:41 GMT.
Mars squares Saturn 23:59 GMT stamping an emphatic full spot on July 2007.
August 2007
This is the final month of Saturn wreaking havoc in Leo, and wreak havoc he will as he draws to an alignment with the royal star Regulus 'the heart of the lion' at month's end. This month is full of alignments and occultations. We are also deep in an eclipse season with a massive Total Lunar Eclipse on Aug. 28th.
Saturn will enter Virgo on September 2nd 2007.
On Aug.. 6th Saturn makes a one off waning fiery trine to Pluto. A powerfully constructive (in the long run) aspect.
Venus is moving in retrograde direction all month. On Aug.. 9th she reenters Leo. On Aug.. 13th Venus conjunct Saturn in Leo for the second time. (The first hit was July 1st). On Aug.. 18th the inferior conjunction of Venus with the Sun occurs in Leo.
On Aug.. 12th the very old moon aligns to Mercury 0.36 degrees 16:35 GMT some seven hours before a rather disturbing New Moon opposite Neptune. The Moon Mercury conjunction is directed as a daylight occultation to North America.
The day after the New Moon on Aug.. 13th the infant Moon aligns to both Saturn and Regulus.
On Aug.. 18th Mercury aligns to Saturn with only a 0.46 degree orb.
On Aug.. 22nd Jupiter and the Moon are conjunct Antares.
On Aug.. 23rd at the start of the astrological month of Virgo Mars is opposite Jupiter and the opposition is squared two days later by Mercury.
On Aug.. 28th the Total Lunar Eclipse occurs at 5 degrees Pisces 10-37 GMT.
Wednesday August 1st 2007
A quiet start to the month of August with the fast moving waning Moon in Pisces.
Thursday August 2nd 2007
US presidential hopeful Barack Obama yesterday said he would order a strike on al-Qaeda in Pakistan without Pakistan's consent.
(BARACK OBAMA Born 4 Aug. 1961 in Hawaii Studied law at Harvard Worked as a civil rights lawyer in Chicago Elected to the US Senate in 2004)
At least 67 people were killed yesterday and some 100 wounded in two bombings in Baghdad.
Oil prices have climbed to a record high of $78.71 a barrel amid worries about whether oil supplies can meet global demand.
Reasonable astrological weather over the next few days is forecast.
The very fast moving Moon aligns to Uranus 0.64 degrees 00:19 GMT (zodiac conjunction 00:35 GMT) and reaches disseminating phase 25 degrees Pisces 12:00 GMT.
The Sun in Leo is trine Jupiter in Sagittarius 15:13 GMT.
The Moon sextiles Mars 15:37 GMT and becomes void.
She races into Aries 20:43 GMT.
Friday August 3rd 2007
A key road bridge over the Mississippi river in the US state of Minnesota collapsed in the evening rush hour on Wednesday killing several people. At least 60 were injured when part of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis gave way at 1805 (2305 GMT) on Wednesday August 1st 2007. The astrological chart for the event is shown below.
Mars in Taurus and square Saturn, is opposite the MC / ASC (conjunct Pluto) midpoint in Scorpio.
Globally the Moon in Pisces applies to a very tight conjunction with Uranus opposite this local Sun / MC midpoint in Virgo.
A tight 'finger of fate' involving the local MC , Mars and Pluto was in operation.
Mercury is square the MC
The tight localised, 'shattering, breaking and fracturing' energy, severing transport, is aptly described by this symbolism.
Southern Europe has suffered some of the worst forest fires on record in the last month, EU figures show.
Explorers yesterday planted a Russian flag on the seabed below the North Pole to further Moscow's Arctic claims.
Today (Friday) Mercury in late Cancer sextiles Mars in late Taurus at 09:53 GMT.
The Moon is perigee in Aries (fastest all month and nearest the Earth) 23:54 GMT.
Saturday August 4th 2007
Hundreds of people have died and millions have been left homeless across South Asia since the start of the annual monsoon season in mid-June.
US officials yesterday ordered a nationwide bridge review two days after a Minnesota bridge collapsed, killing at least five people.
Nasa is to launch a spacecraft on a nine-month journey to Mars, where it will dig below the surface for clues to the existence of past or present life. The Phoenix probe is scheduled to lift off on Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, atop a Delta II rocket. It will have one opportunity to launch at 0526 EDT (1026 BST) followed by a second chance at 0602 EDT (1102 BST).
We are taking the annual family holiday from today for a couple of weeks.
The Daze will be back live on Sunday August 19th with the arrival of Mercury in Virgo.
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This week Jupiter is passing by omega Ophiuchus,45 times more luminous than the Sun, dimmed to 4th magnitude by distance: 186 light years. giving the impression of an extra moon. spaceweather.com
Today the Moon in Aries is racing towards her last quarter phase.
Mercury enters Leo at 17:15 GMT joining the Sun and Saturn in that sign. He races through this sign in just 15 days, a very busy and uncompromising period. His superior conjunction with the Sun is on August 15th. Mercury makes a wide conjunction with Venus at 25 degrees Leo on August 17th. Mercury aligns to Saturn 0.46 degree orb on August 18th and enters Virgo the next day.
Between 17:00 and 17:31 today the Moon forms a tight fiery grand trine with Jupiter and Pluto. The Moon is then void from 17:33 entering Taurus 23:16 GMT.
Sunday August 5th 2007
The Moon is at fixed last quarter 13 degrees Taurus, in this early eclipse season, and wanes rapidly through that sign all day.
Monday August 6th 2007
State of the skies:- The Sun is in the 14th degree of Leo. There are 46 days to the September Equinox.
The Sun, Mercury, and Saturn are in Leo.
We are now in an eclipse season being some 22 days from a Total Eclipse of the Moon (not visible from the UK).
The Moon, now past her last quarter phase decelerates and wanes in Taurus. She is new on Sunday.
Mercury is a 'morning star' newly arrived in Leo and approaching superior conjunction with the Sun on August 15th.
Venus is retrograde all month, currently in Virgo and making a 'grinding and grating' square aspect to Mars tomorrow. On Thursday she reenters Leo. On Aug.. 13th Venus conjunct Saturn in Leo for the second time. (The first hit was July 1st). On Aug.. 18th the inferior conjunction of Venus with the Sun occurs in Leo.
Mars is in the last degree of Taurus and will enter Gemini tomorrow.
Saturn today makes a fiery trine aspect to Pluto at 10:10 GMT. A one off positive aspect, dominating all charts at this time.
Tuesday August 7th 2007
The Moon and Mars align to the Pleaides around 01:00 GMT, worth a look.
Minor lunar occultation visible from the UK of star Electra and Maia starting approx. 00:08 GMT
Jupiter turns direct 01:14 GMT. Jupiter now can recommence his pathway to his conjunction with Pluto at 28 degrees Sagittarius on December 11th 2007, a one off conjunction and stamping the astrological hallmark of late 2007. Previous conjunctions of these planets were in DEC. 1994 (in Scorpio), Nov. 1981 (in Libra), and Oct. 1968 (in Virgo). The one after is on April 5th 2020 in Capricorn, occurring 3 times in that year. The most recent conjunctions of Jupiter and Pluto in Sagittarius occurred in 1758, 1509 (occurring 3 times), 1260, 1023, 1010 and a triple in 774 AD.
The Moon is conjunct Mars at the very end of Taurus 01:50 GMT and becomes void.
The Moon enters Gemini 02:02 GMT.
Mars follows her into Gemini 06:02 GMT.
Mars will be in Gemini for 52 days, he enters Cancer on September 28th 2007. His main aspect while residing in Gemini is Mars opposite Jupiter on August 23rd 2007. This alignment of Mars, the Earth and Jupiter on that day is less than 1.6 degrees from exact linearity. The energy of Mars is Gemini is to promote multiplicity.
At 21:32 GMT today we are exactly half way between the June Solstice and the forthcoming September Equinox.
Venus retrograding squares Mars disapprovingly from Virgo at 23:27 GMT.
Wednesday August 8th 2007
The Moon decelerates and wanes in Gemini.
Thursday August 9th 2007
At 01:00 GMT Venus retrogrades into Leo desperately seeking the Sun, Saturn and Mercury in that sign. She will encounter them all in the following 9 days.
The Moon meanwhile sextiles Venus 05:28 GMT, becomes void enters Cancer 05:37 GMT and reaches balsamic phase 1 degree Cancer 08:01 GMT. The Moon makes comforting aspects for 30 hours or so.
Mercury in Leo trines Jupiter in Sagittarius 15:37 GMT
Friday August 10th 2007
The Moon in Cancer trines Uranus at 12:58 GMT and is void from that moment for nearly 22 hours.
Saturday August 11th 2007
The old Moon enters Leo 10:42 GMT.
As the new Moon in Leo approaches, a peaking and tightening stellium of planets is amassed in Leo.
Sunday August 12th 2007
From 02:03 GMT today the Moon, Mercury, the Sun, Saturn and Venus lie within 20 degrees to 13:07 GMT on Tuesday.
The Moon aligns to Mercury 0.36 degrees 16:35 GMT. This conjunction would be visible as a daylight occultation from North America if they were not so closely aligned to the bright glare of the Sun.
Almost the whole GMT day pans out in pre-new Moon radiance.
New Moon 20 degrees Leo 23:04 GMT
This ultimate New Moon before a partial solar eclipse on Sept. 11th 2007.
This New Moon is born within a stellium in Leo, and accompanied by a retrograde Venus conjunct Saturn. Serious love issues, money issues, commitment issues are to the fore.
This New Moon is opposite Neptune. This is potentially a 'disturbing' quality.
Mars is applying in opposition to Jupiter, still 10 days away but drawing out a polarisation of energy.
With the passing of this New Moon we are deeply in an eclipse season.
This New Moon hits the natal Pluto of Blair, Brown, Geldof, Putin and Tsvangirai, the natal Sun of the Indian and the Pakistan independence charts, the Congo national chart, the natal Venus of George Bush, the natal Saturn of Hilary Clinton, the natal Mercury of the national chart of Liberia, the natal Uranus of Madagascar, and the French first republic chart, and the UK Labour Party's natal lunar node.
At the exact moment of New Moon the Sun and Moon rise at Bangkok, Singapore, the Moon precisely rises at Perth (Australia).
The forthcoming Mars Jupiter opposition is aligned to the UK. Mars rises there, Jupiter sets.
Jupiter rises at Vancouver.
Venus and Saturn both exactly setting over south Peru, rise over Vietnam.
It is local midnight, Moon lower culmination and Neptune upper culmination at Sweden, Poland, Chec republic and Zagreb.
Monday August 13th 2007
A beast of a day starting with a meteor display.
The tiny new Moon then occults Saturn, conjuncts Neptune, and occults Regulus. Neptune is in opposition. Venus aligns to Saturn.
An immense agenda.
Got a calendar? Circle this date: Sunday, August 12th. Next to the circle write "all night" and "Meteors!" Attach the above to your refrigerator in plain view so you won't miss the 2007 Perseid meteor shower.
"It's going to be a great show," says Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center. "The Moon is new on August 12th--which means no moonlight, dark skies and plenty of meteors." How many? Cooke estimates one or two Perseids per minute at the shower's peak. www.spaceweather.com
Just over an hour after the New Moon moment the Moon herself opposes Neptune 00:32 GMT.
The baby-new moon aligns to Saturn 0.68 degrees 12:25 GMT . This is visible as an occultation from the northern part of South America and South Africa. This is 10th of the current monthly series of 12 Lunar occultations of Saturn.
The Moon is widely conjunct Venus 13:35 GMT and becomes void.
The Sun opposes Neptune 18:26 GMT in chaotic disarray.
A lunar occultation of Regulus occurs today at 17:48 GMT from the USA and the north of South America. This is the 9th of 20 monthly lunar occultations of this star.
The Moon then enters Virgo 19:04 GMT..
Venus piles on the agony by being in conjunction to Saturn, on the far side of the Sun at 19:16 GMT at 28 degrees Leo. The 2nd of 3 Venus Saturn conjunction this year. The first was on July 1st. The final one is on October 14th.
Tuesday August 14th 2007
Jupiter is conjunct Antares in the skies of earth. An omen of triumph.
The slow moving and decelerating Moon in Virgo squares Mars and Jupiter around 07:30 GMT symbolising a hard start to a curious day.
Wednesday August 15th 2007
Venus trines Pluto 13:49 GMT.
Mercury is in superior conjunction to the Sun at 23 degrees Leo at 19:57 GMT.
The slow moving Moon squares Pluto and is void from 21:03 GMT for 8 hours.
Thursday August 16th 2007
On Thursday, August 16th, Earth will cross the equator and ring plane of Uranus, and astronomers all over the world will be on watch. The unusual geometry offers a unique view of the planet's atmosphere, satellites and ring system. "This won't happen again for a long time," says planetary researcher Heidi Hammel (Space Science Institute, Colorado). "We don't know what we're going to see. It's exciting."Uranus's orbital period of 84 years means that we get ring-plane crossings only every 42 years. During the last one, in 1965, little was known about the distant planet, the ring system hadn't been discovered, space telescopes sounded like science fiction, and the 5-meter Hale telescope on Palomar Mountain was the world's largest. "To study Uranus, you need big telescopes," says Hammel. "This is really the first time we can do these kind of observations."Because of Earth's own orbital motion, our planet actually crosses the Uranian ring plane three times in succession: on May 2, 2007, August 16, 2007, and February 20, 2008. The August event is by far the most favorable; Uranus will be less than a month from its opposition to the Sun (on September 9th), so it will be visible almost all night (in Aquarius). Another interesting fact is that December 7, 2007, is the date of Uranian equinox, when the Sun will cross the planet's equatorial plane.
The slow moving Moon enters Libra 04:05 GMT and makes nice aspects.
Moon crescent phase 9 degrees Libra 21:13 GMT
Friday August 17th 2007
Mercury makes a wide conjunction with Venus at 25 degrees Leo at 05:27 GMT.
Mercury trines Pluto 17:21 GMT
Saturday August 18th 2007
Venus is in inferior conjunction with the Sun at 03:41 GMT.
The Moon sextile Saturn and is void at 12:22 GMT.
During the period of lunar 'void of course' Mercury aligns to Saturn 0.46 degree orb 13:51 GMT
The Moon moving very slowly enters Scorpio 16:14 GMT.
Sunday August 19th 2007
The Daze is now back live.
World stock market turbulence over the past week or so has coincided with retrograde Venus being conjunct Saturn.
An Earthquake in Peru struck on Wednesday August 15th at 1841 local time. The 8.0-magnitude earthquake was centred just off the coast of Peru killing at least 337 people and injuring hundreds more. Two tectonic plates clash at this region, the Nazca plate and the South American plate. There is about 7-8cm (3in) movement between the plates a year
State of the skies:- The Sun today has reached 26 degrees Leo, the astrological month of Virgo starts on Thursday of this week. There are 34 days to the Libran Equinox. We are deeply in an eclipse season with a Total Lunar Eclipse occurring in 9 days time and a Partial Solar Eclipse occurring on September 11th. We are entering a period of astrological flux. Change is inevitable.
The very slowly waxing Moon approaching her first quarter phase in Scorpio reaches apogee today (slowest all Month) at 03:21 GMT.
Mercury an 'evening star' enters Virgo 13:01 GMT. He rapidly moves through this sign in only 17 days. Whilst in Virgo Mercury will form a loose mutable grand cross with Jupiter, Mars and Uranus from August 25th to August 29th, the time of the forthcoming Lunar Eclipse. This is a 'critical' time. Looking ahead, Mercury turns retrograde again on October 12th at 9 degrees Scorpio.
The Leo Sun trines the Sagittarian Pluto 18:11 GMT. This adds a very optimistic flavor to today.
Venus now a 'morning star' in Leo is retrograding for another 20 days.
Mars opposes Jupiter quite tightly on Thursday, the opposition colours the week ahead and adds energy and events to all proceedings.
Jupiter himself is 18 degrees from his 'one off' conjunction with Pluto in early December, a aspect which colours the season ahead.
Its good to be back on line, stay tuned to the Daze.
Monday August 20th 2007
Above: The eye of Hurricane Dean, photographed from the ISS.
Jamaica is bracing for what could be a devastating storm as Hurricane Dean blows in from the Caribbean Sea. The island sits right in Dean's path and meteorologists warn the storm could have "potentially catastrophic" results, dumping 20in (50cm) of rain. Low-lying areas are being evacuated and schools and churches are being converted into emergency shelters for those with nowhere else to stay.
French FM Bernard Kouchner is in Iraq, the first ministerial visit since France opposed the 2003 US-led invasion.
Today the slow moving moon waxes and accelerates in Scorpio. Correspondingly this day is rather static. The moon reaches her first quarter 28 degrees Scorpio 23:55 GMT. The Sun, Moon, Venus, Saturn and Neptune are in fixed signs right now.
The Total Lunar Eclipse ahead of us and the looming opposition of Mars and Jupiter define this week ahead as one of increasing import and bearing.
Tuesday August 21st 2007
Hurricane Dean moves towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula after battering Jamaica. The space shuttle begins its return to Earth a day early, amid fears Hurricane Dean could threaten Mission Control.
Today Jupiter and the pre-eclipse Moon conjunct Antares.
Lunar occultation of Antares occurs 00:34 GMT visible from the southern oceans. Lunar occultations of Antares occur every month from DEC. 2004 to Feb. 2010. There are none then till July 2023.
The waxing and accelerating Moon squares Saturn 01:35 GMT and is void of course for just over three hours.
The Moon enters Sagittarius 04:45 GMT.
The Sun, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto are then in fire signs.
The day that follows is rich and expansive. There is an exaggerated 'feel' to events as Mars applies to his close opposition to Jupiter which peaks on Thursday and of course we are irrevocably drawn to the very real build up to next Tuesday's Total Lunar Eclipse.
The Moon opposes Mars 23:14 GMT.
The Sun is conjunct Saturn 23:29 GMT
Wednesday August 22nd 2007
Hurricane Dean ploughs into the coast of Mexico near the border with Belize but loses some strength over land.
Astronomers have spotted a space oddity in Earth's neighbourhood - a dead star with some unusual characteristics. The object, known as a neutron star, was studied using space telescopes and ground-based observatories. But this one, located in the constellation Ursa Minor, seems to lack some key characteristics found in other neutron stars. Details of the study, by a team of American and Canadian researchers, will appear in the Astrophysical Journal. If confirmed, it would be only the eighth known "isolated neutron star" - meaning a neutron star that does not have an associated supernova remnant, binary companion, or radio pulsations.
Today the Moon increasing in light and motion towards next Tuesday's Total Eclipse is conjunct Jupiter in Sagittarius at 01:08 GMT.
This is the last day of the astrological month of Leo.
Mars aligns to the fixed star Aldebaran tonight.
Last day of play.
Thursday August 23rd 2007
On Wednesday a US helicopter crashed in northern Iraq in an apparent accident, killing 14 US troops.
Supporters of Burma's military junta broke up protests in Rangoon, held despite the arrest of 13 activists.
Google has launched an add-on to its 3D mapping tool which allows star gazers to explore images of millions of stars.
The Moon is conjunct Pluto at 08:24 GMT.
The Sun enters Virgo and a new astrological month begins 12:08 GMT.
The Sun and the Moon together with Mercury are now in Earth signs.
There are 30 days to the Autumn Equinox in the northern hemisphere.
The Moon trines Saturn 12:55 GMT and becomes void. She enters Capricorn 15:20 GMT and makes wholesome aspects from this sign today and tomorrow.
Mars opposes Jupiter 16:03 GMT. This alignment of Mars, the Earth and Jupiter is less than 1.6 degrees from exact linearity. This is the most significant planetary alignment this week.
Friday August 24th 2007
Pre Total Lunar Eclipse events are starting to manifest. Pakistan's Supreme Court yesterday lifted the exile imposed on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, ousted by current Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf in a 1999 military coup. The ruling could clear the way for Sharif to run for office in elections scheduled for later in the year.
Bangladesh's army-backed interim government briefly relaxed a curfew on Thursday, allowing residents of the capital the chance to stock up on essentials and those stranded at airports and elsewhere to return home. The Home Ministry ordered the curfew, imposed on Wednesday to end days of violence, to be relaxed for three hours from 4 p.m. (1000 GMT).
In the UK we have been all daunted by the news story of an 11-year-old boy dying after being shot in the neck in the Croxteth area of Liverpool. The incident happened at about 1930 BST on Wednesday in a pub car park. Witnesses said a youth on a BMX bicycle, who had his face covered with a hood, rode up to the car park and fired three shots.
Today there is an 'earthy feel' to the day. No time for flights of fancy, this one is hard hitting.
The Moon reaches her gibbous phase 16 degrees Capricorn 21:55 GMT.
The powerful procession to next Tuesday's climatic Total Lunar Eclipse is then in full sway.
The Moon makes a sextile aspect to Uranus at 23:41 GMT becoming void at that moment for almost 24 hours.
Mercury, will now form a loose mutable grand cross with Jupiter, Mars and Uranus over the next four days as the Lunar Eclipse culminates.
Saturday August 25th 2007
Some 37 bodies are discovered as emergency services battle raging forest fires in southern Greece.
Three British troops have been killed in Afghanistan by so-called friendly fire, the Ministry of Defence has said. The MoD said the soldiers, from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, were killed at around 1830 local time (1500 BST) on Thursday.
The Bangladeshi authorities detain four senior academics as a curfew is relaxed after student riots.
Security forces in Chechnya kill Rustam Basayev, one of the last remaining rebel figures, Russian officials say.
Astronomers have captured remarkable new images of the rings of Uranus. The rings are currently edge-on to Earth, in an event that only happens every 42 years.
A wayward day, crazy, uncertain, mistimed and misdirected!
The accelerating Moon waxes to the full, 'void of course' in Capricorn.
Mercury squares Jupiter at 01:04 GMT and squares Mars at 15:59 GMT.
Venus retrograding in Leo opposes Neptune in Aquarius 21:49 GMT.
Pandora's box opens.
The Moon enters Aquarius 22:35 GMT.
Sunday August 26th 2007
The Moon rushes towards total lunar eclipse in Aquarius.
All beings in the biosphere are energised, in a different way to yesterday. The 'feel' today is more refined, more detached, more removed.
Uranus, magnitude 5.7, is passing within 1/4° of the yellow-orange star Phi Aquarii, magnitude 4.2. They're well up in the southeast by 11 p.m. Uranus will remain within 1/2° of the star until September 5th.
Monday August 27th 2007
After six weeks of hunkering down during raging dust storms that limited solar power, Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity have resumed driving. The storms, albeit not over, are abating and sunlight is beginning to stream through the clouds.
Astronomers have found an enormous void in space that measures nearly a billion light-years across. It is empty of both normal matter - such as galaxies and stars - and the mysterious "dark matter" that cannot be seen directly with telescopes. The "hole" is located in the direction of the Eridanus constellation and has been identified in data from a survey of the sky made at radio wavelengths. The discovery will be reported in a paper in the Astrophysical Journal.
On August 27th, around 3 o'clock in the morning local time, Mars will rise in the eastern sky alongside the red giant star Aldebaran. The two red lights side-by-side will resemble two eerie, unblinking eyes. This is worth waking up for!
Today is the day before a Total Eclipse of the Moon.
The Moon in Aquarius opposes Venus 08:51 GMT and occults Neptune at 09:17 GMT visible as an occultation from the Antarctic. This is the 3rd of 20 monthly events up to DEC. 2008. The zodiac conjunction is timed at 10:01 GMT.
The lunar climax is nearly upon us.
Tuesday August 28th 2007
The Moon in Aquarius opposes Saturn 01:24 GMT and is void for only one hour.
She enters Pisces 02:35 GMT.
Total Lunar Eclipse in Pisces.
The Astronomy and timings of the eclipse
The penumbral phase of August's eclipse begins at about 07:54 UT (GMT), but most observers will not be able to visually detect the shadow until about 08:30 UT. A timetable for the major phases of the eclipse is listed below.
Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 07:53:39 UT
Partial Eclipse Begins: 08:51:16 UT
Total Eclipse Begins: 09:52:22 UT
Greatest Eclipse: 10:37:22 UT
Total Eclipse Ends: 11:22:24 UT
Partial Eclipse Ends: 12:23:30 UT
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 13:21:01 UT
The Total Lunar Eclipse of August 28 2007 will be visible over the Americas, the Pacific, eastern Asia, and Australasia.
The penumbral eclipse the least exciting, and hardest to see part -- will begin at 07:52:11 UT and end at 13:22:29 UT. It will be visible from the Americas when it begins around Moonset, the Pacific, and eastern Asia and Australasia as it ends at around Moonrise.
The partial eclipse will begin at 08:50:57 UT and end just over 3½ hours later at 12:23:50 UT, and will be visible from a slightly smaller area. The total eclipse lasts for 1½ hours; it begins at 09:52:00 UT and ends at 11:22:45 UT, with the moment of greatest eclipse at 10:37:22 UT. It is visible over Australasia, far eastern Asia, including Japan, the Pacific, most of North America (apart from the north-east), and western South America.
In the Pacific coast of the US, the begins at 02:52:00 PDT and ends at 04:22:45 PDT, with the moment of greatest eclipse at 03:37:22 PDT.
The total eclipse should be a spectacular sight; the Moon will be well within the Earth's shadow, the umbral magnitude being 1.481, and should be deeply coloured by the Earth's atmosphere. Don't miss it! http://www.hermit.org/eclipse/2007-08-28/
From start to finish, August's lunar eclipse lasts about three hours and thirty-three minutes (not including the penumbral phases which are very difficult to see). The partial eclipse begins as the Moon's eastern edge slowly moves into the Earth's umbral shadow. During the partial phases, it takes just over an hour for the Moon's orbital motion to carry it entirely within the Earth's dark umbra. The colour and brightness of the totally eclipsed Moon can vary considerably from one eclipse to another. Dark eclipses are caused by volcanic gas and dust which filters and blocks much of the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. But since no major volcanic eruptions have taken place recently, the Moon will probably take on a vivid red or orange colour during the total phase. After the total phase ends, it is once again followed by a partial eclipse as the Moon gradually leaves the umbral shadow. http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEmono/TLE2007Aug28/TLE2007Aug28.html
The Astrology of the eclipse.
The astrological chart below is set for the moment of maximum eclipse at London.
The Total Lunar Eclipse occurs in Pisces conferring an 'otherworldly', deeply impressionable, essentially emotional momentum onto the world stage today.
This eclipse occurs as a mutable cross holds sway in the skies involving Mercury, Mars, Uranus and Jupiter. The Mercury opposition Uranus component of the cross is particularly strong and peaks later in the day. This planetary configuration adds a note of crisis to the essentially unsettling nature of a strong eclipse. It will be difficult to surf the winds and waves of time. The chart above has excessive mutability, there is much movement, transmission and change at this time.
In addition Venus (still retrograde) opposes Neptune and Mars opposes Jupiter. These two oppositions add more disturbance, exaggeration and challenge to the already tense planetary situation.
Saturn too has an important part to play right now being almost conjunct Regulus at the very edge of the Leo Virgo cusp. Did I mention momentum?
At the instant of mid-totality (10:37 UT) the Moon will stand near the zenith for observers in French Polynesia.
At that same moment the Moon is on the IC of Moscow, Belgrade, and a line right through central Africa right down to Cape Town.
The totally eclipsed Moon sets at Washington DC, Toronto and Niagara. It is Moonrise at Hong Kong.
Pluto rises at Tehran, Jupiter rises at Jerusalem.
The tight Mercury Uranus opposition is aligned to Ankara, Cairo, Khartoum, Harare, Georgetown and Seoul.
The Saros.
Today's eclipse belongs to the 'family of eclipses' know as Saros series 128. The Saros began on June 18th 1304, central eclipse time 09:15 UT. In 1430 the first Partial Eclipse in the Saros occurred, the Saros 'went Total' in 1845. The Saros peaked with the longest Total Eclipse in 1953. The last Total Eclipse in the Saros series occurs in 2097 and the Saros ends on Aug. 2nd 2566. Today's eclipse is the 10th of the 15 Total Eclipses in the series and overall it is the 40th of 71 eclipses in the Saros. The previous five eclipses in Saros 128 occurred on August 17th 1989, Aug.. 6th 1971, Jul. 26th 1953, Jul. 16th 1935 and Jul. 4th 1917. The next one in the Saros is on September 7th 2025.
So then, today's eclipse occurs in the midst of the all powerful mid cycle of its Saros. This eclipse, like that of the previous few and the proceeding couple, serves to aid the strongest delivery of the essential message of the Saros.
The chart below is set for the central eclipse moment of the first eclipse in Saros 128 in 1304 AD.
Astrological chart for Saros 128. (Set for London).
This chart shows the character of Saros series 128 to which today's eclipse belongs. The eclipsed Moon in the chart is sextile Neptune and square Saturn. The chart is dominated by an airy grand trine involving Mars, Uranus and Pluto. This Saros is invigorating positive and replenishing.
Today's eclipse is a bit of a ' strong and wayward bad penny' from an essentially good family of eclipses. It is interesting to note that the Mercury Uranus opposition tightly arranged in the skies today is on the nodal axis of the Saros chart, there is I think, is an element of great import here.
Eclipse hits.
The eclipse today falls on the natal Pluto of the UK national chart, and the Saturn of the UK Labour Party. If I have correct birth data it also falls on the MC of Hillary Clinton and the natal Moon of Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin world tour next year?).
The eclipse falls on the natal Suns of Nepal and Orange Free State national charts, the natal Venus of Ghana, the natal Mars of Kampuchea, the natal Saturn of Malawi, the natal Neptune of Denmark, the natal Ascendant of Lithuania and the nodal axes of El-Salvador, Guatemala and Peru.
Enjoy today's eclipse even if (as in Europe) no part of it is visible. This can be very much a 'felt but not seen' experience.
The most authoritative site for eclipses is Fred Espanak's eclipse site.
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The next Total Lunar Eclipse is Feb. 21st 2008 and is visible from the UK.
The one after that is Total Lunar Eclipse is DEC 21st 2010.
After today's eclipse is over Mercury opposes Uranus 19:39 GMT. The opposition is within 2 degrees of linearity. This one is a little jumpy to say the least. The 24 hours following this eclipse are astrologically powerful.
The Moon squares Jupiter 20:26 GMT
Minor lunar occultation visible from the UK of star Lambda Aquarius approx. 21:44 GMT
Wednesday August 29th 2007
We are totally at the mercy of the wake of yesterday's eclipse. Today is another powerful day.
The Moon still in Pisces squares Mars in Gemini 01:19 GMT.
The Moon is conjunct Uranus (within 2 degrees) at 07:16 GMT.
The Earth Mercury and the Moon are within 2 minutes of arc of exact linearity at 08:53 GMT. This is a mini eclipse itself.
The Moon finally squares Pluto 22:22 GMT and is void of course.
The bright asteroid 4 Vesta, currently magnitude 7.2, is 0.4° north of dazzling Jupiter this evening
Thursday August 30th 2007
The Moon rushes into Aries 04:25 GMT and mercifully makes really nice aspects over the next two days.
The cycle has peaked, the sting been taken, there is a rush of relief in nature today and tomorrow waiting to be discovered.
Friday August 31st 2007
The Moon at perigee (fastest all month) 00:04 GMT.
The Moon reaches disseminating phase 23 degrees Aries 18:03 GMT.
The weekend ahead looks astrologically stable. The major event is the ingress of Saturn into Virgo on Sunday.
For The Daze September to December 2007 click here.
