May/June 2001
Editor – Robert Scott Wadsworth <> P.O. Box
2272, Oregon City, OR 97045
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<> Website – www.atlbible.org/astronomy.htm
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Phone (503) 655-7430 <> e-mail – starguy1@comcast.net
<> Website – www.atlbible.org/astronomy.htm
I apologize for the lateness
of the May 2001 Newsletter. I spent
time chasing down a computer virus, and my printer head went out, amongst other
things.
Nehemia Gordon from
Jerusalem, Israel compiled the following New Moon Report for the 2nd
Hebrew month of the year.
On
Tuesday April 24, 2001 the New Moon was seen by observers across Israel. The moon was first sighted: by Musa from Ofakim at 19:37; by Madgi from
Ashdod at 19:41; by Isaac Sergani from Arad at 19:47; by two observers from
Ma’alei Adumim (near Jerusalem) at 19:29 and 19:39.
Nehemia Gordon from
Jerusalem, Israel compiled the following New Moon Report for the 3rd
Hebrew month of the year.
On
Tuesday May 24, 2001 the New Moon was sighted by observers across Israel. The moon was first sighted: at 19:30 from Ramla by Yosi Gaber; at 19:40
from Ashdod by Magdi Shamuel; at 19:45 from Arad by Issac Sergani; at 19:48 from Beth Shemesh by Zoe Cowan and
Yeshayah Yahzere.
The
next New Moon, which will begin the 4th Hebrew month is expected to
be visible from Jerusalem near sunset on June 22.
Most
of the Hebrew names for the months are not found in the scriptures. The scriptures name the months by numbers in
most cases. The Hebrew name for the 4th
month is Tammuz, which is the name of a pagan sun god. Definitely not scriptural.
MERCURY/SATURN CONJUNCTION
On May 7, 2001 Mercury
(Gabriel) and Saturn (Satan) will come into conjunction in the constellation
Taurus (Messiah, the coming Judge of all the earth). Charts 203
and 204 show the conjunction of Mercury and Saturn
as seen in the early evening sky above Jerusalem. The planets are close to the sun at this time and may be
difficult to see with the naked eye.
On
May 16, 2001 Jupiter (Tzedek – The Lord our Righteousness) and Mercury
will come into conjunction between the horns of Taurus. Charts 205 and 206 show the positions of the planets as seen in the
early evening sky above Jerusalem. The
Hebrew name of the constellation Taurus is Shur, which is from a root
which means both coming and ruling.
On May 24, 2001 the first
crescent of the New Moon will be nicely nestled between the planets Jupiter and
Mercury, in the constellation Taurus. Charts 207 and 208 show the
positions of these three celestial bodies as seen in the early evening sky
above Jerusalem.
The
star El Nath (wounded or slain) in the constellation Auriga is
also in close proximity to this gathering of celestial bodies. The sign Taurus not only represents the
coming Judge, but also the pouring forth of God’s wrath. One of the horns of Taurus is seen striking
the foot of Auriga (the great Shepherd) at the star El Nath. This is a portrayal of the Messiah
taking the wrath of God upon himself in our place, or as the sacrifice for all
who believe in Him. Because of what the
Messiah accomplished in His crucifixion, the wrath of God is not appointed unto
those who are in the Messiah. Those
who are in the Messiah are saved out of it (I Thes. 5:9-10). See the article Comet Linear in Outburst in
the December 1998/January 1999 Biblical Astronomy.
COMET LINEAR C/2001 A2 IS NOW A NAKED EYE OBJECT!
As of the date of this
writing, C/2001A2 is a magnitude 5.1. Although
this is somewhat dim, a few observers have reported seeing it with the naked
eye. The comet reaches perihelion
(closest approach to the sun) on May 24, 2001, which is the date of this
writing. The comet will reach it’s
closest approach to the earth on June 30/July 1, 2001 at a distance of about 23
million miles. It may be as bright as
magnitude 3 at that time (about the brightness of the brighter stars in the Big
Dipper).
Charts 209
and 210 show the path of Comet Linear C/2001 A2 from May
27, 2001 to July 1, 2001. The comet
passes through the constellations Eridanus (river of wrath or river
of fire) and Cetus (the beast from the sea). Eridanus is a decan constellation of the sign Taurus. At it’s closest approach to the earth, the
comet will be just above the tail of Cetus as show in the below diagram.
On May 24, when the comet is at
perihelion, it will also be in conjunction with the celestial gathering of the
New Moon, Jupiter, and Mercury. The
celestial longitudinal line runs from the comet up through and between the
planet Jupiter and the moon (Chart 208) and through the star El Nath in Auriga.
If the comet does not break apart
and continues to brighten, it will be visible in the northern hemisphere in the
early morning skies above the eastern and southeastern horizons in late June
and early July. The best time to
observe the comet will be between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
The below photo of the comet was
taken on May 17.
On April 30, the comet split into
two pieces. It may be difficult or
impossible to see the two components of the nucleus with the naked eye.
SUMMER SOLSTICE SOLAR ECLIPSE
On June 21, the Summer
Solstice, there will be a total eclipse of the sun which will be visible from
southern Africa and Madagascar. The
eclipse will not be visible in Israel or the United States.
Chart 211
shows the positions of the sun and the
moon as seen from Jerusalem on the afternoon of June 21. Here the sun and moon are in conjunction,
but the sun is not seen covered by the moon from this location. Both the sun and moon are in the club of
Orion during the eclipse.
The constellation Orion is a decan
constellation of the sign Taurus. The
ancient Hebrew name for Orion is Chesil, which means a strong one, a
hero, or giant. This is the
Hebrew name Orion is translated from in Job 9:9, 38:31 and Amos 5:8.
MARS AT CLOSEST APPROACH TO THE EARTH SINCE 1988
The planet Mars (Michael) will reach opposition on June 13 but will reach its closest approach to the earth since 1988 on June 21. Mars will be 41.8 million miles from earth at this time. Mars will be shining brightly in the evening sky from mid to late June.
Chart 212 shows the position of Mars in the constellation Scorpius on June 21,
2001 as seen from Jerusalem. Mars is
currently and will be in retrograde motion at that date.
It is interesting that this is
occurring on the same date as the solar eclipse. Especially when considering the positions of the celestial bodies
in these two events. It was during the
time of the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension (late April to early June
28 A.D.) that there was certain celestial activity in and around the club of
Orion, while Mars was in retrograde motion in the constellation Scorpius. See A Voice Crying in the Heavens, 2nd
edition, pp. 81-90 for further information with charts on those events.
DELTA SCORPII STILL BRIGHT
Sky & Telescope, May 14 – Now that Scorpius is rising into good view as early
as 11 p.m. local daylight time (look low in the southeast), more and more
skywatchers are noticing the unusual brightness of the star Delta Scorpii near
Antares. Normally magnitude 2.3, Delta
slowly flared up last July and has generally remained bright, with some
fluctuations, ever since. For the last
three months it has hovered around magnitude 1.8, changing the look of the
familiar row of three stars known as the head of the Scorpion.
Delta Scorpii is the star Dschubba in the constellation Scorpius and can be seen on Chart 212.
With all of the celestial events occurring in the
sign Taurus in May and June, it appears that the heavens continue to emphasize
the coming wrath of God upon planet Earth.
We will see what future months have in store. There will be more significant celestial events in the sign
Taurus in May 2002.
LAST ISSUE OF BIBLICAL ASTRONOMY FOR THIS SUBSCRIPTION YEAR
This is the last issue
of Biblical Astronomy for the July 2000/June 2001 subscription
year. I will be starting a new mailing
list for the July 2001/June 2002 subscription year. If you have not already subscribed for the coming year, and wish
to do so, please send a check or money order for $20.00 ($25.00 Canada, and
$30.00 other countries) to:
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I look forward to serving you
Astronomical information in light of the scriptures over the next year.
Yahweh bless you and your family in His superabundance of grace, mercy and love through His son Yahshuah HaMashiach (Jesus Christ).
