November 2002
Editor – Robert Scott Wadsworth <> P.O. Box
2272, Oregon City, OR 97045
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Phone (503) 655-7430 <> e-mail – starguy1@comcast.net <> Website – www.atlbible.org/astronomy.htm
Nehemia
Gordon from Jerusalem, Israel compiled the following New Moon Report for the
month of October 2002, and the beginning of the 8th Hebrew month.
“On
Monday October 7, 2002 the New Moon was sighted by the following observers:
Magdi Shmuel from Ashdod at 5:20 pm; Musa from Ofakim at 5:26; Roy Hoffman from
Jerusalem at 5:41.”
The
first day of the 8th Hebrew month was from sunset October 7, to
sunset October 8. The next New Moon,
which starts the 9th Hebrew month “Kislev,” is expected to first become
visible from Jerusalem near sunset on November 6, 2002. The first day of the ninth month will most
likely be from sunset November 6 to sunset November 7. The first day of
Hanukkah (The Feast of Lights) falls on Kislev 25 and will begin at sunset
November 30 and end at sunset December 1.
The 8th day of Hanukkah will be from sunset December 7 to
sunset December 8, 2002.
THE LAST MIGHTY ROAR OF THE LION FOR SOMETIME TO COME
There is a big storm headed our way
that will arrive at approximately 2:30 am Pacific Standard Time (5:30 EST, 4:30
CST, 3:30 MST) on November 19, 2002.
This will most likely go down in history as the great meteor shower (or
storm) of the 21st century.
The Leonid Meteor Shower occurs
every year in mid-November. It always
peaks between November 17 and 19. In
most years, the meteors in this particular shower fall at the rate of 50 or 60
per hour. Depending on how dark the sky
is at the time of the shower (light pollution from city lights, moonlight,
etc), the average observer views around 10 per hour. But in certain years, a Leonid meteor storm occurs and is visible from certain locations on
Earth. During such storms, the rate of
falling meteors may reach into the thousands per hour and even hundreds per
second (as was the case in 1833).
About every 33 years Comet
Temple-Tuttle passes through the inner solar system and leaves trails of dust
behind. During this close approach to
the sun and the earth’s orbital path, such dust trails can cause meteor storms
for 3 or 4 Novembers that follow. The
last pass of Comet Temple-Tuttle through the inner solar system was in
1998. There are also dust trails that
are lingering from past sweeps of the comet that the earth can pass through.
This year the earth will pass through two thick dust
trails. One was left in 1767 and the
other in 1866. The earth will pass
through the 1767 trail first around 4am UT (Universal Time). It is expected that meteors will fall at the
rate of around 3,000 to 3,500 per hour ZHR from this trail (ZHR – zenithal
hourly rate is the
number of meteors that a single observer would see if the radiant were at the
zenith in a sky dark enough for 6.5-magnitude stars to be seen. Actual
conditions are rarely this good). This storm will be
visible from Western Europe and Africa, and to a certain degree in far eastern
Canada and northeastern New England.
The meteors here may appear to skim along the horizon as earth
grazers. Subtract 5 hours from UT to
get EST or November 19, 4am UT is 11pm EST November 18.
The second dust trail that the earth
will pass through is one that was left in 1866. We will begin to pass through that trail around 10:30 am UT,
which is 5:30 am EST and 2:30 am PST.
This storm will be visible from most of North and Central America,
though for a shorter time on the eastern seaboard since dawn will be soon
approaching.
This storm is expected to exceed the
ZHR of the first storm. The estimates
range from 3,500 to 5,000 meteors per hour.
If you are planning on observing these storms, you may want to go out at
least an hour ahead of the estimated time.
These times may be off a smudge.
The particles in a Leonids storm
travel at a much greater velocity than particles in other showers. They enter the atmosphere at a speed of 71
kilometers per second. Because of their tremendous speeds, Leonids can be
extremely bright and are often tinged with hues of blue or green. Roughly half
leave luminous vapor trains — some hanging in the air five minutes or more.
It may be at least another century
before another Leonid Meteor Storm such
as this will occur again. The following
is an excerpt out of the Sky & Telescope article by Joe Rao titled Leonids
2002: The Last Hurrah.
“After 2002, however, there will be no more Leonid storms for a very long time. Donald K. Yeomans of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as well as Brian G. Marsden and Gareth V. Williams at the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have calculated the path of 55P/Tempel-Tuttle through future perturbations. They all find that as the comet approaches the Sun toward a May 2031 perihelion, it will pass within 1.5 a.u. of Jupiter in August 2029. This encounter will push the comet closer to the Sun and increase the distance between Earth’s orbit and the comet’s to 0.0162 a.u. — their largest separation since 1733. Such a large gulf between the two orbits may preclude any substantial meteor activity for the year 2031, and for several years thereafter, when the next cycle of Leonid storms would normally be expected. In examining this next Leonid cycle, McNaught has found three outlying dust trails that the Earth will approach in the years 2033 and 2034. "Unfortunately," he notes, "they are probably too distant for any reasonable chance of high activity." There will be little improvement at the comet’s subsequent return in 2065, for the separation between the orbits of the comet and the Earth will have diminished only slightly to 0.0146 a.u. In 2098 the separation of the orbits shrinks to 0.0062 a.u. And in 2131, for the first time since 1633, the comet crosses our orbital plane slightly outside the Earth’s orbit at a distance of 0.0089 a.u. Not until one, or both, of these remote years can our great grandchildren expect to witness a storm of Leonid meteors.”
Chart 289 shows the radiant of the storm (marked by the X) near the head of the lion in the constellation Leo (Judah). The planet Jupiter (Zedek – The Lord Our Righteousness) is also in Leo at the time of the storm, not too far from the radiant. This chart shows how the sky will look from the Pacific Northwest looking over the eastern horizon on November 19, 2002 at 2:30 am PST. Of course you will not see this particular picture of the lion there, but you will see the constellation shape in which the front part looks like a sickle. The radiant of the storm is near the center of the sickle (reaping the harvest?).
Chart 290 shows the conjunction of the planet Mars (Michael) and the star Spica or Al Zimach (the Branch) with Venus (the bright and morning star) below in the constellation Virgo (Bethulah) as seen from the Pacific Northwest at 5:45am PST on November 19, 2002. This is close to what the sky will appear as from the Eastern United States at 5:30 am EST, when the second meteor storm arrives. The radiant is further above the horizon here, which makes for better viewing of the meteors. This storm may be well worth setting the time aside to view because of its possible magnitude and the last one of such splendor for the next 2 or 3 generations. Pray for clear skies.
As I was about to search for celestial events occurring in circa 722-721 BC (the time of the dispersion and captivity of the northern tribes of Israel, Ephraim), I somehow got my brains stuck on the year 822-821 BC instead. I do not think that this was an accident, since in searching 822-821 BC I found an incredible celestial event that would have otherwise gone undiscovered. It was in November of 821 BC that the planets Jupiter and Saturn came into a close conjunction.
According to the 15th century Jewish commentator Abarbanel writing on Daniel, he affirmed that a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn always betokens a crisis in the affairs of Israel. Jupiter and Saturn come into conjunction every 20 years. If any conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn were to betoken a crisis in the affairs of Israel, there would be at least 5 each century. (It is a fact that for 160 years, from 1840 and every 20 years from that date, that all American presidents elected when Jupiter and Saturn were in conjunction died in office with the exception of Ronald Regan – elected 1980 – whose attempted assassination failed, but this may be some sort of strange coincidence. See the June 2000 issue of Biblical Astronomy for more info on this).
But in any case, the conjunction of these two planets that occurred in 821 through 820 BC was no ordinary conjunction. Because of the orbital elements of the earth, Jupiter and Saturn at that time, the two planets appeared less than 1 degree from each other from October 28 (Julian), 821 BC to January 28, 820 BC. For three straight months, there was no more than 1 degree of separation between Jupiter and Saturn as seen from the earth. During that time, they were less than one half of a degree apart from each other for 17 days straight between November 10 and November 26, 821 BC, and again for 21 straight days from December 27, 821 BC to January 16, 820 BC. They again came close together in the late spring and were less than 1 degree from each other from May 23 to June 16, 820 BC; and less than a half a degree from each other from June 2 to June 7. This series of conjunctions, especially from October to January, was most likely the grand daddy of Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions. I have not yet found another cycle when these two planets stayed so close to one another for such a long period of time. The norm for these two planets to be less than half a degree apart during their cycle of conjunction is from 2 to 6 days.
Chart 291 shows the positions of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation Leo on November 27 (Julian), 821 BC. At that time they were a little over one half of a degree apart. November 27 on the Julian calendar is the same as November 18 on the proleptic corrected Gregorian calendar, which is the calendar that we now go by. This is the date that the Leonid Meteor Shower peaks. If there was a meteor storm that year or just a regular shower, I do not know. It is thought by many Biblical scholars that when the Scriptures refer to stars falling from heaven that they are referring to the people of Israel who are rejecting Yahweh and who are going after false gods.
Chart 292 shows the paths of Jupiter and Saturn from October 28, 821 BC to January 28, 820 BC. Both planets went into retrograde motion as they came into conjunction, which is the reason why they were so close to each other for so long.
It was this time in the history of Israel that most of the nation was worshipping false gods and greatly stirring the anger of Yahweh. It ended up with Yahweh divorcing the 10 northern tribes (Jeremiah 3:8). It was 100 years after 821 BC that the leaders of Israel were taken captive by Assyria. Then throughout the next few centuries, most of the remaining people of the 10 northern tribes (Israel) were assimilated into the nations of the Gentiles (resistance was futile. Yahweh had a master plan in the workings).
As I wrote above, I came across this particular celestial event while I was attempting to search for celestial events that occurred around 722/721 BC. I found some interesting events for that particular time in history which I will be sharing about in the next two or so newsletters.
ARGO
(The Ship)
The
pilgrims safe at home
Argo (Chart 293) is the 3rd decan in the Sign Cancer, which completes this particular four part study on that sign. And how harmoniously it completes the message and prophecy of this sign. The following is from E.W. Bullinger’s The Witness of the Stars, pp. 157-161.
“This is the celebrated ship of the Argonauts, of which HOMER sung nearly ten centuries before Christ. Sir Isaac Newton puts the expedition of the Argonauts shortly after the death of Solomon (about 975 BC). While Dr. Blair's chronology puts it at 1236 BC. Whatever fables have gathered round the story there can be no doubt as to its great antiquity. Some think that the story had its origin in name, as well as in fact, from the Ark of Noah and its mysterious journey. All that is clear, when divested of mythic details, is that the sailors in that ship, after all their dangers, and toils, and battles were over, came back victorious to their own shores. The "golden fleece," for which the Argonauts went in search, tells of a treasure that had been lost. "Jason," the great captain, tells of Him who recovered it from the Serpent, which guarded it with ever-watchful eye, when none else was able to approach it. And thus, through the fables and myths of the Greeks, we can see the light primeval shine; and this light, once seen, lights up this Sign and its constellations, so that their teaching cannot be misunderstood.
It tells of that blessed home-coming, when--
“The ransomed of the LORD shall return And come to Zion with songs, And everlasting Joy upon their heads; They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10
It tells of the glorious Jason (the Graeco-Judean equivalent of Joshua or Jesus), of whom it is asked:
“Art thou not it which hath cut Rahab, And wounded the dragon? Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; That hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, And come with singing unto Zion,” etc. Isaiah 51:9-11
“For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, And ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, And shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD.” Jeremiah 31:11,12
This is the return of the great emigrant-ship (Argo) and all its company of travellers (for this is the meaning of the word Argo). In Kircher's Egyptian Planisphere Argo, is represented by two galleys (as we have two sheepfolds), whose prows are surmounted by rams' heads; and the stern of one of them ends in a fish's tail. One of the two occupies four segments of the sphere (from TAURUS to VIRGO), while the other occupies the four from LEO to CAPRICORNUS. One half of the southern meridians is occupied with these galleys and their construction and decorations. Astronomers tell us that they carry us back, the one to the period when the Bull opened the year (to which time VIRGIL refers); and the other to the same epoch, when the summer solstice was in LEO--"an era greatly antecedent to the Argonautic expedition. How else, they ask, do we account for the one ship having her prow in the first Decan of TAURUS, and her poop in the last decan of LEO? or for one galley being freighted with the installed Bull, and the other with the solstitial Lion?" (Jamieson's Scientific Display, &c.) These are the words of an astronomer who knows nothing whatever of our interpretation of the heavens which is set forth in this work. It will indeed be a large vessel, the true Argo, with its company of travellers, "a great multitude which no man can number." All this is indicated by the immense size of the constellation, as well as by the large number of its stars. There are 64 stars in Argo (reckoning by the Britannic catalogue); one of the 1st magnitude, six of the 2nd, nine of the 3rd, nine of the 4th, etc. Only a small part of the ship's poop is visible in Britain. Its brightest star, a (near the keel), is called Canopus or Canobus, which means the possession of Him who cometh. Other star-names are--Sephina, the multitude or abundance; Tureis, the possession; Asmidiska, the released who travel; Soheil (Arabic), the desired; and Subilon, the Brach. Is not all this exactly in harmony with the rest of this sign? And is not this what is written in the Book?
“Therefore, fear thou not, O My servant Jacob, saith the LORD; Neither be dismayed, O Israel: For, lo, I will save thee from afar, And thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return and be in rest, And be quiet, and none shall make him afraid, For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee.” Jeremiah 30:10, 11
“Lift up thine eyes round about, and see; All they gather themselves together, they come to thee; Thy sons shall come from far, And thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, And thine heart shall fear and be enlarged; Because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee… Who are these that fly as a cloud? And as doves to their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, And the SHIPS of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far.” Isaiah 60:4, 5, 8, 9
The whole chapter (Isa 60) should be read if we wish to understand the great teaching of this Sign, which tells of Messiah's secured possessions, the safe folding of His blood-bought flock, the blessed return of His pilgrims, and their abundant entrance into everlasting rest.”
“There is a blessed home
Beyond this land of woe,
Where trials never come,
Nor tears of sorrow flow;
Where faith is lost in sight,
And patient love is crowned,
And everlasting light
Its glory throws around
O Joy, all joys beyond,
To see the Lamb who died,
And count each sacred wound
In hands, and feet, and side;
To give to Him the praise
Of every triumph won,
And sing through endless days
The great things He hath done.
Look up, ye saints of God,
Nor fear to tread below
The path your Saviour tred
Of daily toil and woe;
Wait but a little while
In uncomplaining love,
His own most gracious smile
Shall welcome you above.”
There is a star in the aft of the ship, in the poop deck to be precise, named Eta Carinae. This star is expected to go supernova sometime in the near future. It is also expected that this will be a very bright supernova and will be very pronounced in the heavens as seen from Earth and possibly be visible in the daytime sky. It is on the poop deck of the ship that the Captain of the ship stands in order to oversee the crew and the heading of the ship. In this case the captain of the ship is Yahshuah Ha Machiach (Jesus Christ) the Captain of our salvation.
Below is a recent photo of Eta Carinae that was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Eta
Carinae
See the article “Mysterious Star in Argo” in the June 1999 issue of Biblical Astronomy for more information on the star Eta Carinae.
POSSIBLE
NEW NAKED EYE COMET DISCOVERED
The following IAU circular was posted on the Comet Observation Homepage on October 29, 2002.
IAU Circular 8003 (October 29, 2002) announced the discovery by the LINEAR survey of a comet that may become naked eye in April-June 2004. Designated C/2002 T7 (LINEAR), the comet is currently m1~16.5-17.5. The preliminary orbit suggests that perihelion will occur on April 23, 2004 at a distance of 0.6 AU. More details after I have had a chance to study the preliminary orbit.
MARS
TO GET CLOSER TO EARTH THAN ANY OTHER TIME IN RECORDED HISTORY
As I have reported in my research papers, books and newsletters over the past 9 years, Mars will reach its closest approach to earth for the next 1,000 years (actually 1,012 years) in late August of 2003. What I didn’t know and what experts in the field of celestial mechanics are now reporting is that Mars will reach its closest approach to the earth than at any other time in recorded history this coming August. They proclaim that the last time that Mars was this close to Earth was about 73,000 years ago.
In its celestial portrayal, Mars represents Michael the warrior angel, or war, or blood. Ancient civilizations believed that when Mars approached closely to the earth, that great wars occurred. If that is true, then what may take place in the late summer or early fall of 2003 could be the beginning of the war of all wars. Or it may begin before then and escalate. Time will tell. I will be doing more articles on this in future issues.
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukkah
