BARLEY REPORT
Nehemia Gordon from Jerusalem, Israel compiled the
following Barley Reports on March 30 and March 31, 2011.
Aviv Found in the Jordan Valley!
“On Wednesday March 30, 2011 Aviv was found in the
Jordan Valley at Tel Malkoach south of Beth Shean. A search in the Northern
Negev on Thursday March 31, 2011 only turned up cotton stage to worm stage
barley but no Aviv. The Aviv in the Jordan Valley is enough for the wave-sheaf
to be brought during Chag HaMatzot (Feast of Unleavened Bread) beginning April
18 at sunset.”
The picture below is Aviv barley found in Northern
Negev on March 31, 2011.
NEW MOON REPORT
Nehemia Gordon from Jerusalem, Israel compiled the
following New Moon Report for the month of April 2011 and the beginning of the
First Month on the Biblical Calendar.
“On Monday April 4, 2011 the
new moon was sighted from Israel. The moon was first sighted from Mount
Hezekiah at 7:28 pm by Nehemia Gordon and at 7:29 pm by Yoel Halevi. The moon
was also sighted from Ashdod by Magdi Shamuel at 7:40 pm.
A photograph of the moon
sighted from Mount Hezekiah in the Eilat Mountains is posted at:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=293928&id=371892568628&l=117d55c868
Chag HaMatzot (Feast of
Unleavened Bread) will begin April 18 at sunset.
Looks like I messed up the
dates on my last newsletter about finding Aviv barley on March 30 in the Jordan
valley when it was in fact March 29. Thanks to Botaniska Föreningen for
catching this oversight. This doesn't change the conclusions.”
The next new moon is expected to be visible from
Jerusalem, Israel near sunset on May 4, 2011 when the moon will be 1.71%
illuminated and 13.4o above the horizon at five minutes past sunset.
The Spring
Feasts for 2011
Passover/First Day of Unleavened Bread
Sunset April 18 to sunset April 19.
Day of the Wave Offering
April 24th during the day.
Last Day of Unleavened Bread
Sunset April 24 to sunset April 25.
Shavuot – Sunset June 11 to sunset June 12.
NEW MOONS FROM APRIL 2011 TO MARCH
2012
The figures below represent
the illumination of the moon (%) and the degrees above the horizon (0)
the moon is at five minutes past sunset.
2011
April 4
1.01%
ill. 9.690
ah Starts
First Month
May 4 1.71% 13.40 Starts
Second Month
June 3 3.3% 16.130 Starts
Third Month
July 2
2.05%
8.410 Starts
Fourth Month
August 1
4.97% 10.230 Starts
Fifth Month
August 30 3.6% 5.980 (August 31 – 9.34%,
13.660) Starts
Sixth Month
Sept. 29 7.07%
11.980 (Sept. 28 – 2.21%, 3.650) Starts Seventh Month
October 28 4.63%
11.820 Starts
Eighth Month
November 26 2.43% 11.290 Starts
Ninth Month
December 25 0.87% 8.630 (December 26 – 4.19%,
19.970) Starts Tenth Month
2012
January 24 1.93% 14.350 Starts Eleventh Month
February 23 2.88% 17.960 Starts Twelfth Month
March
23 1.01% 9.780 Starts First Month
The most likely date for when the new moon will be observable from
Jerusalem is on the left. There are some interesting situations this year. The dates in parenthesis are the secondary
dates in borderline situations.
On August 30 the moon is only 5.980
above the horizon at 5 minutes past sunset but it will be 3.6 percent
illuminated at that time. It should be clearly
visible if the there is not much haze or clouds. Since it is in the month of August, which I
believe is the hottest month in Israel, there may be a lot of particulates in
the air because the evapotranspiration rate is tied to how high the temperature
is. And you would be looking through
miles and layers of thicker atmosphere when looking at objects close to the
horizon. The closer to the ground the
atmosphere is, the thicker it is and the farther from the ground the atmosphere
is, the thinner it is. When looking say
25 miles straight across toward the horizon you would be looking through 25
miles of thick atmosphere. When looking
25 miles straight up, you would be looking through the thicker layer near the
ground but thinner and thinner layers above that punchy. The illumination of the moon should punch
through this haze, but we will have to wait to see if it does.
On September
28, the moon is 2.21% illuminated but only 3.65o above the
horizon at 5 minutes past sunset. There
were similar situations two years ago.
We will see what information we get this year to see if there is any
chance that the moon can be seen in such conditions.
December 25/26 is a close borderline
situation. On December 25, the moon will
be 0.87o illuminated and 8.63o above the horizon at 5
minutes after sunset. This would have
been rounded off to 1% illuminated and 9o above the horizon in the
Dance of the Planets program which is the program I first used when I did the
new moon charts for 1997 to 2009 twelve years ago. The skies are also clearer in December
because of the cooler temperatures. This
will still be a difficult crescent to spot with the unaided eye, just have to
look hard.
SATURN AT OPPOSITION
Saturn reached opposition (opposite side of the
earth as the sun and closest approach to Earth for the year) on April 4,
2011. The planet reached a brightness of
magnitude 0.4. This was the closest
approach of Saturn and it was at its brightest since early 2008.
The simulation of this event
from Astronomy.com seen below shows Saturn in the Sign and constellation Bethulah
(Virgo) at the time of its opposition.
Bethulah represents the faithful of the Tribes of
Israel (the 144,000) and represents the woman and the woman’s seed from Genesis
3:15 and Revelation 12. The woman’s seed
represents our Messiah Yahshuah and also the faithful of Israel (the remnant of
the woman’s seed that the dragon makes war against in Revelation 12:17.
Saturn represents Satan the dragon, and is in Bethulah
during the planetary conjunctions and other celestial activity that will take
place in Pisces in May.
ZEDEK AND SUN IN CONJUNCTION
Zedek and the sun came into conjunction (same right
ascension to and in alignment with the Celestial North Pole) on April 6,
2011. This occurs once every year and
Jupiter cannot be seen from Earth when it is at conjunction or near conjunction
with the sun.
Before Zedek passed the sun, it was seen in the evening
sky. Now, it is seen in the morning
sky. Ancient astronomers paid particular
attention to Zedek when it first appeared in the morning sky in its heliacal
rising in the East. Such was the case
with the Magi when they reported on first seeing “His star” in the east or in
its heliacal rising (Matt. 2:2). The
word “east” in this verse is from the Greek word anatole, which is
properly translated “rising.” That of course
is from the Greek text. I do not know
the word from the Hebrew text since I do not have a copy of the Hebrew Matthew
at this time. It would be interesting to
see the Hebrew word for “east” here. Anatole
is specifically an astronomical term for in the rising or in the
heliacal rising. The astronomical
meaning for the term Heliacal Rising is the rising of a celestial
body in the eastern sky shortly before dawn, before the sun obscures it by its
brilliance.
After Zedek passed the sun on April 4, it should
first become visible to the unaided eye in its heliacal rising around May
1. An as we follow it from its heliacal
rising, we will see a lot of activity in the constellation Pisces in the
early morning sky throughout May, including a fairly close and bright
conjunction of Zedek (Jupiter) and Nogah (Venus) in the early
morning sky on May 11. This would
particularly grab the attention of the ancient Magi, especially since the Sign Pisces
represents the nation of Israel, who is in a struggle with Cetus (the
beast from the sea.)
At the time the Magi saw the
events pointing to the birth of the Messiah, they saw Zedek in its
heliacal rising in the Sign Leo or the Lion of the Tribe of
Judah. Soon after there was a Jupiter and Venus conjunction and another
one following a year later. Shortly after that the four planets Jupiter,
Venus, Mars and Mercury were massed in the Lion, just as
will happen in May in the Sign Pisces.
There will be more on this in the May 2011 issue of Biblical
Astronomy.
MARS AND MERCURY
IN CONJUNCTION
In the early morning before sunrise on April 19, 2011
(the first day of Unleavened Bread), Catab (Mercury) will pass 0.8
degrees north of Adom (Mars). This conjunction will take place in the
Sign and constellation Pisces.
Chart 553 shows the close conjunction of Mars
and Mercury in the constellation Pisces on April 19, 2011. The planets are most likely too close to the
sun in their heliacal rising to be seen with the unaided eye through the solar
glare.
Chart 553 – Mars and Mercury in
conjunction in Pisces on April 19, 2011 (Aviv 15) as seen from Jerusalem
about ten minutes before sunrise.
Adom (Mars) can represent Michael the warrior
angel; blood and war; or the atoning blood of Messiah. Catab (Mercury) represents Gabriel the
messenger angel.
Gabriel may be sounding out to Israel to prepare for
war.
PRAISE PREPARED FOR THE CONQUEROR
Every year on or around April 22/23, the Lyrid Meteor
Shower peaks. This year April 22/23 is
the fifth day of Unleavened Bread. The
following is an article by Roan Kelly from Astronomy.com concerning this year’s
April shower.
April’s shower battles a gibbous Moon
“The annual Lyrid meteor shower typically generates
up to 20 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. Unfortunately, 2011 won’t
be a favorable year. The shower peaks the night of April 22/23, when a waning
gibbous Moon shines brightly and will drown out fainter meteors during the
predawn viewing hours.
Still, observers should look for brighter shower
members the morning of April 23. Lyrid meteors appear to radiate from the
constellation Lyra, near the bright star Vega. This region climbs high after
midnight and stands nearly overhead as dawn approaches.
For the best views, find an observing location well
away from city lights. The Moon rises in the southeast around 1 a.m. local
daylight time, so try to position yourself where a tree or building blocks the
Moon’s unwanted glow.”
The simulation below from Astronomy.com shows the radiant
of the Lyrid meteor shower.
The radiant of this shower is in the constellation Lyra,
the harp. The main theme for this constellation
is Praise prepared for the conqueror, such as Rev. 11:17; 19:7;
Psalm 21:1, 8, 10-13; the conqueror here being Yahshuah. The brightest star in this constellation is Vega,
which means He shall be exalted.
When I see meteors shoot forth from Lyra I think of
praises going forth before Him and to Him.
JUPITER AND MARS IN CONJUNCTION
Adom (Mars) will pass 0.4 degrees north of Zedek (Jupiter)
in the Sign and constellation Pisces on May 1, 2011.
Chart 554 shows the positions of Jupiter and Mars
in the Sign and constellation Pisces at the time of conjunction as seen
from Jerusalem at 20 minutes before sunrise on May 1.
Chart 554 – Close conjunction of Jupiter
and Mars in Pisces on May 1, 2011.
Both of the planets are in the band that is tied to
the fish representing the House of Judah.
The band is bound to Cetus, but Aries the Lamb is seen
breaking the bands with His left foreleg. The planets Nogah (Venus) and Catab
(Mercury) are also shown on the chart in Pisces at the time of the
conjunction, as well as the moon. Uranus
is also shown, but that is a recently discovered planet (discovered by Sir
William Herschel on March 13, 1781) and was not known by the Patriarchs. There is no Biblical meaning to its name that
I am aware of.
The planet Mars can represent Michael the
warrior angel, or blood and war, or the atoning blood of Messiah, depending on
the circumstance. It is also represents
the atoning blood of Messiah here who gave his life on Aviv 14, 28 (1,983 years
ago). It is through His atoning blood
and sacrifice that His people are saved and His enemies are destroyed.
Zedek means righteousness and represents The
Lord Our Righteousness. He is
righteous in all of His judgments. This
conjunction may represent a righteous war and judgment against the enemies of
Israel. The enemy is represented by Cetus,
the beast from the sea, whose tail is seen on the lower right side of the
charts.
HUGE COMET TO IMPACT EARTH?
Well no, not really.
But that is the hype that is going around about the recently discovered
Comet Elenin. Actually, I believe it was
discovered in December 2010. Some have
given it a ridicules diameter of 3,000 miles.
And of course, the usual conspiracy crap is going around about NASA
hiding pictures and other information on the comet.
The following article or blog on the comet is by
Kelly Beatty, Sky & Telescope.com, December 24,
2010
Bright
Prospects for Comet Elenin?
“It doesn't look like much now — just a tiny,
19th-magnitude smudge tucked away in southwestern Virgo — but a newly
discovered comet could become something special 10 months from now.
Comet Elenin (C/2010 X1) made its debut on December
10th when Leonid Elenin, an observer in Lyubertsy, Russia, remotely acquired
four 4-minute-long images using an 18-inch (45-cm) telescope at the ISON-NM
observatory near Mayhill, New Mexico. Follow-up images by Aleksei Sergeyev
and Artyom Novichonok at Maidanak Observatory in Uzbekistan revealed more about
the new find: it had a teardrop-shaped, very diffuse coma just 6 arcseconds
across and a tiny tail.
What's gotten hearts beating a little faster since the
discovery is that Comet Elenin is still more than 4 astronomical units (375
million miles) from the Sun and headed inbound. It's still early, and the
calculated orbit is certain to change in the weeks ahead as more position
measurements are made, but right now it appears that the comet's perihelion
will occur well inside Earth's orbit, about 0.45 a.u. (42 million miles) from
the Sun, next September 5th.
Right now, odds are that Comet Elenin will become an
easy target for binoculars around mid-August and reach naked-eye visibility for
a couple of weeks around perihelion. The comet's elongation from the Sun shrinks to just 1° following perihelion, but soon
thereafter the comet gets enough separate to position itself nicely for viewing
in the predawn sky.
Moreover, it's traveling very near the ecliptic
plane, and as it sweeps close to the Sun its sky location won't stray far from
the ecliptic until mid-September, when the path arcs slowly northwestward
through Leo. That's a plus for skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere.
Finally, because Comet Elenin passes between the Sun
and Earth, there's a chance its dust tail might "light up" (via
forward-scattered light) due to the large Sun-comet-Earth angle and put on a
really good show. The last interloper to do this, Comet
McNaught, dazzled southern skygazers in January 2007.
I'll update this story once the calculated orbit
settles down, so please check back for the latest details.”
The last info I saw on this comet from NASA puts its
closest approach to Earth around 21 million miles, which will occur in October
2011. We may or may not have a bright to
very bright comet to observe during the Fall Feasts.
I just ran an orbital analysis on the comet
and it shows the comet in the constellation Cancer at its closest
approach to earth (21,726,000 miles) on October 17, 2011 (see the chart
below). For now, it shows the comet not
much lower than magnitude 6 at its brightest.
It will most likely not be seen with the unaided eye. But this is a bit early. We will see what happens
The simulation below shows a real neat bright
crescent moon and bright Venus along with the planets Jupiter and Mars on April
30, just prior to their closest approach to each other on May 1.
May Yahweh bless you and watch over you.