The Celestial Year in Review

The Celestial Year in Review

It’s been a great year for sky-gazers. In March, Mercury, Mars and the moon formed what National Geographic referred to as “an impressive celestial triangle.” As Andrew Fazekas, noted in writing about the Top 7 Must-See Sky Events for 2017 for Nat Geo, “the formation will help viewers see Mercury at its brightest and highest in our skies.”

A great year for sky-watchers can be an interesting year for astrologers as celestial bodies align in unusual ways or reach unique points in their rotation around the sun.  This was the case with Mercury.  “The innermost planet is normally very hard to spot, since the tiny world usually gets lost in the glare of the sun,” Fazekas had written. “But at the end of March, it will reach its most distant point from the sun as seen from Earth, and so will be easier to catch.” Even if you were unable to see Mercury earlier this year, you may have experienced something related to its position in the sky.

As Fazekas also noted, Jupiter has been paired with Spica, the lead star of the constellation Virgo, all year. In April, however, the largest planet in the solar system also paired up with the full moon. Minutes after the sun set, observers were able to see the moon and the shining planet rise together in the east.  Contributing to the beauty of this spectacle was the fact that Jupiter had reached opposition three weeks earlier, making the planet appear bigger and brighter than at any other time during the year.

For astrologers, opposition can mean much more.  Opposition can involve the separation of powers, or the dominance of one over the other. Jupiter is associated with higher learning, with our quest to explore new territory of the mind and spirit. Perhaps that is why Jupiter is also associated with long-distance travel.

The impact of this large planet is different on each individual birth date and sign, but when looking back over the year, knowing when it was in opposition may shed light on certain happenings in your life. What attracts a Pisces man or keeps a Taurus man interested may appear to wax or wane at such times.

And knowing that it has been partnered with Spica in Virgo during 2016 may also lead to greater understanding of the events in your life.

Of course, the major celestial happening of 2017 – at least for those in North America – was the total solar eclipse on August 21.  Fazekas called it the sun’s “most amazing stial disappearing act seen there since 1979. The eclipse crossed the U.S. in a path that ran from Oregon to South Carolina. Those in the direct line of this path experienced totality, a truly rare and powerful event in both spiritual and celestial terms. “Totality will touch many cities, and expectations are that most of the U.S. population will be within a day’s drive of places to see this dramatic event. A partial eclipse—where the moon seems to take only a bite out of the sun—will be visible over a much wider area across the entire continent,” Fazekas had explained in his National Geographic posting.

And the year is not over yet!  “Two of the brightest celestial objects in our skies will have a super close encounter at dawn on November 13,” Fazekas said. “Neighboring planets Venus and Jupiter will have a spectacularly close conjunction very low in the eastern sky. The two worlds will appear to be separated by only 18 arc-minutes, or about equal to the apparent width of a half-lit moon. Since this conjunction event will take place so low to the horizon, the planets will be battling the glare of the morning twilight, and binoculars will make viewing more enjoyable.” Of course, you don’t need to see the planets convene in order to feel their effects.  And while they come closest on November 13, they will be in close proximity both before and after this date.

The annual Geminid meteor shower, which will reach its peak on or around December 13, is the last of the seven celestial events to make Fazekas’ list.  “This year’s event will be special,” he notes, “because sky-watchers will only have to contend with the waning crescent moon until about local midnight. Once the moon sets, the best viewing will be in the predawn hours of December 14—exactly when the shower is predicted to reach its peak performance.” Who knows, perhaps the meteors will bring paranormal dreams your way! Remain open to the possibilities.

For more information on the impact the movement of the planets and stars may have on your astrological sign and your upcoming holiday plans, consider contacting one of the talented astrologers you’ll find on Psychics Directory. You can also take advantage of the free psychic hotlines we offer.