Astrological Forecasts

June 5, 2012  *   The Transit of Venus

by Kathy Watts

When you stargaze in the daytime, you can see only one star — the Sun.  On June 5, 2012, though, you can see something extra special.  You can watch the planet Venus move between the Earth and the Sun as it drifts right across the face of our star.

Transits of Venus only happen when the orbits of the Earth and Venus are lined up exactly right. The orbit of Venus has to cross the ecliptic (the Sun’s path in the sky) and Venus must be exactly between the Sun and Earth (astronomers call this an inferior conjunction) at exactly the same time.

Since the disk of Venus is only 1/30th the size of the disk of the Sun, the planet doesn’t cover much. It looks like a large perfectly round sunspot drifting from one side of the Sun to the other. Basically, Venus is creating an annular eclipse of the Sun. It’s still exciting to actually see it happen.

These transits occur very rarely. Two transits will happen within eight years, then the next two transits won’t happen for another 100-plus years.  After this 2012 transit, it won’t happen again until December 11, 2117.

In 1769, Captain James Cook sailed to Tahiti in the HMS Endeavour to observe the transit of Venus.  People all over the world observed and carefully timed this transit. From their observations, the distance from the Sun to the Earth was first accurately calculated, giving us the real scale of the whole solar system. The distance from Sun to Earth is a very important number, with its own name, the astronomical unit (AU).

Only the inner planets Mercury and Venus can transit the Sun, as seen from Earth.  If we were on Saturn, then Earth, Mars, and Jupiter would be able to transit the Sun, too.

Here in the East Bay, Venus will first touch the limb of the Sun at 3:06 pm. The Sun will set before Venus comes out the other side. Of all the United States, only Alaska and Hawaii will get to see the entire event.

To watch the transit of Venus, you need a safe way to look directly at the Sun. Filtered glasses (not ordinary sunglasses) or a projection screen can work.  Check out Sunearthday.nasa.gov, or Transitofvenus.org, or even SkyandTelescope.com for observing tips on what you need to protect your eyes.

Easier maybe, you can go to UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science. In the plaza they will have a full display and you can watch the whole thing.

Or, easier still, there’s going to be live webcast from the Mauna Kea Observatory atop the Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii. Aloha, Venus!*

*We wish to thank Ella Levine, and the very generous people at http://firecrackerweekly.com for allowing us to reproduce Kathy Watts’ brilliant work on this very, rare astronomical event! Thank you!!

Heads Up!

The Writer’s Astrological Almanac

by Kathy Watts

June 2012

Spring is turning into Summer! We start June on Friday (the day of the week for Venus) with the Moon entering the sign of Scorpio. Take people seriously, especially friends and loved ones,  this month. Work on relationships, and then let them help you. Midday, Mercury conjuncts Venus retrograde at 17Gem. Let your words (written, spoken or even just thought) come from the heart.  (continue reading…)

As is fitting for a month on the crest of high spring, this May is classic in its energy, growth, vivaciousness, and colorful glory. You may prefer to work on more serious subjects or even on things nearly engulfed in shadow, and if so you’ll find plenty of help from the sky to do that, too. Take a firm grip on your dreams and plans, and bring at least a small part of one of them to brilliant life. Everything wants to live and grow. That includes you and your work. Let the sun shine on your efforts. Bask in the luxury of doing something that you love.  Heads Up!

(continue reading…)

April 2012

Happy glorious April! April the First, All Fools’ Day, starts off on Sunday, the Sun’s day, with the Moon entering Leo. Let this be a month of bright golden moments, and I’m not fooling around. It’s true, we still have a few more days of Mercury being retrograde, but that can add focus as well as slow down the fast pace. The Sun is in the heart of Aries. You can make this month work for you.

Tue Apr 03 the Moon is in Virgo when Venus changes signs and enters the sign of Gemini. For all the rest of this month, Venus is a guest in Mercury’s house. May your writing (and all communications) be at their most beautiful and charming. The Moon also conjuncts Mars today. Take that as an extra dose of energy to pour into  your work. Perhaps it’s a good day to do some hardcore editing. (continue reading…)

March 2012

Happy windy month of March! We begin on a Thursday (Jupiter’s day) with the Moon in Gemini all day. Start big, or at least think and plan big. Sprouting and growing are big parts of what spring is all about.

Fri Mar 02 the Moon is still in Gemini when Mercury changes signs and enters Aries. Our words can be more fully and truly our own. (continue reading…)

Happy February!

Wed Feb 01 gives us the Moon moving into Gemini. We start the month off with a writing bash that lasts until Friday evening. Put on that extra sweater, socks, maybe turn up the heat, or cuddle closer to your laptop, and indulge your writing passion while the outside world does its chill winter thing (assuming you’re in the northern hemisphere or not in the tropics, Hawaii or Key West or some other classic writer refuge). Also today, Venus exactly opposes Mars retrograde. Ah, Love on the tips of both horns. Perhaps paper (or bytes) are the best place to put passions today.

Thu Feb 02 the Moon trines Mercury, a nice touch to add when the Moon is already in Mercury’s home sign of Gemini. Ideas should be in generous supply today. Take notes. (continue reading…)

Heads Up!

The Writer’s Astrological Almanac

by Kathy Watts

January 2012

Happy New Year!  Jupiter is no longer retrograde and few things shine brighter or higher in the sky than Jupiter.  May this be a beautiful, benevolent year when we are happy to be good luck for each other.  It also promises to be a very mercurial year, in that Mercury participates fully in the dance with all the planets.  May we be prolific and widely appreciated for the good work we do.

Let’s start at the beginning.  The Moon is in Aries on Sunday, the Sun’s day, January 01.  Be willing to shine all year, even on days when enthusiasm sags.  Heads Up in all good ways.

Mon Jan 02 the Moon conjuncts Jupiter in Taurus.  Look for good luck to share with other people.

Wed Jan 04 the Moon is in Taurus all day.  Love your work and make it gorgeous.

Thu Jan 05 the Moon enters Gemini and gives us from now till Saturday night to write with the best.  Start the year strong and don’t hold back.

Sat Jan 07, with the Moon still in Gemini, Mercury sextiles Saturn,  Be a little more careful with your words, because they’re powerful.  Seven hours later Mercury then sextiles Neptune. Relax and be a bit more fanciful.  These aspects carry extra punch because Mercury is in the final degrees of Sagittarius.  Think big while you can.   Midday, the Moon opposes Mercury, then goes void of course until the Moon enters Cancer an hour or so later. What you say and write and will be noticed.  By end of day, Mercury leaves Sagittarius and enters the hardworking sign of Capricorn.  Tomorrow things will sound more constrained and serious.

Sun Jan 08 the Moon is in its home sign Cancer when Mercury trines Jupiter.  Be generous with your ideas.  Five hours later Mercury squares Uranus.  Be constructively self-critical and make some discoveries.  Late that night comes the Full Moon at 18 Cancer.  Make this a month to work on projects of meaning and substance. (continue reading…)

Heads Up!

The Writer’s Astrological Almanac

by Kathy Watts

December 2011

Happy December.  As the solar year wanes, the holiday season kicks in.  Mercury is retrograde for the first two weeks, so social interactions may be a bit more scrambled than usual, but that can be considered part of the fun.  Resolve to enjoy this month!

Thu Dec 01 we begin the month with the Moon conjuncting Neptune in the end of Aquarius, then going void of course.   Dreams are rarely as strong as they are now.  Two and a half hours later Venus exactly conjuncts Pluto.  Keep the level of excitement under control, except perhaps in your works of fiction.  An hour after this, the Moon enters the sign of Pisces.  Sensitivity peaks, but remember, Mercury is retrograde so don’t get maudlin.

Fri Dec 02 the Moon is in Pisces all day.  In the very early morning, the Sun exactly squares Mars.  Heads Up.  You don’t have to be impatient with yourself.

Sat Dec 03 the Moon enters Aries, and conjuncts Uranus an hour and twenty minutes later.  The Moon will be in Aries until Tuesday morning, so feel independent and make time to work on some of your own stuff. (continue reading…)

Heads Up!

The Writer’s Astrological Almanac

by Kathy Watts

November 2011

Happy November!   Autumn and the closing of the year is upon us with its usual vengeance.

We start on a Tuesday (the day of the week ruled by Mars) with the Moon void of course in Capricorn.  It’s easy to work hard on something already started.  In the wee small hours Mercury exactly squares Neptune.  You may dream dissatisfaction, but on waking things will be fine.  Before dawn, the Moon enters Aquarius.  Enjoy a focused day.

Wed  Nov 02 the Moon is in Aquarius all day.  Work with a clear mind.  In the early hours, Venus changes signs and enters the expansive and uplifting sign of Sagittarius.  This will lighten anyone’s mood.  Eight hours later, in the late morning, Mercury leaves Scorpio behind to enter Sagittarius.  You can be serious in a bigger, less brutal way.

Thu Nov 03 the Moon is in Aquarius when Venus trines Uranus in the wee smalls.  Dabble with some small quaint experiment.  Six hours later Mercury trines Uranus.    Dabble more cleverly.  As Mercury and Venus slowly perfect their conjunction, we’ll see these mirrored aspects get closer together in time.  That night, the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Aquarius, then goes void of course.  Dream your to-do list for tomorrow.

Fri Nov 04 the Moon enters Pisces.  Five  hours later, the Moon squares Mercury, and thirty-one minutes later, the Moon squares Venus.  Note that it happens to Mercury first, as Mercury is still catching up with Venus.  The gap is closing fast, though.  Emotions may be near the surface.  Write something romantic.

Sun Nov 06 the Moon conjuncts Uranus in Aries.  Surprise yourself with an abnormally busy weekend.

Mon Nov 07 the Moon is in Aries when Mars exactly opposes Neptune.  Write with extra deliberation because you can make unusually strong impressions today.   (continue reading…)

Heads Up!The Writer’s Astrological Almanac
by Kathy Watts
October 2011

Happy October!  Where is this year going?
We start on Saturday (Saturn’s day of the week) with the Moon in Sagittarius.  Think society, adventure, and yes, publication!  Think this all month long.  Not quite a couple hours after midnight, the Moon trines Uranus.  You could discover something useful in a dream.  Midmorning, the Moon trines Mars.  Have a lively weekend and still get things done.
Sun Oct 02 the Moon is still in Sagittarius when Mars exactly squares Jupiter.  It’s okay to decide that some other project is more important.
Mon Oct 03 the Moon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn.  This gets the work week off to a smart start.
Wed Oct 05 the Moon enters Aquarius in the early morning.  Three out of four Wednesdays this month will see the Moon in a fixed sign.  Make up your mind, and don’t be distracted from your work.
Thu Oct 06 the Moon is still in Aquarius when Mercury exactly conjuncts Saturn.  Aquarius is traditionally ruled by Saturn, so look forward to a day at a slower pace with fewer mistakes.
Fri Oct 07 the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Aquarius, then goes void of course.  Maybe it’s better to be social and let people inspire you.

(continue reading…)