Sun Moon Planets Stars Folklore Mythology
71st day of the year, 13th day of lunar cycle
Sunset 7:31 – Sunrise tomorrow 7:42
LON 12:11 – LOD 11:47
Moonrise today 6:02 PM – Moonset tomorrow 6:59 AM
Conjunction of Saturn and the Sun.
Hummingbirds migrate north now.
Tomorrow night there will be a total lunar eclipse and a full moon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_2025_lunar_eclipse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_eclipse
70th day of the year, 12th day of the lunar cycle
Sunset 7:29 – Sunrise tomorrow 7:44
LON 12:15 – LOD 11:44
Moonrise today 4:56 PM – Moonset tomorrow 7:08 AM
On this date in 2020 the World Health Organization COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.
Sky watchers have tracked lunar eclipses since ancient times; both the Chinese and the Maya, for instance kept careful tables of such occurrences.
On the evening of 29 Feb 1504 in the Americas (1 Mar elsewhere), Christopher Columbus using his astronomical tables famously tricked the inhabitants of Jamaica. Stranded on the island and desperately needing food from the native Arawak, Columbus consulted his almanacs and noted that a total lunar eclipse was due. He told the Arawak that God was displeased with them and would darken the moon with this wrath. Sure enough, as predicted and on schedule, the moon turned the characteristic bloody red of a lunar eclipse. The Arawak were both impressed and frightened, and promised complete aid if only God would relent. Columbus went into his cabin to pray. About an hour before the end of totality he emerged to proclaim the Arawak would be forgiven. When the moon began to appear normal Columbus was relieved to tell the Arawak God had pardoned them.
And thus we see how a clever man can profit by pretending to be an intercessor.
Or we see how a resourceful man who indeed worshipped the Christian God was blessed with the knowledge and skill necessary to manipulate his captors in order to save himself and friends from perishing.
Which is it? The Lady, or the Tiger? Somewhere in between or something else entirely?
Note: many historians are skeptical of the accuracy of this story.
References
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1504_lunar_eclipse
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady,_or_the_Tiger%3F
[3] National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Night Sky, 2nd Edition, Andrew Fazekas
69th day of the year, 11th day of the lunar cycle
Sunset 7:28 – Sunrise tomorrow 7:45
Length of night 12:17 – Length of day 11:41
Moonrise today 3:49 PM – Moonset tomorrow morning 6:46 AM
On this day in 2018, Alexandra Trusova was the first female to land a quadruple toe loop in figure skating competition.
An Oblique Question
In an oblique-angled triangle, the product of the two sides is 186 and their difference is 3.5. The ratio of the shortest side to the base is 4:7. What are the lengths of the sides? from the 1825 Old Farmer’s Almanac
68th day of the year, 10th day of the lunar cycle
Sunset 7:27 – Sunrise tomorrow 7:47
LON 12:20 – LOD 11:38
Moonrise today 2:39 PM – Moonset tomorrow morning 6:17 AM
DST began at 2:00 AM
Golden Rule (it’s true in all faiths)
What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.
Talmud, Shabbat 31a (Judaism)
If you’re a grower in our area, this week (before the full moon Friday morning) would be a good time to plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, collards, kale, parsley, parsnips, and spring wheat. I’ll tell you tomorrow what to plant this week after the full moon.
67th day of the year, 9th day of the lunar cycle
Sunset 6:26 – Sunrise tomorrow 7:49
LOD 11:36 – LON 12:23 (13:23 on the clock because we lose an hour to DST)
Moonrise today 12:32 PM
Moonset tomorrow 5:42 AM – Moonrise tomorrow 2:39 PM
DST begins at 2:00 AM
The moon is extremely close to Mars, with Gemini’s Castor and Pollux to the left.
66th day of the year
Sunset 6:25 – Sunrise 6:50 – LON 12:25
Moonset 3:56 AM – Moonrise 12:32 PM
65th day of the year and 7th of the lunar cycle: 1st quarter.
The sun will set at 6:23 and rise at 6:50; length of night: 12hr, 27min.
Tonight a conjunction of Jupiter and the Moon will occur. The moon will set at 2:58 AM and rise at 11:28 AM.
On this date in 1475 the artist Michelangelo was born.
Speaking of Orion, it contains more bright stars than any other constellation. Sitting on the celestial equator, Orion is visible from everywhere on Earth. Rigel (Arabic for “foot”) is the brightest star in the constellation and the 7th brightest in the sky. Historically it has been very important for navigation, as it is visible from every ocean in the world. It is the most luminous star in our region of the galaxy.
March 4, 63rd day of the year, and 5th day of the lunar cycle. Today is Shrove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. On this data in 1910, an avalanche killed 58 men clearing a railroad line in Rogers Pass through the Selkirk Mountains in Canada. The sun will set this evening at 6:21. The moon will set 32 minutes past midnight and rise at 9:48 AM. Look for a conjunction of the moon and Uranus in the sky tonight. Day length: 11hr, 26min.
Today is March 3, 62nd day of the year, and the 4th day of the current lunar cycle. On this date in 1845 Florida became a state. The sun will set this evening at 6:20 and rise tomorrow at 6:59; length of night: 12hr 39min. The crescent moon will set tonight at 11:12 PM and rise tomorrow morning at 9:10 AM. Also in the sky tonight look for a conjuction of Mercury and Neptune.
This is just me writing sunrise/sunset and moon information for my area from the farming almanacs.
Most of the thoughts and ramblings are inspired by the almanacs, though I do research elsewhere.
Some of this is plagiarized. I am not making money off this or turning it in for homework. Just organizing the information for my personal use.