Several interesting Astronomical events occur this month. Astrologers study the relationship between the cosmic occurrences and activities or trends taking place on planet earth. Because the movement of the planets can be calculated with great accuracy we can compare them to centuries of historical hindsight. What can’t be calculated is the appearance of comets which have been gone for so long that human beings weren’t even walking upright the last time it passed by! This is the case with Comet Lulin, discovered in 2007. Traditionally comets are considered portents or omens of great changes or important new eras. Lulin has been around the “back” of the Sun and will be passing at its closest to earth in February. Early in the month the comet rises around midnight. Lulin is expected to reach its peak of brightness on the night of 23rd as it passes south west of Saturn. Watch for it rising in the eastern sky ahead of the Sun, before the dawn. It may be visible to the naked eye where there’s no light pollution. On the 27th the comet will pass just south of Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, the Lion, considered by Astrologers to be the star of “Kings”.
We also have a Lunar Eclipse on the 9th. It’s not total and won’t give much of a show. It’s most visible over Western Canada and Western USA, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, and East Asia. Solar eclipses which can only occur at New Moon strongly influences socio-political arenas whereas a Lunar eclipse which happens at Full Moon is generally much more personalised and will be felt in our emotional responses. This can signify a change in the “mood” or attitude of the population as a whole. An eclipse is often precursor to some kind of crisis, which actually means ‘a critical decision or point of change’. The timing can be either before or after the actual Eclipse, triggered by another significant planet passing over the same degree. Mars the planet of assertiveness, drive, desire and conflict touches this point on the 2nd March which might just be the day when a contentious issue is brought to a head.
As distraction from daily concerns, take advantage of the cold clear night skies to see Venus as she continues to shine stunningly throughout February. Look for the large, very bright “star” in the southwest after sunset. Jupiter, Mars and Mercury line up about 30 minutes before sunrise on 22nd with the waning crescent moon just to their right. Watch for the new crescent moon near Venus in the western sky after sunset from the 27th.