D00M M00N

[Drunk Monk]

Happy Moon Festival!

Be sure to gaze at the super full harvest moon tonight. But don't point at it. That's unlucky (it's a Chinese holiday so there are so many superstitious taboos that it makes my head spin).

[Greg]

So much moon this morning. I'm glad we gathered.

[Drunk Monk]

FYI...

10 taboos to avoid on Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan
Be kind to rabbits, stay away from oceans and rivers, and avoid pointing your finger at the moon

By Sean Scanlan, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2023/09/27 11:54

Tips to enjoy Mid-Autumn Festival. (Pexels photo) 
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the four major holidays celebrated in Taiwan, with particular customs and traditions that are followed as the event takes place this Friday (Sept. 29).
The holiday is often celebrated by families and friends coming together to enjoy a meal with moon cakes and tea. According to fortune teller Xiao-Meng (小孟) of Pure Mo (清水孟), there are ten taboos to be mindful of when celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, per UDN.
1. Do not tease rabbits.
According to folklore, Chang'e (嫦娥) loved rabbits and took one with her when she went to the moon. The Jade Rabbit now resides on the moon making elixirs. Be gentle with rabbits, lest they seek revenge by appealing to the Jade Rabbit.
2. Men should not worship the moon.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, men are advised not to worship the moon lest they become affected by the moon's gravity, which can lead to poor quality sleep.
3. Avoid the sea and the river.
The Mid-Autumn Festival coincides with a full moon, which can lead to high tides that can become dangerous with wind and rain. Therefore, it's advised to stay away from the beach around the Mid-Autumn Festival.
4. Women should not worship the Kitchen God.
There is an ancient saying that “men should not worship the moon, and women should not worship the Kitchen God,” during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Kitchen God (灶神) is thought to be a masculine god, while the moon is a feminine god. Therefore, men were advised not to worship "yin" and women were advised not to worship the "yang" to avoid upsetting evil spirits.
5. People in poor health or who have suffered a miscarriage should not admire the moon.
The full moon is a festival with heavy “yin” energy, which can be easily transmitted during this time. This means that people in poor health should not enjoy the moon.
6. Don’t point your finger at moon gods.
The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the moon, and according to folklore, Wu Gang (吳剛) and Chang'e (嫦娥) both live on the moon. Therefore, it's not recommended to point your finger directly at the moon, which may be taken as a sign of disrespect for these gods.
7. Avoid eating moon cakes and fruits that are not round.
In ancient times, moon cakes were round in shape and represented family unity and harmony. Thus, one should avoid eating moon cakes or fruit that are pointy, such as water chestnuts, as this is likely to lead to quarrels or conflicts. At the same time, ancestors and gods should be worshipped with round fruit which represents perfection.
8. Women should avoid covering their foreheads.
A woman’s forehead is thought to be a shape similar to the moon. Therefore, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, hair covering the forehead should be pulled back or lifted up to receive blessings.
9. When admiring the moon, do not go under a banyan tree or a place with heavy gloom.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the full moon is obscured by clouds, it's not advisable to go to places with excessive “yin” energy to avoid a bad aura.
10. Avoid swimming at night.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon will be reflected in swimming pools as well as in the ocean at night, so it is not advisable to swim outdoors to avoid being disrespectful to the moon gods.

I do worship the moon and I have been sleeping poorly lately.  Hmmmmm.

[King Bob]

The moon was great this morning.

[Drunk Monk]

Stacy said the same thing. She got up early and walked Yuki. 

I've been having trouble sleeping so I slept in.

[Greg]

Much too much moon this morning. Too bright. Can't hide under the glare.

[King Bob]

Couldn't see it this morning but was nice last night. The sky has been nice and clear the past few days, so lots of stars too.

[thatguy]

Moonrise last night over the neighborhood was pretty grand. This morning, I was awakened by the cat freaking out because there was another cat in our backyard (probably hunting at our bird feeder). The moon was still up and bright. I looked up the set/rise set times. Today, the moon will set at 8:22am, and will rise again tonight in just over 10 hours at 6:32pm. I'm sure that's normal, but it never occurred to me that the moon is whipping around the planet so fast...

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

Twas beautiful last night from Pacific ave amongst all the Halloween revealers. And Jupiter just below it was shining bright. 

We gathered. We partied. We rejoiced in the night.

[Greg]

Lots of moon on the morning walk. It's been very bright through our bedroom windows.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

The moon & Jupiter were spectac ——GAH! Now you’ve got me doing it!!! STOP IT!! IT IS NOT A FUCKING GATHERING!!!!!

[Drunk Monk]

GAH! Now you’ve got me doing it!!! STOP IT!! 

tg & Greg - High fives!!!

[King Bob]

Was that Jupiter just below the moon that night? I thought it was Venus, but I'm stellarly ignorant.

[Greg]

If it was the morning, it was Venus.

[Drunk Monk]

If it was the morning, it was Venus.

You pompously assume that I was right side up...

See Jupiter At Its Biggest And Best: The Night Sky This Week
Jamie Carter
Senior Contributor
I Inspire People To Go Stargazing And Experience Solar Eclipses

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Oct 29, 2023,08:15pm EDT


Jupiter will reach it bright annual opposition this week. 
GETTY
Each Monday I pick out the northern hemisphere’s celestial highlights (mid-northern latitudes) for the week ahead, but be sure to [url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/#3a7f16ee1404]check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
The Night Sky This Week: October 30-November 5, 2023
There are few better sights in the solar system than Jupiter. A bright light in the night sky for much of the year, it peaks this week in both brightness and apparent size as it reaches its annual opposition.
It’s a good week for stargazing generally, with the moon reaching its last quarter phase, which sees it rise after midnight, clearing the way for excellent conditions for early evening observing.
Here’s everything you need to know about the night sky this week:

Monday, October 30: Moon, Pleiades, Uranus And Jupiter 
STELLARIUM
Monday, October 30: Moon, Pleiades, Uranus And Jupiter
Rising after dark tonight will be a waning gibbous moon, still 94%-lit so seeming almost “full.” Just 1º above to its upper-right will be the sparkling open cluster of stars, the Pleiades. Between the moon and bright Jupiter farther to the right will be tiny Uranus, which can be glimpsed in binoculars or a small telescope.
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Thursday, November 2: Jupiter Reaches Opposition
Tonight sees the giant planet at its biggest, brightest and best in 2023. Jupiter itself is doing nothing special. All that will happen is that our planet, in its much faster orbit of the sun, will get between the sun and Jupiter. The latter is consequently fully lit as seen from Earth. From our point of view, we can not only see 100% of its disk, but see it rise in the east at sunset and set in the west at sunrise. This week is the best time of year to see Jupiter either with the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope.


Thursday, November 2: Jupiter Reaches Opposition 
STELLARIUM
Friday, November 3: The Moon And ‘The Twins’ Of Gemini
Look east-northeast about an hour before midnight and you’ll see a 61%-lit crescent moon rising in the east-northeast beneath Castor and Pollux, the brightest stars in the constellation Gemini.
Sunday, November 5: Last Quarter Moon
Today our satellite reaches its last quarter phase, rising later each night and reducing in illumination. It’s also a great time to look for the moon in western sky during the morning.

Illustration of the Jovian moon Io, seen against the backdrop of Jupiter's Great Red Spot. The ... [+]GETTY
Object Of The Week: Jupiter’s Cloud Bands And Giant Moons
With Earth directly between the sun and the giant planet, the latter will appear to be at its brightest of 2023 as seen from Earth. Get behind any small telescope and you’ll be able to see Jupiter’s distinctive cloud bands—as well as its Great Red Spot, the solar system’s largest storm 22º south of Jupiter’s equator, which has been raging since at least the year 1830. Even with binoculars you’ll easily see its four largest moons; Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.

Do you need a telescope? 
GETTY
Stargazing Tip Of The Week: Think Twice About A Telescope
If you've been enjoying stargazing for a few weeks, months or years you may be thinking it's time to take the next step and buy a telescope. Many people do this after their first stargazing session, or get bought a telescope for their birthday or for Christmas soon after showing any interest in the night sky.
Buying a telescope can so often be a huge mistake. Most affordable telescopes are of poor quality—unless you know exactly what you’re looking for and exactly what you want to look at it can be so easy to make a poor purchase.
The best advice I can give to anyone wanting to take the next step in stargazing is to buy a pair of binoculars. In my opinion there are three layers in the night sky—naked eye objects, binocular objects and the telescope objects in the deep sky. So why miss out a layer and go straight for a telescope?
However, the exception are planets—such as Jupiter, which looks incredible through any telescope.
If you do want to try some telescopes then join your local astronomy club. Use a variety of different types of telescope and have a look at some nebula and galaxies. You'll then be able to make your own informed decision—and for most people the best decision is to avoid buying a telescope altogether, saving the experience for special stargazing events, star parties and visits to observatories.
Times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information consult online planetariums like Stellarium and The Sky Live. Check planet-rise/planet-set, sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times for where you are.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.