 by Maya del Mar In astrology, Jupiter is the planet which is associated with Sagittarius. We say Jupiter "rules" Sagittarius. In the same way, Saturn rules Capricorn. Astrologically, Jupiter and Saturn together refer to our social role, our work in the world. They’re the two big guys in the sky that run society. Sagittarius and Capricorn are the two major signs this month. Thus Jupiter and Saturn are especially emphasized now. And guess whom we see in the sky this month—those two big gassy planets, Jupiter and Saturn! They are on display during the entire night. A dim, horizon-bound, early-evening Mars is the only other major planet which is visible now. Saturn and Jupiter are also featured for two other reasons. For one thing, they both have an opposition to the Sun this month. This means a turning point in the large-scale operation of society, as well as in each of our social roles. In the sky, it means that we can see them above us around midnight—when the Sun is below us. Saturn has its opposition on December 3, and Jupiter on December 31. In addition, Jupiter and Saturn are themselves both eclipsed this month! Saturn is also eclipsed on Nov. 30. Both of these eclipses of Saturn by the moon are visible throughout most of North America. This means that changes in Saturnian things, such as business and government, are particularly centered in North America. On the early morning of December 28, the nearly-full moon will pass in front of Saturn. See Daily Guide entry for December 28 for details. The eclipse of Jupiter occurs two days later, on the same day as the Lunar Eclipse, December 30. It is visible only in central Greenland. (I wonder about the effect on the icy land. Maybe melting is encouraged.) Occultations, or eclipses, of planets are fairly rare, and this concentration is most unusual. The oppositions, and these occultations, coincide with December’s two eclipses, and I call this month "the great turning." I picture big levers slowly shifting the social consciousness of humanity. Saturn and Jupiter rise in the east early in the evening. They majestically traverse the night sky, and set in the west in the early morning. The huge constellation of Taurus is a marker for them. Saturn can now be seen in Taurus, near the bright reddish star Alderberan, the eye of the Taurus bull. Nearby Orion also has a big red star called Betelgeuse. Aldeberan is the one to the right. Yellowish Saturn is not spectacular. Some stars appear brighter. However, if you watch the stars come out in the evening, Saturn will be one of the first. Jupiter rises perhaps an hour after Saturn. It is brilliant, and you can’t miss it. Right now Jupiter in the sky can be seen very close to the Gemini twins, a pair of bright stars to the left of Betelgeuse. It was located there at the attack on the Twin Towers, and Jupiter and the Gemini twins were right overhead at that time. Gemini, and Jupiter too, continue to be prominent in another way. The Geminids, one of the finest meteor showers, occurs in mid-December. Its radiant point is just north of the Gemini twins, and very near Jupiter. Viewing conditions are ideal this year because of the darkness of the new moon sky. The shower is especially dense in the early mornings from December 12-15, with the peak on December 14. This is Eclipse day, and the meteors highlight the Eclipse. I believe this will be an extra large shower this year, with meteors perhaps visible all through December. Get up early and look for bright Jupiter moving down in the west, and watch meteors streak across its path. |