Astrological analysis

If you can't spot Mercury, make do with Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter is very bright, high in the South to South-West almost every night at about 9pm; Saturn is tawny-yellow, above Orion's shoulders, a little less obvious but not too hard to find.

During the next few days, if you're lucky, you may see Mercury, the smallest planet. It appears near the Sun, just before sunrise or just after sunset. Often it is too close to the Sun to see properly. At such times ancient astrologers used to say the planet was 'under the sunbeams'. Sometimes, however, Mercury is far enough from the Sun to be easily visible; astronomers say that this is when Mercury is at its 'greatest elongation' from the Sun. And it happens this week.

To view it, be in a high place if possible, just after sunset. Face west with your arm out in front of you and your fist resting on the horizon. Mercury should be straight ahead, to the right of centre, and about three fist-widths up from the horizon.

If you can spot the constellation of Orion on your left, then Mercury is at exactly the same height from the horizon as Rigel, the bright star which is Orion's left knee.

You'll know it if you see it, because there aren't any stars of similar brightness in that part of the sky. But there again it might be cloudy, and Mercury likes to be elusive.

Friday (April 11): Bedford Astrology Club.
Retrograde Planets, with Peta High bedford
astrology@virgin.net

Saturday (April 12): Bolton Astrology Conference
with Bernadette Brady & Darrylyn Gunsberg
boltonastrosoc@yahoo.com

Please double-check with the organisation before attending any events listed here - we cannot accept any responsibility for events changed/cancelled.

Are you holding an astrological event - especially one outside London!! - that you would like others to know about?
Send your diary events to Adam at zodiac1@blueyonder.co.uk with subject heading: Astro Events with website links.
Please note - we cannot promise to include ALL submissions but will do our best.

Graham Douglas is carrying out research into possible astrological relationships between the births of siblings in the same family. He is looking for sets of birth data for complete sets of brothers and sisters
of any age. If you are able to help please include date, time and place of birth, gender of the child,
and (if known) whether or not the birth was natural or induced in any way.
A report of the findings will be sent to anyone who requests it, when the investigation is completed.
The email address to contact is Grammino@Onetel.net.uk Many Thanks for your help.

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