BBC Sky At Night: Autumn is on the way. Equinox occurs this weekend, marking the beginning of longer, darker nights
The Balance of Dark and Light
In 2024 the autumn equinox occurs on 22 September at 12:44pm (13:44 UTC), marking the day when we experience roughly the same amount of daytime and nighttime.
The equinox arrives at the same moment worldwide. The center of the Sun crosses the celestial equator, marking the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn equinox, and the vernal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.
SPACEWEATHER.COM NEWS: 09/20/2024
AURORAS LOVE EQUINOXES: The northern autumnal equinox is only two days away. That’s good news for sky watchers because auroras love equinoxes.
An artist’s rendition of NASA’s IMAGE satellite flying through a ‘crack’ in Earth’s magnetic field. (Source: NASA.gov)
Researchers call it the “Russell-McPherron effect.” At this time of year, cracks form in Earth’s magnetic field, opening the door for solar storms. Even a weak stream of solar wind or a glancing blow from a CME can spark a good display. Happy autumn!
Russell-McPherron Effect: The semiannual variation in geomagnetic activity is well established in geomagnetic data Its explanation has remained elusive, however. We propose, simply, that it is caused by a semiannual variation in the effective southward component of the interplanetary field.
Old Farmer’s Almanac, Autumnal Equinox 2024
The autumnal equinox—the September equinox or the fall equinox—arrives on Sunday, September 22. Not only do temperatures drop, but plant life slows down, and so do we.
During an equinox, the Sun crosses what we call the “celestial equator”—an imaginary extension of Earth’s equator line into space. The equinox occurs precisely when the Sun’s center passes through this line.
Typically, the Moon rises about an hour later each night, but around the time of the fall equinox, the angle of the Moon’s orbit and the tilt of the Earth line up just right and cause the Moon to rise only about 20 to 30 minutes later each night for several nights in a row!
Another definition of fall is “nights of below-freezing temperatures combined with days of temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21°C)”. From here on out, the temperatures begin to drop.
Note that fall foliage isn’t due to current weather conditions. This is a common misconception. Leaves change color because of the amount of daylight and photosynthesis.
And don’t forget about the end of Daylight Saving Time, when we “fall” back, setting our clocks back one hour and regaining an hour of precious sleep!
Ancient Autumn Traditions
The fall equinox has been a day of celebration for cultures since ancient days. People tracked the transitions of the Earth’s journeys around the Sun.
- At Machu Picchu in Peru, an ancient stone monument called Intihuatana—which means “Hitching Post of the Sun”—serves as a solar clock to mark the dates of the equinoxes and solstices.
- In Mexico, the Mayans built a giant pyramid called Chichen Itza. On the equinoxes, it looks as if a snake made of light slithers down the pyramid’s steps.
- In England, Stonehenge was also built with the equinoxes and solstices in mind.
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Taken by Michael Mattiazzo on September 17, 2024 @ Swan Hill, Australia (Source: Spaceweather.com Realtime Image Gallery)
COMET TSUCHINSHAN-ATLAS HAS RETURNED: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) has just emerged from behind the sun, and its appearance has astronomers buzzing with anticipation. “The comet is brightening rapidly,” says Australian astrophotographer Michael Mattiazzo, who has been monitoring the comet in dawn twilight:
“The comet was only 6 degrees above the horizon when I photographed it on Sept. 17th,” says Mattiazzo. “Using 15x70mm binoculars, I estimated its visual magnitude to be +4.3.”
This is very good news. Some astronomers predicted Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS would fall apart during its transit behind the sun. The fact that it is still intact and healthy means we could witness a bright naked-eye comet next month.
“Prospects remain excellent for a visually impressive evening display in mid-October,” says Qicheng Zhang of the Lowell Observatory. “Weather permitting, the entire Northern Hemisphere should be able to see Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS.”
Nick James of the British Astronomical Association just wrote an article anticipating the bright comet. “It makes its closest approach to Earth on October 12 when it will be 0.47 au away in the constellation of Virgo,” he says. “There is a possibility that the comet will be at a negative magnitude as it emerges into the evening sky from Oct. 10th onwards.”
Mayan Time…
At the Fall and Spring Equinox, the Light descends the stairs of El Castillo, the calendar pyramid in Chichen Itza, casting the shadow of the Feathered Serpent. El Castillo is the temple of Kukulkan/Quetzalcoatl. It marks the Time of Light of Divine Consciousness descending from Above. The trecena of Deer/MANIK guides us to make a whole investment of the Heart, dedicated to the Creator’s Highest Meaning of Time, a Mission to offer the Service of Love on behalf of the whole. Every offering of Divine Trinity is promised the Sacred Exchange of Atonement.
This round of the Tzolk’in, the September 22, 2024 equinox falls on 7 Reed/BEN. Tone 7 represents the peak of our climb to Higher Consciousness of the Truth at the “top of the pyramid.” Reed/BEN is the guiding Light for “home” that’s represented as 2 channels of Light, descending to shine upon the altar of a sanctuary within. Beneath the altar there are 2 prayer mats, symbolizing a place for 2 to kneel in humility as one. Reed is the “hollow bone,” a channel for the Communion of Spirits that is open when the “flesh is burned away.”
By ancient tradition, the Autumn Equinox is time to acknowledge “the work” we have invested, and to give thanks for the balance in the Harvest. It’s a Time to honor the Source of everything we are capable to do, and the Faith that is possible when we see the Effects of a Divine Cause. A Channel is open for us to Count our Blessings and to credit all things Good to the Author of Creation.
Like the Falling Leaves, an old life is passing away to make way for the New Life that will be resurrected in the Spring. In the Fall we claim the Seed for the next Harvest. In the Dreamtime of Winter we’ll imagine everything it could be. It’s time to hold our Dreams close to the Heart. They will be finished by the Light of a Higher Dream that will be born at the Winter Solstice, when our darkest days are over. Dream of what the Creator will Give Back and Pay Forward as the future that was promised from the beginning.
As we move into October, the veil is thin as we remember lives that have passed on, and the sacrifices we made for life to go on in a good and worthy way. May we honor the sacrifices we’ve made for the Sake of Love and the Truth that Love brings to Light. Today is 5 Monkey/CHUEN, a day to celebrate our Consciousness of Time and the Choice to use it to create “the time of our life.” By a Mission to Love every moment and every experience, the Creator will complete the Story of our Life that ends in Victory.
Trecena of Deer/MANIK (aka Hand) – Dedicated to a Mission of Unconditional Love
MAYAN CALENDAR DAYKEEPER’S JOURNAL
5 Monkey/CHUEN (chu ‘wen), Cherokee, Raccoon/KVH’LI, Destiny Kin 31, Position 11
September 20, 2024, 09/20/2024; Last Round: January 4, 2024 (01/04/2024)
5 Monkey/CHUEN (Cherokee, Raccoon/KVH’LI) – Day 5 of 13 of the 1 Deer/MANIK trecena
Descriptions by Ian Xel Lungold (12 Sun/AHAU), wisdom and Tzolk’in FREE CALCULATOR preserved on MayanMajix.com
Galactic Tone 5: Empowerment. At the center of the cube we find Five. Five is an intelligent, organizing force which manages communications and materials, knowledge and application. Fives are natural net workers who gather what is needed. These persons can probe directly to the core of any situation making them excellent investigators.
Monkey/CHUEN: Monkey is known to the Maya as the Weaver or Weaver of Time. Monkey takes ideas as threads of vines and weaves them into the fabric of our reality. New patterns or inventions are also woven into our lives by Monkey. Amiable, intelligent, generous and a jack of all trades, Monkey’s innocent curiosity leads to artistic expression and constructive solutions. Many Monkeys become highly respected merchants or speakers. They love performing practical jokes and crave attention, so much so that they may over-act or play the fool to get the spotlight. Monkeys have a short attention span and find it difficult to stay with anything long enough to master it.
A GOOD DAY TO: Begin anything new in your life.
Cherokee, Raccoon/KVH’LI: Star Symbol: Algol, a star in Perseus. Restless energy yearning for long-lost love. Algol was named DEMON STAR or MISCHIEVOUS ONE by the Ancients because it winks and fades at times. Raccoons are full of friendly mischief, eager to swap kisses for candy; magnetic leaders, full of humor and gaiety. Favorite food is corn, the mainstay of the Cherokee. Very artistic while being the “masked bandit” who steals your heart. Totem Monkey: The energy of humor, the artisan and craftsmen of the Universal energy. Helps us to lighten up in all situations, was the glyph of the 4th world creation in conjunction with OC so that we would have humor in all of our endeavors. The humor, when added to a serious situation will allow you to have a less destructive pattern of resolution. This is the “Cosmic joke” energy to help us transcend the duality. A life path of comedian, actor, artist, artisan writer, satirist, any path is enhanced with this humor in conjunction with the creative energies.
[Text in italics was the primary source of inspiration for my journal. These are the sources that started my journey and they are the reference for interpretation each day. By providing the original text, I hope to offer a way to see what inspired my thoughts and by including all the aspects – allow for something more to inspire you. Mayan descriptions are those written by Ian Lungold. Cherokee descriptions came from multiple sources. Links to sources and other resources of study are offered on the Daykeeper Resources Page. ~Debra]
