Astronomy corner - the planets for Aug-Sept 


22 August 2021

Spreiga Fritz-Hartnell


The month ahead is a fascinating one for observers of the sky. While Venus the ever amorous remains powerful in the sky for the rest of the year, Mars has dipped and the warrior spirit gives way to sobriety and the desire to rest on one's laurels.

The coming of Autumn therefore is ruled by the giants, Jupiter and Saturn, which are highly visible, next to Mercury. The messenger of the Gods is second only in brightness to Venus, foretelling the power of the Gods over events currently taking place on earth.

This cosmos speaks with a single voice: all that was shall be again.

No doubt readers have already linked this to the comeback of the Student army in Afghanistan and it does point to the grace of that return we agree, yet we would remind that Mercury is a messenger, and much can change when his fleet footed actions on behalf of the Gods come up against the inactivity of Venus.

Next time: the star chart for September

The perseid meteor shower on August 11: