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Contents The Old Farmer’s Almanac
About This Almanac
2010
•
Anniversary 10 Curious Facts
Contact Us
.
.
1,
84
82,
To Patrons
How
8
Use This Almanac
About Mark Twain
.
Astrology
to
105
Secrets of the
229
Zodiac Best Days for 2010
Amusement 32
Blocks
Simple Solutions for Indecisive Times
Moments
.
231
Astronomy
Chips Off the Old
Great
152
.
.
148
in
Eclipses
88
Bright Stars
90
The Twilight Zone and Meteor Showers. 92 .
the History of
The
Visible Planets
.
..
94
186
Laughter
Astronomical
The Man
Who Shot
Everyone
in
Town
96
Glossary
200
.
Giant Jupiter Pays
Reader Essay
Maddening Mind-Manglers Anecdotes
98
a Visit
222
Contest
Calendar .
.
.
227
&
Pleasantries
Calendar Pages.
.
110- 137
Glossary of Almanac
252
Oddities
138
SPECIAL REPORT 174
The Old (and New) Farmer’s Essential
Manure Manual
(continued on page 6)
4
There ’s more of everything at Almanac.com.
2010
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Astronomy
The Visible Planets Listed here for Boston are viewing suggestions for and the rise and set times (EST/EDT) of Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn on specific days each month, as well as when it is best to view Mercury. Approximate rise and set times for other days can be found by interpolation. Use the Key Letters at the right of each listing to convert the times for other localities (see pages 106 and 234). For all planet rise and set times by zip code, Almanac.com/Astronomy.
visit
Venus
0
Venus starts the year
first
become visible
invisibly
behind the Sun.
slowly climbs higher in the evening twilight to
It
in early April.
in March and floats near Mercury Venus increases its height above the
when
sunset until June,
it
starts getting brighter but
below Saturn during August 6-8. Its brilliance peaks in late September, but it vanishes well ahead of its inferior conjunction on October 28. Speedily entering the eastern predawn sky, Venus climbs rapidly in November in both elevation and brightness and is a superb morning star in December at magnitude -4.9, when it comes up nearly 3 hours ahead of the Sun. lower, and
is
.rise
7:07
E
Apr.
...set
8:48
D
July
1
...set
10:43
E
Oct.
1
...set
7:11
A
Jan. 11... ...set
4:27
A
Apr. 11
..
...set
9:13
July
11... ...set
10:30
11.. ...set
6:29
A
B B B
Apr. 21
..
July
21...
10:14
D D
Oct.
Jan. 21
E E E E E E E E
...set
5:43
A
C C C
Nov. 1 ... ..rise Nov. 1 1 ..rise Nov. 21. ..rise Dec. 1 ... ..rise Dec. 11 ..rise Dec. 21 ..rise Dec. 31. ..rise
7:03 4:54
D
Jan.
1
Feb.
...
...set
4:51
1 ....
...set
5:19
Feb. 11
..
...set
5:45
Feb. 21
..
...set
6:11
Mar.
1 .... ...set
6:31
Mar.
11.. ...set
6:56
Mar. 21.. ...set
8:20
May May May
C C C D
1
....
...set
9:39
1.... ...set
10:03
11
...set
10:24
21.. ...set
10:41
..
June 1.... ...set 10:52 June 11 .. ...set 10:55 June 21.. ...set 10:52
Aug. 1 ... ...set Aug. 11 ...set Aug. 21 ...set
9:53
Sept.
8:43
.
9:33
.
9:10
1 ... ...set
Sept. 11
...set
8:16
Sept. 21
...set
7:46
B B B
....
Oct. 21
.
E
3:22
D D D
3:20
D
3:25
E
4:04 3:35
Mars is the opposite of Venus, at its best early and gone late in the year. The Orange World comes closest in January and has its opposition on the 29th i
magnitude -1.2, in Cancer, outshining every star It remains bright throughout the spring, losing half of its light each month. Binocular users can observe Mars passing very near Cancer’s Beehive star cluster from April 16-19; it strikingly meets Leo’s blue star, Regulus, during the first ten days of June. Much lower and fainter. Mars skims below Saturn during July 28-August 1, is near Venus from August 15-22, and then vanishes from sight in October. at
except Sirius.
..rise
7:11
B
Apr.
...set
4:01
Jan. 11... ..rise
6:19
A A A
Apr. 11
..
...set
3:28
Apr. 21
..
...set
2:57
1 ....
...set
2:27
Jan.
1
Jan. 21
......rise
5:20
.......rise
4:13
..
...set
..
...set
6:29 5:40
Feb.
1
Feb.
1 1
Feb. 21
Mar. Mar.
1.... ...set
11.. ...set
Mar. 21
.
...set
Bold =
94
p.m.
5:02 4:19 4:40
tSP
May May May
E E E E E
Light
June June June
=
1
....
1:58
11..
21.. ...set
1:30
...set
1:00
1 1 .. ...set
12:32
1 ....
21.. ...set 12:05
E E E E E E
July
1
...set
11:35
D
Oct.
1
...set
7:42
July
11... ...set
11:08
Oct.
11... ...set
7:22
July
21... ...set
10:41
Aug. 1 ... ...set 10:11 Aug. 11 ...set 9:45 Aug. 21 ...set 9:19
C C C C C
D D D
Sept.
1 ... ...set
8:52
B
Sept.
1 1
...set
8:28
Sept. 21
...set
8:04
B B
Dec. Dec.
.
Oct. 21
Nov. Nov. Nov.
..
...set
7:03
1 ....
...set
6:44
11.. ...set
5:30
21.. ...set
5:18
1 .... ...set
5:08
11.. ...set
5:02
Dec. 21.. ...set Dec. 31.. ...set
4:57
-illustrations.
a.m.
Find more heavenly details
....
at
Almanac.com.
4:55 Beth
B B B
A A A A A A A
Krommes
2010
.
.
..
* r
Astronomy
Jupiter Jupiter has a truly extraordinary year.
comes closer to Earth than
On September
any time since 1963, achieving a stunning brilliance of magnitude -2.9 against the faint stars of Pisces. Beginning the year low in the southwest, it is lost in the Sun’s glare until emerging in the predawn east in April. It rises 2 hours earlier each month thereafter, coming up at midnight in July and nightfall in September. In mid-September, it hovers near blue-green Uranus, visible with binoculars. Jupiter continues to dominate the night sky for the rest of the year. I
l
Jan.
21
it
,
1 ....
Jan. 11.. Jan. 21
...set
7:11
...set
6:41
.
...set
6:13
.
..rise
6:51
...
..rise
6:24
..rise
5:50 6:16
Feb.
1 1
Feb. 21
Mar. 1 1 Mar. 2 1
I
7:39
..
1
1
8:07
...set
...
Feb.
Mar.
....set .
.
..rise
With
its
B B B B B
D D D D
rings nearly
at
Apr.
1
....
..rise
5:39
Apr.
1 1 ..
..rise
5:05
.
..rise
4:31
...
..rise
3:56
.
..rise
3:21
.
..rise
2:46
...
..rise
2:07
Apr. 2
May May May
2
June
1
1
1
1 1 1
June 1 1 June 21
.
..rise
1:31
..rise
12:54
D C C C C C C C C
1
12:17 11:35
July
21......rise
10:56
...rise 10:13 Aug. Aug. 11.,...rise 9:33 Aug. 21 ...rise 8:52 1
...
,
Sept.
1
Sept.
1 1
......rise
.
8:07
...rise
7:25
...set
6:35
Sept. 21
C C C C C C C C C
...set
5:49
Oct. 11
..
...set
5:04
Oct. 21
..
...set
4:19
Nov. 1 ... ...set Nov. 1 1 ...set Nov. 21 ...set Dec. 1.... ...set Dec. 11.. ...set Dec. 21.. ...set Dec. 31.. ...set
3:32
Oct.
1
....
.
.
1:51 1:11
12:33 11:53 11:19
10:46
C C C C C C C C c c
its
the
year as a moderately bright “star” rising due east it
1.... ..rise
11......rise
on edge, Saturn has an opposi-
tion on March 21 that will prove to be dimmest of the next 4 years. Still, after beginning 10:30 p.m. in Virgo,
July
July
rises at
8:30 p.m.
in
at
mid-February
March, when it’s out all night. At magnitude 0.5, Saturn outshines all but four of Remaining visible through the summer during the first half of the night, it floats above the Moon on May 22, hovers above Mars during the last days of July and on August 1, and is too low to be seen after September. In November, it returns low in the southeast just before sunrise. and
at nightfall in
the night’s stars.
Jan.
1
Jan.
1 1
...rise
11:13
..
...rise
10:35
..
...rise
9:55
...
...rise
9:10
....
Jan. 21
Feb.
1
Feb.
1 1
.
...rise
8:29
Feb. 21
.
...rise
7:46
1 ...
...rise
7:12
...set
6:48
....set
7:07
Mar.
Mar. 1 1 Mar. 2 1
..
.
C C c c c c c c c
Apr.
1 ....
...set
6:22
Apr.
1 1 ..
...set
5:41
Apr. 21
May May May June June June
..
...set
5:01
1 ....
...set
1 1
..
...set
4:20 3:40
21
..
...set
3:00
1 ....
...set
2:16
1 1 ..
...set
1:37
21.. ...set 12:58
C c c c c c c c c
July
1
...set
12:19
July
11... ...set
11:37
July 21... ...set 10:59
Aug. 1 ... ...set 10:18 Aug. 11 ...set 9:41 Aug. 21 ...set 9:04 .
.
Sept.
...set
8:23
Sept. 11
...set
7:46
Sept. 21
...set
7:10
1
...
C C C C C C C C C
Oct.
set
6:33
Oct. 11
....rise
6:04
Oct. 21
....rise
5:31
rise
4:54
...rise
3:20
1
Nov. 1 Nov. 1 1 Nov. 21 Dec. 1 Dec. 11 Dec. 21 Dec. 31
...rise
2:46
rise
2:12
...rise
1:36
...rise
1:00
...rise
12:24
C C c c c c c c c c
Mercury
B 1
Mercury
is
best seen
exceeds magnitude
28-April
1 1
.
when
0.5. In
it’s at least 7 degrees high in deepening twilight and its brightness 2010, these conditions occur 40 minutes after sunset only from March
Look for Mercury low
in the west, close to Venus. Its less favorable
occur during January 16-30 and September 15-29 and |
at the
morning appearances
end of December.
DO NOT CONFUSE
Venus with Mercury in early April. Venus is 15 times brighter. Mars with and early August. Mars is orange. Saturn with Virgo’s main star, Spica, just before dawn from late November through December. Spica is dimmer and appears blue. Saturn
2010
in late
July
The Old Farmer’s Almanac
95
Astronomical Glossary Aphelion (Aph.): The point in a bit that is farthest from the Sun.
planet’s or-
Apogee
Moon’s
The point
(Apo.):
bit that is farthest
in the
or-
from Earth.
Celestial Equator (Eq.): The imaginary
cir-
cle around the celestial sphere that can be
thought of as the plane of Earth’s equator projected out onto the sphere.
Celestial Sphere:
An
Moon imaginary sphere pro-
jected into space that represents the entire sky, with an observer
on Earth
its
inside surface.
Circumpolar: Always
visible
zon, such as a circumpolar
Conjunction: The time celestial bodies
at
above the hori-
The Moon blocks only part of the Sun.
The apparent annual path of the Sun around the celestial sphere. The plane of Ecliptic:
the ecliptic
is
tipped 231/2° from the celestial
equator. star.
which two or more
appear closest
in the sky. Infe-
Mercury or Venus is between the Sun and Earth. Superior (Sup.): The Sun is between a planet and Earth. Actual dates for rior (Inf.):
conjunctions are given
Partial:
at its center.
All celestial bodies other than Earth are imag-
ined as being on
appears silhouetted against the Sun, with a ring of sunlight showing around it.
in the Right-Hand Calen-
Elongation: The difference in degrees between the celestial longitudes of a planet and the Sun. Greatest Elongation (Gr. Elong.):
The
greatest apparent distance of a planet
from the Sun, as seen from Earth.
A number from 1 to 30 that indicates Moon’s age on January 1 at Greenwich,
Epact:
dar Pages, 111-137; the best times for viewing
the
the closely aligned bodies are given in Sky Watch
England; used for determining the date of
on the Left-Hand Calendar Pages, 110-136.
Easter.
Declination: The celestial latitude of an obmeasured in degrees north or south of the celestial equator; analogous to latitude on Earth. This Almanac gives the
ject in the sky,
Sun’s declination
at
noon.
the
Evening Star: A planet
Eclipse, Lunar: The full Moon enters the shadow of Earth, which cuts off all or part of the sunlight reflected off the
When
Sun crosses the celestial two times each year: Vernal is around March 20 and Autumnal is September 22 or 23. Equinox:
equator. This event occurs
Moon. Total: The
western horizon east of the
Sun
at
that is above the sunset and less than 180°
in right ascension.
Golden Number: A number in the 9-year cycle of the Moon, used for determining the date 1
Moon
passes completely through the
(central dark part) of Earth’s
umbra
shadow. Partial:
Moon passes through the umbra. Penumbral: The Moon passes through only the penumbra (area of partial darkness Only
part of the
surrounding the umbra). See page 88 for more
of Easter. (Approximately every 19 years, the
Moon’s phases occur on
Eclipse, Solar: Earth enters the shadow of
new Moon, which
cuts off
all
or part of
the Sun’s light. Total: Earth passes through the
umbra
(central dark part) of the
Moon’s
shadow, resulting in totality for observers within a narrow band on Earth. Annular: The
96
Get local
rise, set,
same
dates.)
Add
to
remainder, the Golden
eclipse information.
the
the
any given year and divide by 19; the remainder is the Golden Number. If there is no 1
Number is
Greatest Illuminated Extent Ext.):
When
planet
is
the
maximum
19.
(Gr. Ilium.
surface area of a
illuminated as seen from Earth.
Magnitude: A measure of a celestial object’s brightness. Apparent magnitude measures the brightness of an object as see from Earth.
and tide times
at
Almanac.com.
2010
.
Astronomy
Objects with an apparent magnitude of 6 or less are observable to the naked eye. The
When
lower the magnitude, the greater the brightness. An object with a magnitude of -1, for example, is brighter than an object with a magnitude of +1. Absolute magnitude expresses how bright objects would appear if they were all the same distance (about 33 light-years) from Earth.
moving from north
Midnight: Astronomical midnight
is
the
time when the Sun is opposite its highest point in the sky (noon). Midnight is neither a.m. norp.M., although 12-hour digital clocks typically display midnight as 1 2:00 a.m. On a 24-hour time cycle, 00:00, rather than 24:00, usually indicates midnight.
the
body
tial
to south
Occultation (Occn.):
When
the
is
highest above or farthest below the celestial equator.
Moonrise/Moonset: When above or
sets
Moon
the
rises
below the horizon.
i
!
which it is illuminated by the Sun. First Quarter: Right half of the Moon is illuminated. Full: The Sun and the Moon are in op-
Moon is illuminated. Last Quarter: Left half of the Moon is illuminated. Now: The Sun and the Moon are in conjunction; the entire disk of the Moon is darkened.
Moon’s Place, Astronomical: The position of the
actual
Moon within the constellations
on the celestial sphere. Astrological: The astrological position of the
Moon
within the zo-
diac, according to calculations j
made more
than 2,000 years ago. Because of precession of the equinoxes and other factors, this is not the
or a
(elongation 180°).
Perigee (Perig.): The point
in the
Moon’s
orbit that is closest to Earth.
Perihelion (Perth.): The point orbit that
is
in a planet’s
closest to the Sun.
Precession: The slowly changing position of the stars and equinoxes in the sky resulting in the orientation of Earth’s
axis.
Moon’s
actual position in the sky.
Morning Star:
A
planet that
is
above the
eastern horizon at sunrise and less than 180°
west of the Sun in right ascension.
Node: Either of the two points where a celestial body’s orbit intersects the ecliptic. Ascending:
2010
celestial lon-
gitude of an object in the sky, measured east-
ward along the celestial equator in hours of time from the vernal equinox; analogous to longitude on Earth.
Solar Cycle:
Moon’s Phases: The changing appearance of the Moon, caused by the different angles at
position; the entire disk of the
‘
Moon
Opposition: The Moon or a planet appears on the opposite side of the sky from the Sun
Right Ascension (R.A.): The
I
is
of the ecliptic.
equator.
Moon Rides High/Runs Low: The Moon
:
to north
When the body
planet eclipses a star or planet.
from variations
Moon on Equator: The Moon is on the celes-
moving from south
is
of the ecliptic. Descending:
of 28 years,
month
In the Julian calendar, a period
at the
end of which the days of the same days of the week.
return to the
Solstice,
Summer: When
the
Sun reaches
its
greatest declination (23 Vi°) north of the celes-
equator, around June 21. Winter:
tial
Sun reaches
the
(23 /2 1
0 )
its
When
greatest declination
south of the celestial equator, around
December 2 1 Stationary (Stat.): The brief period of apparent halted movement of a planet against the background of the stars shortly before it appears to move backward/westward (retrograde motion) or forward/eastward (direct motion).
Sun Fast/Slow: When
a sundial reading ahead of (fast) or behind (slow) clock time.
is
Sunrise/Sunset: The visible rising and setting of the upper edge of the Sun’s disk across the unobstructed horizon of an observer whose eyes are 15 feet above ground level. Twilight: For definitions of civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight, see page 92.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac
97
All hail
and
behold
this
sky king!
2010,
In
it's
closer than ever.
unkind has observed Jupiter for millennia; no single person discovered brilliant,
moving
this
It
was one of five
(now known
to be planets)
heavenly body.
"stars”
called "wanderers” by ancient Greeks. In
mythology, ruler of
was known
it
Roman
as Jupiter, or Jove ("father”),
the skies.
This year, we're calling
it
“simply awesome.”
Not since 1963 has Jupiter been so close, so so easily seen
Sun Each
the
—
a result of
its
that will take nearly 12 Earth years.
year. Jupiter visits a different
zodiacal constellations (making track),
and for
both opposite
by
bright,
slow, oval orbit around
1
month each
(or. in
it
one of the 12
the easiest planet to
year, the planet appears
opposition to) the Sun
and
at its
B .Qb,B..enDjaa.. -photo. NASA' Johns Hopkins University Southwest Research Institute
,
Astronomy position closest to Earth. This combination results
best-viewing time for us.
in a
Of course, some “bests” are better than others. When Jupiter’s orbit traverses the lower, or south-
GO,
ern, zodiac constellations (e.g., Scorpius), the
view from Earth appears to be through smudgier air
because people are gazing through more of
Earth’s atmosphere. Conversely,
when
in the higher constellations (Taurus or
we
much
see the planet with
Jupiter
is
the only
place from which Jupiter can be seen to reach
Space Administration (NASA)
T
has successfully sent a number of probes to Jupiter. One,
named
Galileo orbited the planet
From 2010 through
zenith.)
its
he National Aeronautics and
is
Gemini),
less distortion. (In
the United States and Canada, Hawaii
s’
and sent back images
2015, Jupiter will be in northern
minimal
constellations, with torting
of
dis-
air.
swirling storms
its
and
details
on
its
moons, as well as
Jupiter advances a
month each
year. In recent years (2007,
indications that
its
2008,
moon
Europa has
and 2009), Jupiter was best
liquid
water under
viewed in June, July, and August,
mile-thick surface ice.
respectively. In 2010,
ber
(its
while
it
is at its
its
opposition
is
best in Septem-
on September 20, on September 21). It will
closest approach
is
hover just 367 million miles away and shine
at
magnitude -2.5. If you are
vide clear skies
sky king 3
is
Next August, NASA's Jupiter Polar Orbiter (Juno) will leave Earth
begin a 5-year
flight
Planet, arriving in 2016.
on these
fails to
pro-
collect data
nights, don’t despair.
The
structure,
out most of the night and visible 2 to
months before and
after opposition
— in
on the
and
to the Giant
Juno
orbit Jupiter's polar regions
busy or Mother Nature
its
will
and
planet's size,
atmosphere, temperature,
and winds.
this
case, the entire last half of the year.
Finding Jupiter should be easy. Beginning
in
mid- August, look halfway up the southern sky for the night’s brightest
star.
This
is
Jupiter! Dazzling
and astonishingly conspicuous against the stars
of Pisces,
it
faint
will stand at its highest at 2:00
a.m. (In July, early birds can catch a glimpse at
4:00a.M.)
(continued)
Artists’ renditions of the
and the Jupiter Polar
space probe Galileo, above, NASA
Orblter, at right
99
0
Astronomy As its
the year winds
down, Jupiter
will be at
best earlier each month: at midnight in Sep-
Jupiter
I
tember (look for green Uranus hovering nearby in
midmonth),
p.m. in
Want
ber.
at
at nightfall in
at
7:00
Decem-
and
set
the
times in your zip or postal
Almanac.com/Astronomy.
No one the
10:00 p.m. in October,
make an appointment? Get
to
planet’s rise
code
at
November, and
needs to miss
this night
Europa
show. Even
most inexpensive backyard telescope or
steadily braced binoculars will inspire
and ahhhs. Jupiter reveals more
ooohs
m
through
detail
amateur instruments than any other planet (60x magnification
is ideal). If
Callisto
Ganymede
you are not equipped, and four of
contact an astronomy club (www.astronomy-
Jupiter
clubs.com) or a university (www.publictele-
in relative positions,
its
moons are shown
but not to scale.
scopes.com) about getting a look through a lens. In 2010, the quadricentennial of Galileo’s
heavenly discoveries, the view
— by
Jove!
—
Kina-size
should be nothing short of amazing!
Curiosities by the Numbers
Jupiter
Jupiter reigns over a miniature solar
Diameter:
Mass
1
1
Earths
(quantity of matter): 318 Earths
Volume:
1
,31
1 1
at least
63 moons,
huge and ever-changing
lo,
Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto
2 Earths
Length of year:
system of
including
(named the
.86 Earth years
Galilean Satellites in
Galileo's honor).
Length of day: 9 hours 56 minutes rotation,
Its
Surface temperature: -234°F Density: 'A of Earth's
would weigh 240
is
faster
than
streaks: dark areas (belts) indicate
Gravity: 2.4 times stronger than on Earth (a 100-lb. person
which
that of any other planet, creates
lbs.
on
clouds and gases;
rising
(zones) indicate
where
light
areas
belts sink.
Jupiter)
Magnetic force: 14 times stronger than
Earth's
Average distance from the Sun: More than 5 times Earth's Closest distance to Earth: 367 million miles
Brightness, on average: Magnitude -2.3
Natural satellites (moons): More than 63
It
spins fast at
slowly at
tums
its
clash,
its
poles;
gaseous layers produce
violent eddies, curlicues, swirls, white spots,
and the famous Great Red
Spot-a hurricane three times the of Earth. (You can
when 100
equator and
where the momen-
Earth's air
is
see
this
size
on nights
steady.)
(continued)
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The Old Farmer’s Almanac
101
Astronomy Galileo's Destiny:
Discovery and Downfall
( xactly
Museum of the History of Science Web site, www.imss.fi.it.) When Galileo turned his
400 years ago, Galileo
Galilei (1564-1642) and Jupiter
changed the order of
primitive instrument toward
the universe.
By around
1608, spyglasses and magnifying devices had
become popular. Du-
plicating
one such instrument,
the sky, the universe re-
vealed
leather into a tube into
which he set one concave and one con-
vex glass
lens.
The
result
was a
wonders. The
Moon, long thought
Galileo had painstakingly fashioned
wood and
its
re-
fracting telescope with three-power
to
be a
smooth-surfaced body with seas, appeared pockmarked with mountains and craters. The creamy glow of the Milky Way burst into untold separate stars. The Sun, believed to
be a flawless object, could be seen
(3x) magnification. Later models
would boast 9x, 20x, and eventually 30x magnification. (Watch informative videos at Italy’s Institute
and
Galileo’s telescope proved that Jupiter's
moons
orbited the Giant Planet, but this
contradiction to church doctrine would later seal his fate.
i
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Almanac terms, see the glossaries on pages 96, 138, and 241.
Predicting Earthquakes Note the dates Pages
when
the
The date of
in the Right-Hand Calendar
Moon
rides high or runs low.
the high begins the
most
likely
five-day period of earthquakes in the Northern Hemisphere; the date of the low indicates a similar five-day period in the South-
ern Hemisphere. Also noted are the two days
each month when the
108
Moon
is
on the celes-
tial
equator, indicating the most likely time
for earthquakes in either hemisphere.
Find more heavenly details at Almanac.com.
2010
Throughout the Right-Hand Calendar Pages are groups of symbols that represent notable celestial events. The symbols and names of the principal planets
©
Sun