Yule
A Great friend and fellow Pagan from High school sent this to me, and I wanted it here:
The following was copied from the US Naval Observatory web site (http://www.usno.navy.mil/pao/sky/sky_week.shtml). Happy Yule, everyone!
ʽTis the Night Before Christmas and high overhead
The Great Winter Circle helps guide Santaʼs sled.
The Last Quarter Moon on the 23rd falls,
To give us dark sky-scapes fit to enthrall.
The long winterʼs night on the 21st passes
As the Sun on the solstice shines low on the masses.
By New Yearʼs the days are beginning to gain
And the promise of spring makes the night hours wane.
In the southwest bright Venus burns bright in the dusk,
While Jupiter wallows in skies tinged with rust.
The planet of beauty will light up our eves
As she beckons from trees now empty of leaves
Orion is rising high in the southeast,
Shield raised in defiance of Taurus the beast.
The Great Winter Circle surrounds his bold shape,
While faithful dog Canis leaps up in his wake.
Late night brings Sirius, the Dog Star on high,
By New Yearʼs he transits as midnight draws nigh.
The brightest of stars warm the long winterʼs night,
His cohorts all add to the breathtaking sight.
Nine of the brightest of stars in the sky,
Light these dark nights of winter as Old Sol plays shy.
But the solstice is past us and now we are glad,
For the days getting longer than the ones weʼve just had.
The ringed planet Saturn then enters the sky
ʽNeath the belly of Leo as springʼs stars draw nigh.
His golden light shines as the wee hours pass
By sunrise heʼs high for a peek through the glass.
So Peace to your families, neighbors and friends
We wish you the best that the holiday sends.
The stars mark the comings and goings of time,
So stop to enjoy them, and so ends my rhyme.
The following was copied from the US Naval Observatory web site (http://www.usno.navy.mil/pao/sky/sky_week.shtml). Happy Yule, everyone!
ʽTis the Night Before Christmas and high overhead
The Great Winter Circle helps guide Santaʼs sled.
The Last Quarter Moon on the 23rd falls,
To give us dark sky-scapes fit to enthrall.
The long winterʼs night on the 21st passes
As the Sun on the solstice shines low on the masses.
By New Yearʼs the days are beginning to gain
And the promise of spring makes the night hours wane.
In the southwest bright Venus burns bright in the dusk,
While Jupiter wallows in skies tinged with rust.
The planet of beauty will light up our eves
As she beckons from trees now empty of leaves
Orion is rising high in the southeast,
Shield raised in defiance of Taurus the beast.
The Great Winter Circle surrounds his bold shape,
While faithful dog Canis leaps up in his wake.
Late night brings Sirius, the Dog Star on high,
By New Yearʼs he transits as midnight draws nigh.
The brightest of stars warm the long winterʼs night,
His cohorts all add to the breathtaking sight.
Nine of the brightest of stars in the sky,
Light these dark nights of winter as Old Sol plays shy.
But the solstice is past us and now we are glad,
For the days getting longer than the ones weʼve just had.
The ringed planet Saturn then enters the sky
ʽNeath the belly of Leo as springʼs stars draw nigh.
His golden light shines as the wee hours pass
By sunrise heʼs high for a peek through the glass.
So Peace to your families, neighbors and friends
We wish you the best that the holiday sends.
The stars mark the comings and goings of time,
So stop to enjoy them, and so ends my rhyme.