The May 1999 StarDial
Jehana

Tue May  4 17:38:02 1999
*br*The May 1999 StarDial     (Come join us in the Brugh of the Star River...)*p*  May 01 - Mercury passes 1.6 degrees From Jupiter at 6 am, EDT (Eastern daylight time)*br*  May 01 - Mars is closest to Earth (53.8 million miles away) at 1 pm, EDT*br*  May 01 - Asteroid 1993 WD near-Earth flyby (0.379 AU - astronomical units - distance from here to the Sun)*br*  May 02 - Comet Shoemaker-Levy 6 reaches perihelion (1.135 AU)*br*  May 02 - The Moon is at apogee (252,449 miles from Earth) at 2:15 am, EDT*br*  May 03 -  (-1374 (1375 BC))  "Syria: A clay tablet found at that site notes that*br*"the day of the New Moon in the month of (Apr-May) was put to shame. The sun went down with Mars in attendance. This means the overlord will be*br*attacked by his vassals." Ulysses 3/97"  But: "was put to shame" was also translated as "on the sixth" (day) and again differently by others. "went*br*down" is the same word as that used for "to set".  SENL013"  (Solar Eclipse Calendar)*br*  May 05 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower peaks*br*  May 05 - Asteroid 6491 (1991 OA) near-Earth flyby (0.244 AU)*br*  May 06 - Space Day*br*  May 08 - Last quarter Moon (waning) is at 1:28 pm, EDT*br*  May 10 - Asteroid 1991 JG1 near-Earth flyby (0.317 AU)*br*  May 11 - Asteroid 1999 DB2 near-Earth flyby (0.292 AU)*br*  May 12 - Asteroid 1999 FN53 near-Earth flyby (0.059 AU).  Getting close again.*br*  May 13 - The moon passes 4° south of Jupiter at 1 am, EDT*br*  May 15 - Dark Moon is at 8:05 am, EDT; *br*  May 15 - The Moon is also at perigee (221,887 miles from Earth), 11:08 am, EDT*br*  May 15 - (1836)  "Francis Baily (UK), during an annular eclipse in Scotland, calls attention to the brief bright beads of light that appear close to*br*totality as the Sun's disk is blocked except for the sunlight streaming through lunar valleys along the limb.  This phenomenon becomes known as*br*Baily's Beads." (Solar Eclipse Calendar)*br*  May 17-23 - Astronomy Week*br*  May 18 - Jupiter at perihelion*br*  May 20 - Asteroid 1998 HD14 near-Earth flyby (0.264 AU)*br*  May 20 - Jupiter is at perihelion (460.2 million miles from the sun), at 6 am, EDT*br*  May 21 - The moon passes 0.7° north of Regulus at 11 pm,  EDT*br*  May 22 - Astronomy Day*br*  May 21 - The first quarter Moon (waxing) is at 1:34 am, EDT*br*  May 27 - Mercury at perihelion*br*  May 28 - 40th nnniversary (1959), Jupiter C rocket launches two monkeys (Able & Baker)*br*  May 28 - (-0584 (585 BC))  "The first known prediction was made by the Greek philosopher Thales, who forecast the eclipse of May 28, 585 BC (by year,*br*day, place, time?). This occurred at sunset in the Mediterranean area, and is said to have put an end to a battle between the forces of King Alyattes*br*of the Lydians and King Cyaxares of the Medes. It was in the midst of their battle and scared both sides.  SENL013"  (Solar Eclipse Calendar)*br*  May 29 - The moon is at apogee (252,524 miles from Earth) at 4:16 am, EDT*br*  May 30 - The Full Moon is at 2:40 am, EDT*p*In case anyone forgets, the new Star Wars film is supposed to open in movie theatres mid-month.  *p**br*RESOURCES (5/99):  *p*Astronomy Magazine:  http://www.astronomy.com*br*Solar Eclipse Calendar:  http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SENL/SENLinde.htm*br*Space Calendar:  http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar/*p*