The Heavens Over Mafia
"Thus we flew on through the starry wilderness; one heaven after another unfurled its immeasurable banner before us and then rolled up behind us, galaxy behind galaxy towered up into solemn altitudes before which the spirit shuddered."
Dreams of the Universe Paul Richter.
Introduction
The skies of Mafia will give every traveler the chance to cultivate the true love of stars. East African islands have the privilege of near -equator location-offering views of both the northern and southern hemisphere - and a rare quality of air, free from smog and light pollution. The innumerable multitude of scintillating sparks scattered in disorder over the Indian Ocean, is an inexhaustible source of marvel and contemplation. The full beauty of the Milky Way, the jewel-box in the Crab. The M31 nebulae in Orion's sword, the dry plains on the Moons Sea of Serenity, the zodiacal constellations are all there for the pleasure of the naked eye.
Star motion and the planets
The celestial equator divides the northern and southern skies on a disc placed half-way along an imaginary axis going between the celestial poles. On Mafia, the southern equator is located about 8° above the southern horizon. The stars rise almost perpendicularly along the eastern horizon and set on the opposite western side. This particular motion allows the stargazer to see throughout the year nearly all of the existing 88 constellations!
The vernal equinox (March 21)
The summer solstice (June 23)
The autumnal equinox (September 21)
The winter solstice (December 21)
The Zodiacal constellations
Is there in any language a word more mysteriously impressive than "zodiac"? Astrological superstition, perhaps, partly accounts for this. The word comes from the Greek for "animal", because nearly all the constellations of the zodiacal circle are representation of animals. It surrounds the sky with a great menagerie of starry creatures, through the midst of which the sun pursues its annual round. When he enters the sign of Aries spring commences; when he enters Cancer, summer reigns.
We keep star charts and good binoculars at Kinasi and we are sure you will be captivated by the brightness and clarity of the night sky and be amazed just how full the heavens are.
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