[HPforGrownups] Mars is Bright Tonight

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 42371

On 9 Aug 2002 at 18:27, erisedstraeh2002 wrote:

> Sheehan's book also states that Mars varies in its brightness, 
> some "fiftyfold," and that Mars comes into "opposition" every two 
> years and two months. I wondered whether this could mean that 
> significant events in the series will happen during these times 
> of "opposition."  Assuming that Mars is in "opposition" during the 
> Forbidden Forest detention in May 1992, two years and and two months 
> later would be July 1994.  Pettigrew escapes in June 1994, which is 
> fairly close.  If this theory holds, the next time of "opposition" 
> would be September 1996 (Book 6, presumably).  However, since the 
> worst thing that has happened so far in the series (IMHO) is 
> Voldemort's re-embodiment, which did not happen during one of these 
> times of "opposition," there may not be much to this line of thinking!

Well, writing as an astronomer, I can give Opposition Dates for Mars, and there isn't 
one around May 1992 - late November 1990 and early January 1993 are the closest 
dates. Of course, that doesn't mean that in JKRs universe, that necessarily applies.

I've seen a couple of astronomical discussions relating to this - here's an offer for 
anyone who wants it. I can easily generate basic star and planet location maps for 
any date, and put them on a website for people (it's not hard, I just have the 
software to do it). There might be interest for some people in their discussions - for 
example, I can put maps of the night sky over Scotland for the 'Mars is Bright' date, 
or maybe people looking for some astrological significance, might like a skymap of 
Harry's birthday - basically any Harry Potter associated dates anyone wants. I just 
need the date, the time of day if it's relevant (otherwise I will use local midnight) and 
the geographic location (country will do - Scotland, England, whatever).

I get a lot out of reading this list - might be a way of giving something back.

Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately |webpage: http://www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       |email: drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in
common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. They alter
the facts to fit the views. Which can be uncomfortable if you happen
to be one of the facts that need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who:
The Face of Evil | Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia