[HPforGrownups] Re: Over-Analysis of Minor Plot Points - Astronomy OWLs

[Lady Macbeth]

No: HPFGUIDX 116114

mhbobbin  wrote : You are cracking me up. Are you avoiding homework or
something? I love this post. NOt to negate your fine over-analysis,
But I will suggest that the mysteries in the story that relate to
the Astronomy Class might not be in the skies.

Lady Macbeth replies: Actually, for once, I'm NOT avoiding homework.  LOL
We have to do a final project for my class, and I'm thinking of analyzing
the astronomy behind Harry Potter - not just his class, but character names,
the centaurs' references to the stars, etc.

mhbobbin wrote:
Why have we never seen an Astronomy Class? A class taking place at
midnite has to be interesting.

Lady Macbeth replies:
LOL Actually, Harry probably doesn't find it all that interesting.  The
mathematics are probably a bit difficult for him, and unless he has an
unusual fascination with the skies (which his dislike of Divinations
suggests he doesn't even have that much interest) the stars and planets
would not be all that interesting.  LOL  It's not an unusual time of night
for Astronomy.  My class runs from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, but that's because
some of the students on our campus are Youth Options students (from the
local high schools) and high schoolers aren't allowed to work or have
classes after 10:00 PM on week days.  Quite frequently our professor has
expanded the practical lessons that involve the telescopes into the
late-night hours - 10:00 PM to 3:00 AM, because that's the best viewing
time.

mhbobbin wrote:
Why is the Astronomy Tower off-limits except for classes.
And Would we like to know more about a Professor with the name of
Sinistra?

Lady Macbeth replies:
Good questions on both of those!  Sinistra's name may refer to the
science/measurement aspect more than a subjective aspect of her name.  Our
observatory on campus is open to the public every third Thursday all winter
for public viewing sessions, and it's open to Astronomy students as long as
we go and tell the professor we want to use it.  It's locked up the rest of
the time mostly for the safety of the telescopes.

mhbobbin wrote:
I still don't understand how/why Harry confuses the planets? ARe
there any theories about that detail?

Lady Macbeth replies:
If he weren't paying attention to detail, it'd be a relatively easy mistake
to make.  I noted that Jupiter was actually the most prominent object in the
sky that night, which is what most people mistake for Venus.  Mars shines
with a bright red lustre because of the color of its surface while Venus
alternates between bright yellow and white depending on how the sun is
hitting it.  Jupiter likewise appears white, but mostly because of its huge
distance from Earth; the color bands are lost to the naked eye, but can be
seen even with moderate telescopes.  Had he been looking at Jupiter through
the telescope, he would have also likely seen one or more of the Gailean
Moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto - the four that he should have
known for his Astronomy theory exam earlier in the day), so he would have
been able to identify that one readily.

On a side note, from an ASTROLOGICAL approach, I found the fact that
agressive, warrior Mars was in Leo that night very interesting, considering
that a former Gryffindor (Hagrid) and the Head of Gryffindor (McGonagall)
were both attacked that night.

-Lady Macbeth


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