Chrismas in Summer

It sound like it is contagious when I read yesterday about the Australian astronomer who claims that he has an explanation for what the Christian call the Charismas Star or Bethlehem Mystery. Yes, during the last two weeks or so we had a difference of opinion about when our religious Eid should start here in Oman. In Christianity, it is believed that a star revealed the birth of Jesus (PBUH) to the magi or "wise men" and regarded as a miraculous sign given by God to mark the birth of the Christ or Messiah. As per the astronomer, Dave Renek claims that he managed to solve the Bethlehem Mystery using the new technology that astronomical advancement have attained and the answer have even narrowed down the date of Jesus (PBUH) birth to a specific day!. News editor of Sky and Space magazine Dave Reneke says complex charting software has allowed astronomers to map the night sky as it would have appeared more than 2000 years ago and has revealed a spectacular astronomical event at the time of Jesus' birth. "It's like a digital map where we can move forward in time as well as backwards," the astronomer Dave Reneke explained. As a general acceptance, the dates for the birth is ranging between 3BC to 1AC. Using the Bible book of Matthew as a reference point, Dave Reneke identified the planetary conjunction of Jupiter and Venus to an exact date in 2BC similar to the planetary alignment of the "smiley face" witnessed on the 1st of December in Muscat night sky but much closer. He said a "beacon of light" would have been visible across the eastern dawn sky as Venus and Jupiter moved across the constellation of Leo on June 17, 2BC. The conjunction of the planets was so close, he said that the planets would have appeared as one bright star even with the naked eye. With this discovery if true, should charismas be celebrated in winter December (White Christmas) or during June (Hot Charismas)?!. This incident should suggest to us how difficult it is to submit to science without taking into account other religious facts or believes if I may say, and should challenge those who are for the pure use of science.
Have a nice stargazing and pleasant charismas while it is still celebrated in winter :)

smiling face

The day before yesterday evening was exciting one. Even the town got moved by it. It’s the configuration of the Jupiter, Venus and the moon. Looking at them, even with those with minimum imagination could see a face with two eyes smiling back. I thought of sharing it with others, I started sending SMS to those who will bother to look up at the sky for once and admire the scene. Being the International year of Astronomy next year 2009, I hope public here in Oman will be more aware about astronomy. We used to, I remember the old house of my uncle when I used to sleep over, there was a long stick behind the house with marks on the ground with different distances apart. Now I realize it was just a simple sundial telling the farmers when to start diverting the Falaj water to his neighbor farm. A smart way to divide scares water resources during summer time here in Oman.

my short break to nizwa

Back from the trip. Not like what I expected but still was nice one. Since I had to leave the mountain before sunset, as a recommendation from people not to drive down at night if I do not intend to sleep over. I did not get the chance to watch the dark sky of the Jabal Alakhdhar. The weather was nice beside being Brrrrrrrrrrrr, very cold. 13 degree in the morning and average 16 during afternoon. It was not totally disappointing thought. At the hotel I stayed it was located away from town and so the light flooding was not that bad and the sky was even better than Muscat. Venus was approaching Jupiter. Today as I observed them they are approximately 5 degrees apart. While watching a special program today on the TV, it was announce that the committee that was set to observe the moon sight did not get any report for sighing the newly born moon and therefore the month will complete its 30 days. Being close to the sun, it is always a challenge to sight the moon even with the special telescope that was set at the Jabal Shams. Germany made, the telescope has the capability of spotting the moon in hard conditions where sun light block the moon fading reflexted light.