Fast movement of Venus

Observing Venus each morning it's clear the planet "moves" fast across the sky. The star Regulus is now a couple of degreed north of Venus.

Start of Astronomical Autumn

Today, September 22, at 20h02 (UT) or 22h02 locat time, the astronomical autumn starts. It's the moment the plane of the Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun's disc. It's also the moment the Sun's apparent geocentric longitude is exactly 180°00'00" and this is called Equinox. Equinox meaning Equi Nox, equal day and night. The autumn period will last 89days and 10hours.

Venus south of Regulus

This morning with a clear sky, Venus shining bright south of Regulus star.

Double Rainbow

Very bright and beautiful double rainbow above Averbode.

Venus and Regulus

Too much clouds and my horizon is blocked for the Moon, Mars and Mercury. Venus and Regulus made it!

Moon Venus

Moon near Venus and star Regulus during a short moment the clouds dissapeared.

Zimmer Tower in Lier

Last week I visited the town Lier near Antwerp. In front of the Zimmer Tower a very impressive clock is build in. This clock is build by Louis Zimmer (1888-1970) and consist of one central clock with around 12 smaller once.

From top right (1 o'clock) to the left the smaller clocks show :

- the Metonic cycle, this is a 19 year cycle after which the different phases of the moon fall on the same date in the year

- the Equation of time, showing the difference in minutes between mean solar time and apparent solar time

- the Zodiac

- the Solar Cycle, this is a 28 year cycle after which the dates show up in the same order, the clock shows the current year of the cycle

- the dial shows the day of the week

- Globe with the rotation of the Earth

- the dial shows the month 

- Calender date

- the Seasons and this dial shows also the length of each season in days and hours

- the Tides by location in Lier

- the age of the moon since new moon 

- the real time phase of the moon 

On a other side of the Tower you can see a Sundial with the inscription "Ultima (hora) Latet", meaning "The last hour is hidden".