Solar Eclipse July 11, 2010

The total solar eclipse of this summer is set to occur on July 11, 2010 at 7:34 p.m. (UT) but will actually occur around 8:30 a.m./2:30 p.m. over the Pacific Ocean (varies by time zone). You would want to consult the local region for the actual time frame. The path of the total solar eclipse will not make it easy for viewing.

In essence, in order to see this total solar eclipse, one would need to be out on a small island (on or near Cook Islands, Mangaia, Easter Island, etc) at approximately 1:34 pm in the southern Pacific Ocean or on a ship approximately 3000 miles southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Portions of South America in the southern regions will also get to see some of the solar eclipse. This might be a great reason to book a cruise by one or more of these wonderful tropical islands.

This total solar eclipse belongs to the Solar Saros Series 146 that originated from the South Lunar Node in the 12th family on September 19, 1541. The zodiac sign will be Cancer at 19-degrees, 24-minutes.

New Moons and Full Moons

The calendar pages for the New Moon dates and the Full Moon Names has just been updated to allow you to change the time zone for most regions around the world. The default is Universal Time (UT) but you can add or subtract up to 11 hours for the various time zones.

Plus, if you don't know your specific time zone hour, you can use the link near the bottom of the page to take you to a site that can help you figure it out. Remember, some parts of the world use daylight saving time, so that would also need to be considered with checking on the times.

New Moon Calendar Full Moon Names Calendar The linked pages will open in new windows.

Lunar Eclipse June 26, 2010

In a little more than a month, the Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn will occur. The partial eclipse will probably not be all that noticable unless the transit is watched closely. The Lunar Eclipse will be viewable from most of the Americas, over the Pacific Ocean regions and into parts of Asia. The peak time of the Lunar Eclipse will be June 26, 2010 at 11:39 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time would be approximately 4:39 a.m. The overall event will last almost three hours, so "watching" time could easily start an hour earlier and last an hour past the "exact" point.

This partial lunar eclipse belongs to the Lunar Saros Series 120 that originated from the North Lunar Node in the 12th family on October 16, 1000. The zodiac sign will be Capricorn at 4-degrees, 46-minutes.

Cooking under the Moon

Most people don't understand why they can whip up the exact same recipe, to have it turn out great sometimes, but flop on others. Some of this problem could be due to the stage of the moon as well as the sign that the moon is transiting through. There actually are moon phases that are more conducive to certain cooking activities.

The best time to make fresh sauerkraut is within a few days after the Full Moon in the signs of Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.

The best times to brew wine or root beer (not beer) is when the moon is in Taurus or Pisces. If the moon is sextile or trine to Venus (direct motion), the batch is likely to be fuller bodied. Best to avoid the dates when the moon is forming any aspects to Mars or Saturn.

Brewing other drinks is best when started during the 3rd or 4th quarters and the moon is in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.

Baked goods are usually best when the moon is in the signs of Gemini, Libra or Aquarius, and when the moon is forming positive aspects to Mercury or Venus while not in retrograde motion. Creating works of arts from food, i.e. decorating cakes, sculpting with ice or food, etc., is likely to be enhanced while the moon is transiting through the sign of Taurus or Libra and in favorable aspect to Venus direct.

Canning one's own food is a large project that can be enhanced by knowing the best dates to begin. Canning and/or freezing fruits or vegetables when the moon is waxing in the signs of Cancer or Pisces tends to improve the outcome and quality. Making jams, jellies and preserves is best during the waxing moon while the moon is transiting through Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.

Drying herbs is best during the 3rd quarter of the moon while the moon is transiting Aries, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius or Aquarius.

Cooking in a crock pot or cooking on the stove over low heat is best when done while the moon is transiting Cancer, Pisces or Scorpio.

Roasting foods in the oven tend to turn out best when the moon transits Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn and in a favorable aspect to Mars.

Drying or smoking of meats or produce is best when initiated during the waxing 3rd quarters while the moon is in the signs of Aries, Gemini, Leo or Sagittarius. The process is enhanced if the moon was moving into a favorable aspect to Mars when the process was started.

You can find some other best days at Moontracks' Daily Activities chart.

If terms or phrases in this article do not make sense, click on the glossary of terms link in the right column under "Pages."

Gardening by the Moon

The best days to dig up the dirt for planting is when the moon is waning (best when the moon is in the 4th quarter) and when the moon is transiting through the signs of Aries, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius or Aquarius.

The best time to harvest crops will depend on the type of crop:

• Grains for drying/storage should be harvested within days after the Full Moon, but avoid days when the moon is in a water sign (Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces). The best signs would be Aries, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Capricorn or Aquarius.
• Plants used for drying or canning should be picked when the Moon is waning in the signs of Aries, Leo or Sagittarius.
• Plants and fruits that need to mature into moist and flavorful products should be picked shortly after the Full Moon in the signs of Cancer, Libra, Scorpio or Pisces.
• Root crops should be dug up after the Full Moon but before the New Moon while the moon is in the signs of Aries, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius or Aquarius.

The list for planting during the moon signs is extensive. A general list is as follows:

• Seed plants that fruit, such as tomatoes, peppers, peas, beans, cucumbers, etc., should be planted after the New Moon until several days before the Full Moon while the moon is in the signs of Cancer, Libra, Scorpio or Pisces.
• Plants that leaf, such as lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, etc., should be planted a few days after the New Moon while the moon is in a water sign; Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces. Taurus and Libra can also be considered alternate productive moon signs for these crops.
• Root bound plants such as carrots, potatoes, radishes and onions are most likely to bear well when planted in the 3rd quarter of the waxing moon in the signs of Taurus, Libra or Capricorn.

Pruning or budding to cut back leafy growth and promote healthy fruit is best done when the moon is in the waxing 3rd or 4th quarters of a Scorpio Moon.

Treating for pests or weeds is best when the moon is in the 4th quarter, however, it can be initiated during the 3rd quarter as well. The best signs to initiate the activity is Aries, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius or Aquarius.

Mowing grass for specific qualities of the lawn are quite simple. Mowing during the waxing phases of the 1st and 2nd quarters will promote thicker growth while mowing during the waning 3rd and 4th quarters will restrict growth.

Fertilizing when the moon is in a water sign is best; Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces. Engineered fertilizers, also known as chemical fertilizers, should be applied when the moon is waxing (1st & 2nd quarters). Organic (animal) fertilizers should be applied when the moon is waning (3rd & 4th quarters). If you are thinking about starting your own organic compost pile, the best time to proceed with that is when the moon is in the 4th quarter (before the New Moon) and in the sign of Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.

Moontracks.com has more Daily Activities by the moon updated monthly. If you want to start marking these dates onto your calendars, it is best to know your timezone and find a astrology calendar that corresponds with your timezone. MoonTracks' Astrology Calendar is established for the Pacific Standard Time.

If terms or phrases in this article do not make sense, click on the glossary of terms link in the righthand column under "Pages."

Ingress & Retrograde Tables

A brand new feature (tool) available at MoonTracks is the series of charts listing ingress dates as well as retrograde and direct station dates, for most of the planets. The Moon's ingress dates are not included since the moon moves from sign to sign virtually every other day, making the list gynormous for any given year. The tables mostly encompass two or three years per planet. The "personal" planets (Sun, Mercury, Venus & Mars), as well as the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn & Chiron) and the transpersonal planets (Uranus, Neptune a& Pluto) are all featured on these tables. The tables will work well with the already existing ingress and retrograde calendars on the site. Here is a direct link to the main page of ingress/retrograde dates.

Business and Transactions by the Moon

Long distance travel should be initiated when the Moon is making a sextile or trine aspect to the Sun, preferably when the Moon is in Gemini or Sagittarius. Avoid dates where the Moon is square or opposing Mars or Uranus.

The best time to purchase stock or bonds is when the Moon is in Taurus or Capricorn. A sextile or trine to Jupiter or Saturn could enhance the profit.

When hiring people for long-term positions, look for Moon transits in the signs of Gemini or Virgo while the Moon is waxing after the New Moon. The Moon's conjunction, sextile or trine to Mercury or Jupiter can also assist the hiring process.

Hiring a consultant holds more promise while the Moon is forming positive aspects to Mercury or Jupiter.

To minimize stressful firings of staff, wait until the Moon is waning after the Full Moon. Try to avoid dates when the Moon is in a square aspect to any planet.

Signing contracts or finalizing negotiations should be avoided when the Moon is forming harsh aspects to Mercury. Mars or Saturn. The best dates are when the Moon is waxing, in the signs of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Favorable aspects to Mercury (while in direct motion) can also enhance the circumstances. Bidding on a contract is favored when the Moon is in Gemini or Capricorn, or while forming a positive aspect to Jupiter.

Promoting or selling your ideas/products are especially favored when the Moon is transiting in your Sun sign. These activities are also enhanced while the Moon is forming favorable aspects to Mercury, Mars or Jupiter. Harsh aspects by the Moon to Saturn can interfere in productive business transactions.

Asking for a promotion is enhanced when the Moon is in your Sun sign. Favorable aspects to Mercury also improve your chances. However, if the Moon is forming any aspects to Mars or Saturn, choose a different day.

When registering for training of a new business skill, choose a day when the Moon is forming a favorable aspect to the planet that rules over that occupation.

The best time to start a new job is when the Moon is forming a positive aspect to Jupiter and/or Venus. If the Moon is transiting in your Sun sign, you may also benefit.

Request loans when the Moon is waning after the Full Moon, and forming positive aspects to Jupiter and/or Venus. Loans are also favored while the Moon is in the signs of Taurus or Leo.

The best time to obtain a patent or copyright is while the Moon is conjunct, sextile or trine to Jupiter or Mercury.

The best time to promote your business via electronic media is while the Moon transits Gemini, Capricorn or Aquarius. The best time to promote your business in newspapers, magazines and in print is while the Moon is in your business' solar sign and receiving positive aspects from Mercury or Venus.

Start a new business venture while the Moon is in Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn, and waxing but before the Full Moon. The planet that rules over the business/industry should be well aspected. Also, favorable aspects from the moon to Jupiter or Saturn can help boost the startup.

Basic Moon Activity Chart available at Moon Tracks Daily Activities

If terms or phrases in this article do not make sense, click on the glossary of terms link in the right column under "Pages."