- You can read more about the Vernal Equinox in the March 1994 FATE
Spring Cometh
The Vernal Equinox, March 20, is the first day of spring. On that date, the day and night are approximately equal, and the days keep getting longer until the Summer Solstice, the first day of summer in June.
The Equinox marks the instant in time when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, which is simply the equator of the Earth projected onto the celestial sphere. The path of the Sun is called the ecliptic, and it is inclined 23.26 degrees from the equator. The two points where the ecliptic and the equator cross are the equinoctial points. The point of the Vernal Equinox is called the “first point of Aries,” even though, due to precession, it is now in the constellation of Pisces. For purposes of astrology and navigation, the point of the Vernal Equinox is the beginning of the Zodiac at 0 degrees of Aries. Read the rest of this entry »
Beware the Ides of March!
The “Ides” was the day of the full Moon in March, May, July, and October in ancient Rome. The term is Latin and means “half division.” The Ides of March was a feast day for Mars, the god of war, and military parades were held on that day. The Ides was considered auspicious by the Romans–at least it was before 44 b.c. Read the rest of this entry »
Close encounters
Submitted by David Godwin, Managing Editor, FATE magazine:
I suppose I have a skeptical attitude about some things, particularly the wilder fringes of the paranormal, but I would certainly not classify myself as a skeptic. The term has come to mean a disbelieving, atheistic, supercilious, debunking jerk whose only purpose in life is to disabuse people of their comforting illusions. Ironically, it is the hard-line skeptics themselves who have popularized this stereotype—which they have a tendency to counter with empty denials.
But how could I function as managing editor of Fate if I were a true skeptic? After all, I have a heavy hand in selecting and editing the articles. If I were someone like Michael Shermer or the late Phil Klass, I would accept only articles that debunked the supernatual and paranormal. Or I would be compelled to deface the articles with endless footnotes saying things like, “This has been disproven,” “This isn’t true,” or perhaps “Get a load of this guy!” Read the rest of this entry »
