Tuesday, August 6, 2013

MERCURY - THE UNCLE


BASIC ASTRONOMICAL FACTS ABOUT MERCURY:
Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun in our Solar System. Its orbit is one of the most eccentric among the planets. As seen from the Earth, Mercury never gets more than 27 degrees away from the Sun. It has a diameter of about 4,879 kilometers. Its distance from the Earth varies from about 77 million to about 222 million kilometers. From Sun its distance varies from 47 million 70 million kilometers. Mercury takes 88 days to make one orbit around the Sun and it takes 58.65 days to complete one rotation on its axis. Its surface temperature ranges widely between -168°C to 427°C. Its average geocentric motion per day is 01°23'. Mercury has no natural satellite of its own. Mercury retrograde period is about 20 to 24 days and it gets retrograde approximately every four months.


THE MERCURY IN HINDU MYTHOLOGY
Mercury is the son of the Moon. Moon conquered the three worlds and performed the Rajasuya, the sacrifice which gives lordship. Many gods and goddesses served him; having achieved this glory he became arrogant. The Moon was the chief disciple of Jupiter, the guru of the celestials, and was also the favorite of Tara, Jupiter's wife, who was attracted to him by his character and beauty. Once when Jupiter was away Tara and Moon eloped. Jupiter returned home, found his wife gone, soon discovered her whereabouts, and several times sent messages to the Moon requesting his wife's return. The Moon, however, repeatedly refused to comply with these requests, maintaining that Tara had accompanied him of her own accord and would leave only when she was satiated with him. These replies so infuriated Jupiter that he communicated them to his disciple Indra, the chief of gods who sent an ultimatum to the Moon. When Moon refused to yield, Indra began a war. Venus and the asuras (demonic celestials) took the side of Moon in this war, because of the ongoing enmity between Jupiter and Venus, while Lord Shiva, took the side of the devas. The war dragged on so long that the Great Rishis began to fear that the end of the world was near. Brahma asked Moon to return Tara . This the Moon did, but he returned her pregnant. When Jupiter learned of this he was furious, and asked her for abortion. Tara had to did that but the baby which was a boy survived and he was radiant like gold. Seeing the child's splendor both Jupiter and Moon hankered after him, and both claimed paternity, demanding that Tara declare the true father's name. Tara was too embarrassed to speak. Finally, when Brahma questioned her in private she admitted that the Moon was the father of that wonderful child, who was the planet Mercury.


BASIC ASTROLOGICAL FACTS ABOUT MERCURY:
The Mercury is of neuter gender, karaka or significator of the speech, as relationship significator it denotes the maternal uncles, as body part significator it governs the hips. As per planetary cabinet it have the status of royalty as crown prince, its temperament is volatile and versatile, its element is bhoo or earth, its primary quality or guna is rajo guna or imperious and passionate, by caste it is vaishya or trader and its nature is benefic when associated with benefic planets otherwise malefic.

It is the ruler of zodiacal sign of Gemini and Virgo and astrological third and sixth houses, its exaltation sign is Virgo, debilitation sign is Pisces and determent sign is Sagittarius. It get directional strength in first house (east) and directional weakness in seventh house (west). As per planetary relationship its friends are Sun and Venus, it is neutral with Jupiter and Saturn and its enemies are Moon and Mars. Nakshatras or Lunar mansions governed by Mercury are Ashlesha, Jyestha and Revati. Its period as per Vimshottari Dasa is of seventeen years. It rules northern direction and Wednesday among the days of the week. It governs sharad or autumn season and in metals brass and quicksilver or parad. Its gemstone is emerald and substitute gemstones are peridot and green tourmaline and all shades of green colors are ruled by it. In food and flavors it govern things of mixed or varied tastes. It represents the geometrical shape of a triangle. Positive key words for Mercury are brilliance, alertness, articulateness, versatility, and dexterity. Negative key words for Mercury are skepticism, nosiness, indecision, criticalness, and restlessness. As per Numerology numbers 5, 14, 23, 32 and all those that adds up to five, are governed by it.


Body parts, function and diseases governed Mercury:
Mercury rules the nervous system, and as such its placement in a natal chart indicates all mental and nerve related problems nervousness, tension and the inability to relax. The messenger of the gods, it is also the messenger of the nervous system, relaying split second commands throughout the body. Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, all the diseases governed by these two signs are automatically governed by Mercury. It rules all the tubing in the body, the channels through which blood, hormones, enzymes and oxygen move. Mercury partially rule the hormones dispensed by the glands in the body. Mercury is involved with the splitting up action and the pancreatic breakdown of sugar into glucose the amount of hydrochloric acid (HCI) in the stomach. This malfunction causes all digestion related problems such as colitis, flatulence, heartburn, diarrhea etc. Mercury is also closely associated with the thyroid, along with its co ruler Taurus. Mercury also rules the Thiamine or vitamin B-1.


Professions governed by Mercury:
Mercury is a planet of communication, reasoning, knowledge, travelling, education and all business espcially trading related, it thus governs all profession related to these. Any profession or employment that requirs or is related to memory, intellect, writing, communication, travelling and trade and commerce is giverned by Mercury. It governs profession and career related to any kind of publicity, advertising, propaganda services, telegraph, telephone, astrologers, clerks, accountants, auditors, translators, mathematician, brokers, teachers, lecturers, authors, journalists, editors, writers, interpreters, secretaries, messengers, post office personnels, salesmen, publishers, printers, drivers of bus, cabs and trains etc.


The Mantras for Mercury:

Beej Mantra of Mercury: 

Om bram breem broum sah budhaya namah.
Mercury stotra: 

Priyam gukaalikashyamam rupenaam prathimam budham soumyam saumya gunopetham tham budham pranamaamyaham


Gayatri Mantra of Mercury:
Om gaja dhwajaaya vidmahae sukha hastaaya dheemahi tanno buddhe prachodayaat 
Remedies for Mercury which are performed if Mercury is not well placed in the horoscope:

Worshiping the ruling deity of the Mercury, Lord Vishnu.
Recitation of Vishnu sahasranama stotra.
Reciting of Mercury Mantras.
Charity: Donate green beans, gram and vegetables on Wednesdays to Eunuchs.
Fasting: On Wednesdays.
Pooja: Ganesh pooja.
Rudraksh: Wear four mukhi (four faced) Rudraksh.
MERCURY:- Aberration of mind; diseases of eyes, neck and nose, fever arising from the derangement of Vata (Air), Pitta and Kapha (Phlegm): skin diseases; white leprosy, itches and boils, falls from heights, poisoning and general debility.

Mercury represents memory and intelligence. Weak nervous system, skin problems, allergies, hay fever, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, confusion, weak mind, lack of memory are some of the effect of malefic mercury.
Mercury : Budha

Mercury relates to : Intelligence, Voice, Salesman, Insurance Agent, PR, Orators, Mercury is a dual nature planet. It relates to writing, Literature, It represents all relatives from the Mothers side. Green is its prominent colour. Education matters and maternal Uncle are ruled. No. 5 is
Mercury’s number. Persons under mercury look younger than their real age. 


Mercury rules the Tongue, Nervous System and Spinal Cord. If Mercury is the Sub-Lord of the 
7 th house and if is not in the Nakshtra whose planet is retrograde then such persons marry more than once. 

If the money due to you is received in Mercury Dasha - Bhukti then such dues are got only in instalments. Mercury is responsible for incidents of Court Cases on more than one occasion. 

Mercury indicates East direction. If mercury is well placed then the person finds success when he goes east. And if Mercury is badly placed then such a person goes to East and gets into difficulties.
Plants - Astrology and Mythology
Plants seen from an astrological perspective. See how zodiac signs and plants (trees, shrubs, herbs, crawlers, bulbs, vegetables, annuals, fruits and nuts) are connected.The myths sourrounding the plants and the facts revealed, their medicinal properties give a flavour to your basic need from mother nature.How Plants are connected with the Planets ?

Mercury - Herbs like agrimony, dill, caraway, elecampane, fennel, fenugreek, horehound, lavender, marjoram, oreganoparsley are ruled by the planet Mercury.


- Mercury rules herbs like devils claw, hazelnut, honey suckle, licorice, myrtle, savory, vitex.

-Trees like iron wood, mulberry are linked to the planet Mercury.
Sun Signs Education and Career


Mercury


It is a planet of intelligence. Mercury signifies formal education, intelligence, analytical decision and approach, ability to use languages, communication and negotiating skill and knowledge of trade and commerce, scientific learning, mathematics, accountancy. But weak budha or mercury shows absence of mind and his approach or capacity to plan things and organise things will be unpractical. He represents mental faculty needed for learning, who can be trained in various activities depending on the teacher. Printing, presses, stationary, education department, literature, book keeping, writing, audit or accounts, oratory, newspaper work, music and drama, cinema, law, ambassadorial work, astrology, engineering, crafts related etc are few professions related to mercury.





MARS - THE BROTHER


MARS'  NAMING

Mars is named after the ancient Roman god of war, as befitting the red planet's bloody color. The Romans copied the ancient Greeks, who named the fourth planet from the sun after their god of war, Ares. Other civilizations also typically gave the planet names based on its color — for example, the Egyptians named it "Her Desher," meaning "the red one," while ancient Chinese astronomers
dubbed it "the fire star."


MARS'  MEANING

Mars represents our active energy, the way we go out and get what we want, which can be determined by, amoung other things, Venus. The characteristics of Mars in the birth charts shows the nature of our energy flow. Mars rules both the outer-directed Aries and the inner-directed Scorpio. Mars takes two years to circle the sun, and so we see all faces of mars many times in our life. Mars is considered a "personal" planet, because it tells something about the way we are as individuals.

MARS'  HISTORY

Mars is the action planet of the zodiac. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also the second nearest planet to the Earth and will probably be the first planet visited by humans. It has an orbital period equal to 687 Earth days and a rotational period equal to 24hrs 37mins and 22.6 seconds. Therefore there are 668 Martian days in a Martian Year. Mars has a very eccentric orbit that can vary from 249 million km to 207 million km. As a result, it also experiences seasons.

Fire is his element. His nature is hot and dry. He rules Aries, and he is in exaltation in Capricorn. He is in analogy with the muscles and the spleen.

The 'Red Planet,' after all, should be pretty fiery, and Mars does not disappoint. Energy, passion, drive and determination are all right up Mars's alley. This planet commands you (and yes, Mars does rule the military) to stand up, be noticed and get things done -- sitting on the sidelines belongs somewhere else in the heavens. Simply put, Mars speaks to the power and confident expression of the individual.

Ambition and competition are also within Mars's realm. Whether it's at work or on the field of play, Mars encourages us to face challenges and to be our best -- or better. Aggression is part of the plan here, although Mars also values courage and honor. Assertion and a daring, fearless nature please this planet.

It's important to note that Mars's energy can be constructive or destructive. The God of War in ancient times, Mars could be brutally violent. While this energy still emanates from the planet, it also asks us to harness this force for good. Stamina, ambition and achievement are all part of Mars' mantra.

Mars represents the military, sportsmen, warriors, surgeons, blacksmiths, etc. His age covers the period from 42 to 58 years, approximately.

Mars rules our sexuality and sexual energy, and governs weapons, accidents and surgery (the last two illustrating the yin and yang nature of this planet). In the end, however, the energy of Mars can be quite useful if used properly.

It takes nearly two years for Mars to complete its orbit through the zodiac. It is masculine energy and rules both Aries and Scorpio, and the First and Eighth Houses.

Temperament: choleric

Character: emotive, active, primary. He is a choleric.

Mars is a combative energy and describes how one commands and takes action. He symbolizes virility, action, violence, courage and boldness. He bestows dynamism and enterprising spirit, but he can also turn the chart's owner into a despotic, irascible and primary person.

Mars gives information on the ability to come to grips with things and to overcome hurdles, as well as the types of sports practiced. It also describes sexual life and desires.

Because Venus is his opposite, in a woman's chart Mars represents her lovers and the type of man to whom she is attracted and with whom she is willing to have a love affair.

Like the Sun, Mars is a masculine planet. However, he is less idealistic than the Sun, and more active, more primary and more sexually driven.

He is associated with the forties and the fifties, the fully mature individual, the stage of life when one must fight to assert oneself, when professional activities are at their heights, and one is aware that nothing is achieved without effort.
This quite small planet travels through the Zodiac in 1 year and 220 days. He usually spends about eight weeks in each sign, although at certain stages of his cycle, he remains in the same sign during five or six months. His average daily motion is of half a degree.

ASTRONOMY 

Size: 
Mars is about 4,212 miles (6,779 kilometers) in diameter.

Distance from the Sun: 
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and orbits roughly 142 million miles (229 million km) away.

Orbit around the Sun: 
It takes 687 Earth days for the Red Planet to go around the Sun one time.

Rotation: 
Mars spins on its axis at about the same speed as Earth does. It takes 24 hours and 37 minutes (about 1 Earth day) for Mars to rotate one time.

Surface: 
There are lots of dry channels on Mars, and they look like Earth's river channels. Most scientists believe water once flowed on the martian surface, but new studies suggest there still may be water in some places at and under the surface.

Mars has the largest canyon (Valles Marineris), and the highest volcano (Olympus Mons) in the solar system.

If Valles Marineris were on Earth, it would span the United States, from New York on the East Coast to California on the West Coast. The canyon is about 1,300 miles (2,100 km) long, 300 miles (500 km) wide, and about 5 miles (8 km) deep.

Olympus Mons is about three times higher than Mount Everest. It rises above the Martian surface 14 miles (22 km). This giant volcano's base is the size of the state of Missouri.

The planet's reddish color is caused by rust (iron oxide) in the soil.

The polar ice caps on Mars are made of frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice, plus a seasonal coating of water ice.

Atmosphere: 
The martian atmosphere is very thin and made of carbon dioxide (95 percent), nitrogen (3 percent), argon and other gases (1 percent).

Temperature: 
The lowest surface temperature on Mars is –190° F (–123° C), while the hottest temperature is 90° F (32° C).

Escape velocity: 
To escape the gravity of Mars, you have to travel 11,200 miles (18,000 km) per hour, compared to 25,000 miles (40,200 km) per hour necessary to escape Earth's gravity.

Other information: 
Because the Red Planet's color reminded ancient astronomers of blood, they named the planet after their gods of war. Mars was the Roman god of war, while Ares was the Greek version.. The planet's two moons also have names that relate to war. Phobos means "fear," and Deimos means "panic." Phobos is about 17 miles (27 km) in diameter and Deimos is about 9 miles (14 km).

When it is nearest to Earth – 59 million km away – Mars can be seen in great detail even with small telescopes. The polar ice caps are visible; the southern ice cap can extend down to 50° latitude or become quite small depending on the season. There are many bright areas on the red planet, e.g. 'Hellas', that are in fact deep basins on the planet's surface. There are also dark areas on the planet's surface, e.g. 'Sirtis Major' (in the shape of a large 'V'), that were once thought to be seas, but when the atmospheric pressure was discovered to be too low for liquid water, the dark areas were then thought to be old sea beds filled with vegetation. However all this was disproved after the first fly-by mission by Mariner 4 in 1965. And two NASA rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have since beamed back images of the Martian surface, which they explored.

The highest known surface point on Mars is a huge volcano known as 'Olympus Mons'. It stretches 24km high above the lava plains around it and it has a base measuring 600km. Mars has an average surface temperature of about -23°C. Its atmospheric content includes 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen and 1.6% argon. Mars is not as dense or as large as Earth and has an escape velocity of 5km/sec, only enough to sustain a thin, transparent atmosphere. However, some clouds can be seen and from time to time the occasional dust storm can completely cover the Martian surface. The storms occur when wind speed increases to 50-100 meters per second as dust from the surface is lifted up and bounces along the ground, colliding with other dust particles and forcing a cataclysmic reaction that could encompass the entire Martian globe. The technical name for this is 'saltation'.

Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, both discovered in 1877 by Asaph Hall. These two moons are shaped irregularly and are probably asteroids that were caught by Mars' gravitational pull a long time ago. Neither is large enough to become spherical, and both have synchronous rotations enabling them to always keep the same face toward their parent planet.

Phobos orbits at a distance of less than 6000 km from the surface of Mars and, with a maximum diameter of 27 km, is larger than Deimos. Phobos has been falling very slowly toward the planet at a rate of 10 km every century, because of which it will collide with Mars in forty million years. Phobos' surface is covered with craters (the largest is the 10 km-long "Stickney," which was named after Asaph Hall's wife). Phobos has an orbital period of 7 hours and 39 minutes. Deimos is even smaller than Phobos. Its longest diameter is 15 km and it orbits 23400 km from the planet's centre and, unlike Phobos, has a stable orbit.

HISTORY AND MYTHOLOGY

MARS HAS ALWAYS BOTH FASCINATED and frightened mankind. History shows that Babylonian priests and Roman soldiers were intrigued by Mars. More recently, public interest has been sparked by H. G. Wells, Ray Bradbury and Carl Sagan. And, in the not-too-distant future, American and Soviet space travelers may make Mars the first "fellow planet" our species has ever visited.

September 1988 provides the best opportunity in many years for a personal look at the planet. Not since 1971 has Mars been so close and bright, nor will it be again until 2003. And because our solar neighbor is far higher in the skies in 1988 than it was in 1971, this is the best time since 1954 for a telescopic look at the surface features of the red planet.

Of course, we can marvel at Mars even without a telescope. The three things that fascinated the ancients will still impress the naked-eye viewer of Mars today: the planet's color, its brightness and the tremendous way in which that brightness can increase.

How bright is Mars? At a close approach like the one this year, Mars greatly outshines all the stars. Jupiter, rising a few hours after Mars each night, is its only competition in the evening and midnight autumn sky. Mars reaches peak brilliance and outshines Jupiter in September and part of October, but then Jupiter, attaining its own maximum brightness in November, will take over and exceed Mars. But even when brighter, the almost imperceptibly yellow Jupiter is not nearly so striking as the more colorful red planet. Mars is certainly not stoplight red, but when it's very bright, its prominent deep orange hue does make the planet an imposing sight.

At Mars-rise, after 9:00 P.M. (daylight-saving time) as September begins, and after nightfall by late September and October, look due east. You'll see coming up the steady, unblinking stare of this ruddy planetary beacon that seemed to many ancient cultures to be stained with blood.

The Mesopotamians named it Nergal; the Egyptians, Red-Horus (the "planet smasher"); the Greeks, Ares; the Romans, Mars: all gods of war, destruction and blood. Even cultures which didn't necessarily connect the planet with war still alluded to its bloody hue in their name for it. The Chinese, for example, called Mars Huo Hsing, meaning "Fire Star."

But it was not just the color that alarmed superstitious peoples. They were equally awed by the way the planet changed tremendously in brightness over the course of a relatively few months or even weeks. In a year like 1988, Mars will increase its brightness roughly a hundredfold, and our ancestors viewed with dread such rare years of very close approach.

Perihelions and Aphelions  

Why does Mars change its brightness so much more than other planets? Why do we get its closest approach and by-far-greatest display just once every 15 or 17 years? The answers lie in the planet's orbit.

The important orbital position in which Earth draws even with Mars-with Earth between Mars and the Sun-is called "opposition," because at that point Mars appears opposite the Sun in our sky. In other words, when in opposition Mars rises at sunset, is highest at midnight and doesn't set until sunrise.

The reason Mars sometimes gets enormously brighter at opposition (rather than just somewhat brighter like other outer planets) is that its distance from Earth varies by such a large percentage. Jupiter's distance from us varies by less than 5010, while Mars' distance can vary by about 710%! With Mars on the far side of the Sun from us, the Earth-to-Mars gulf is roughly 250 million miles; at the best opposition that distance to Mars can be as little as 35 million.
And now we come to the most interesting part of all. Why do some oppositions of Mars bring the planet so much closer, making it appear so much brighter, than others? Why is there a kind of super opposition of Mars about every 15 or 17 years (1954,1971,1988, 2003, for example)? 

This phenomenon is due to Mars' lopsided orbit. Its perihelion (point closest to the Sun) is about 129 million miles from the Sun, while its aphelion (point farthest from the Sun) is 155 million. Consequently, if Earth passes Mars when the latter is near aphelion, the separation between the two worlds is approximately 63 million miles, but if Earth passes Mars when the latter is near perihelion, the separation can be as small as 35 million miles.

In an "aphelic opposition" like that of 1980, Mars' brightness only rivals that of the very brightest star; at a "perihelic opposition" like that of 1988, the planet far outshines the brightest star. And telescopic views of Mars in these two oppositions reveal a dramatic difference in the clarity of the planet's features.

A CLOSER LOOK AT PLANET MARS 

It was the invention of the telescope that made Mars by far the most interesting of our fellow planets. By the time of Mars' perihelic oppositions of 1877 and 1892, telescopes were advanced enough to show that Mars was similar to Earth—perhaps even similar enough to support some kind of life.

The planet's rotation period (its "day") and its amount of axis tilt (which causes seasons) were found to be almost the same as Earth's. Each pole of Mars had a whitish patch that dwindled in summer and grew in winter-surely some kind of ice caps like Earth's. There were green regions, too.

You can see such features yourself if you have access to a telescope this fall. One with a 60mm (less than 2-1/2-inch-diameter) main lens or mirror is a bit small for serious Mars observing, even with Mars at its closest. But if the atmosphere is calm (little star-twinkling) and Mars is fairly high (overhead, rather than close to the horizon), a good telescope of this size could show you one of the white polar caps, and probably a few of the green areas, and most likely the roughly triangular Syrtis Major region. However, the green patches might look merely gray with such a small telescope. If, on the other hand, you have a six- or eight-inch telescope, there may be some nights this fall when up to several dozen of the greenish features should be visible in moments of especially good "seeing" (a very calm atmosphere).

The late-nineteenth-century observers were fascinated with the green regions; because these areas seemed to spread as the Martian spring progressed and the ice caps melted, it was thought perhaps they were oceans or were wet areas with vegetation.

A great turning point came with the fine perihelic opposition of 1877. The Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli thought that in moments of best "seeing'," he was detecting thin, linear features running between various green regions on Mars. Assuming that the green areas might be seas, he called these lines canali, Italian for "channels," or natural bodies of water connecting supposed seas. Unfortunately, the translation into English is usually "canals," a word which implies manufactured waterways.

In America, the wealthy, aristocratic Percival Lowell was excited by the idea of Martian canals and funded the building of Lowell Observatory near Flagstaff, Arizona, to search for them. Not all observers saw the features, but Lowell, in the fine climate of Arizona, did, and his imagination ran wild. He speculated that Mars was drying up and dying and that the Martians—perhaps a race much older than humans—had built the canals in a last effort to save themselves.

Lowell influenced half a century of science-fiction writers and an impressionable public. Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan, wrote about John Carter of Virginia adventuring on Mars to win the hand of the Martian princess Dejah Thoris. Ray Bradbury gave us his rich and often poignant Martian Chronicles.  

"Little green men from Mars" became a famous jest. But many people weren't laughing on the night before Halloween in 1938, when Orson Welles' radio dramatization of H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds panicked many folks into believing the Martians really were invading. At the time, Mars was inconspicuous; this October 30th, the 50th anniversary of that night, will be celebrated with the red planet burning ominously bright in our sky.

PINK SKIES, BLUE SUNSETS  

As we look in awe at Mars with naked eyes or telescopes this autumn, two final questions further inflame our sense of wonder: Is there life on Mars, and—whether or not there is—when will men and women of Planet Earth visit this world?

The two Viking spacecraft that America sent had landers which set down on the red planet in 1976 to try to determine if there was life there. The results were inconclusive and not encouraging.

But the possibility of life on Mars is not yet ruled out. We now know that in the distant past, perhaps repeatedly, Mars has gone through periods when its environment was far less hostile. The Viking orbiters found the traces of ancient riverbeds and mighty floods—perhaps even onetime ocean shores on the now terribly dry planet. There's still some water—perhaps much below the surface on Mars.

And the Viking spacecrafts showed other things about Mars so beautiful and exciting as to stagger belief. Mars is a planet of pink skies and blue sunsets. It has volcanoes almost three times taller than Mt. Everest and as wide as Missouri, as well as an often windswept and sometimes mist-filled canyon as long as the whole United States. There are awesome planet-wide dust storms, four-mile-tall dust devils, beautiful frosts, incredible clouds and two close, tiny, lumpy, hurtling moons called Phobos and Deimos.

If all went well with a launch last July, Phobos may soon be visited by an Earth probe. The Soviet Phobos spacecraft should be on its way even as you read these words.

When it arrives next spring, the vehicle (unmanned, of course) will perform some unique experiments, including landing a device which will bounce around Phobos. (The little moon's gravity is so slight that a person running fairly fast could actually take off and escape from Phobos into his or her own orbit around Mars!)

Other plans for truly grand Mars missions lie further ahead. The U. S. and U. S. S. R. have some very ambitious unmanned missions on the drawing board for the 1990s. And looming in the more distant future perhaps only 10 to 20 years away-is the mission that some scientists believe could help bring the nations of our world together as nothing else ever has: the first manned flight to Mars.

Could this planet named for the god of war help bring peace to our world? That's the biggest dream of all to consider as we watch the beacon of fire called Mars in our sky this autumn.



THE ROTATION OF EARTH AND MARS  
Despite their big difference in size, the 24-hour rotation periods (or "days") for Earth and Mars are about the sane. A day on Mars is slightly longer than here.

ATMOSPHERE DENSITY  
The "air" on Mars is about 10 times thinner than that on Earth and is composed almost entirely of carbon dioxide. Temperatures generally range from -120 degrees Fahrenheit nighttime lows to -20 degrees Fahrenheit daytime highs..

RELATIVE TILT  
Mars' axis tilt (which causes the change of seasons) is 25.1 degrees; Earth's is similar at 23.5 degrees.

ORBITS EXPLAINED  
Though Earth and Mars often draw even with each other, the three diagrams above explain why our closest solar neighbor sometimes appears so much bigger and brighter to earth observers.

PHYSICAL FEATURES
Physical Characteristics
Mars has a striking red appearance, and in its most favorable position for viewing, when it is opposite the sun, it is twice as bright as Sirius, the brightest star. Mars has a diameter of 4,200 mi (6,800 km), just over half the diameter of the earth, and its mass is only 11% of the earth's mass. The planet has a very thin atmosphere consisting mainly of carbon dioxide (95%) with some nitrogen, argon, oxygen, and other gases. Mars has an extreme day-to-night temperature range, resulting from its thin atmosphere, from about 80°F (27°C) at noon to about - 100°F ( - 73°C) at midnight; however, the high daytime temperatures are confined to less than 3 ft (1 m) above the surface.

Surface Features
A network of linelike markings first studied in detail (1877) by G. V. Schiaparelli was referred to by him as canali, the Italian word meaning "channels" or "grooves." Percival Lowell, then a leading authority on Mars, created a long-lasting controversy by accepting these "canals" to be the work of intelligent beings. Under the best viewing conditions, however, these features are seen to be smaller, unconnected features. The greater part of the surface area of Mars appears to be a vast desert, dull red or orange in color. This color may be due to various oxides in the surface composition, particularly those of iron. About one fourth to one third of the surface is composed of darker areas whose nature is still uncertain. Shortly after its perihelion Mars has planetwide dust storms that can obscure all its surface details.

Photographs sent back by the Mariner 4 space probe show the surface of Mars to be pitted with a number of large craters, much like the surface of Earth's moon. In 1971 the Mariner 9 space probe discovered a huge canyon, Valles Marineris. Completely dwarfing the Grand Canyon in Arizona, this canyon stretches for 2,500 mi (4,000 km) and at some places is 125 mi (200 km) across and 2 mi (3 km) deep. Mars also has numerous enormous volcanoes—including Olympus Mons (c.370 mi/600 km in diameter and 16 mi/26 km tall), the largest in the solar system—and lava plains. In 1976 the Viking spacecraft landed on Mars and studied sites at Chryse and Utopia. They recorded a desert environment with a reddish surface and a reddish atmosphere. Experiments analyzed soil samples for evidence of microorganisms or other forms of life; none was found, but a reinterpretation (2010) of the results in light of data collected later suggests that organic compounds may have been present. In 1997, Mars Pathfinder landed on Mars and sent a small rover, Sojourner, to take soil samples and pictures. Among the data returned were more than 16,000 images from the lander and 550 images from the rover, as well as more than 15 chemical analyses of rocks and extensive data on winds and other weather factors. Mars Global Surveyor, which also reached Mars in 1997 and remained operational until 2006, returned images produced by its systematic mapping of the surface. The European Space Agency's Mars Express space probe went into orbit around Mars in late 2003 and sent the Beagle 2 lander to the surface, but contact was not established with the lander. In addition to studying Mars itself, the orbiter has also studied Mars's moons. The American rovers Spirit and Opportunity landed successfully in early 2004 and have explored the Martian landscape ( Spirit's last transmission was in 2010). In 2008 NASA's Phoenix lander touched down in the planet's north polar region; it conducted studies for five months. Curiosity, another NASA rover, landed on Mars near its equator in 2012.

Analysis of space probes' data indicates that Mars appears to lack active plate tectonics at present; there is no evidence of recent lateral motion of the surface. With no plate motion, hot spots under the crust stay in a fixed position relative to the surface; this, along with the lower surface gravity, may be the explanation for the giant volcanoes. However, there is no evidence of current volcanic activity.

There is evidence of erosion caused by floods and small river systems as well as evidence of ancient lakebeds. The possible identification of rounded pebbles and cobbles on the ground, and sockets and pebbles in some rocks, suggests conglomerates that formed in running water during a warmer past some 2–4 billion years ago, when liquid water was stable and there was water on the surface, possibly even large lakes or oceans. Rovers have identified minerals believed to have formed in the presence of liquid water. There is also evidence of flooding that occurred less than several million years ago, most likely as the result of the release of water from aquifers deep underground or the melting of ice. However, other evidence suggests that the water would have been extremely salty and acidic. Data received beginning in 2002 from the Mars Odyssey space probe suggests that there is water in sand dunes found in the northern hemisphere, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which went into orbit around the planet in 2006, collected radar data that indicates the presence of large subsurface ice deposits in the mid-northern latitudes of Mars. Most of the known water on Mars, however, lies in a frozen layer under the planet's large polar ice caps, which themselves consist of water ice and dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide); the lander Phoenix found and observed frozen water beneath the soil surface in the north polar region in 2008.

Seasonal Changes

Because the axis of rotation is tilted about 25° to the plane of revolution, Mars experiences seasons somewhat similar to those of the earth. One of the most apparent seasonal changes is the growing or shrinking of white areas near the poles known as polar caps. These polar caps, which are are composed of water ice and dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide). During the Martian summer the polar cap in that hemisphere shrinks and the dark regions grow darker; in winter the polar cap grows again and the dark regions become paler. The seasonal portion of the ice cap is dry ice. When the ice cap is seasonally warmed, geyserlike jets of carbon dioxide gas mixed with dust and sand erupt from the ice.
  Basic Astronomical facts about Mars:
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and it is the first planet outside Earth's boundary. It appears to be of reddish color as seen from Earth. It has a diameter of about 6,794 kilometers. Its closest distance from the Earth is about 56 million kilometers. From Sun its distance varies from 205 million kilometers to 249 million kilometers. Mars takes 687 days to make one orbit around the Sun and it takes 24 hours and 37 minutes to complete one rotation on its axis. Its surface temperature varies from 10°C to -120° C. Its average geocentric motion per day is 00°31'27". Mars have two natural satellite of its own, named Phobos and Deimos. Mars retrograde period is about 60 to 80 days and it gets retrograde approximately every twenty six months.


The Mars in Hindu Mythology
Daksha, the king of entire earth once organized the greatest yagna and invited all gods, demigods, sages, and other famous personalities. He however did not invite Lord Shiva, his own son-in-law. When Sati, Lord Shiva's wife heard about this yagna she left to attend it inspite her husband's objections, but when she arrived there her father Daksha insulted Shiva. This was unbearable for Sati and she gave up her life. On hearing the events that had taken place at Daksha's yagna, Lord Shiva's wrath reached its boiling point and in rage he pulled a hair from his matted locks and threw it on the ground and it became a fiery being of unequal strength with many heads and eyes, and thousands arms and legs. His mare sight was enough to strike unparallel fear in strongest of hearts. Lord Shiva named him Virabhadra and commanded him to destroy Daksha and his yagna and anyone who tries to stop him. Virabhadra with Shiva's army of spirits and goblins reached the venue of the yagna and seeing him and his army all started to run in different directions to save themselves. Virabhadra destroyed Daksha's sacrifice, and then killed Daksha. Virabhadra returned to Shiva who was extremely pleased with him, and granted him a permanent place in the heavens as a planet and named him Angaraka (Mars), the fiercest of planets. As Lord Shiva directly produced Mars or Angaraka's, he is naturally referred as son of Lord Shiva just like his other son Karttikeya and it is said that those afflicted by Mars should worship Karthikeya.


Basic Astrological facts about Mars:
The Mars is of masculine gender, karaka or significator of the strength and power, as relationship significator it denotes siblings, as body part significator it governs the chest. As per planetary cabinet it have the status of army commander, its temperament is violent, angry and rash, its element is agni or fire, its primary quality or guna is tamo or dull or ignorant, by caste it is kshatriya or warrior and its nature is malefic.

It is the ruler of zodiacal sign of Aries and Scorpio and astrological first and eight houses, its exaltation sign is Capricorn, debilitation sign is Cancer and determent sign is Libra. It get directional strength in tenth house (south) and directional weakness in fourth house (north). As per planetary relationship its friends are Sun, Moon and Jupiter, it is neutral with Venus and Saturn and its enemy is Mercury. Nakshatras or Lunar mansions governed by Mars are Mrigashira, Chitra and Dhanishta. Its period as per Vimshottari Dasa is of seven years. It rules south direction and Tuesday among the days of the week. It governs grishma or summer season and in metals copper Its gemstone is coral and substitute gemstones is bloodstone and blood red is the color ruled by it. In food and flavors it governs things of bitter taste. It represents the geometrical shape of a hourglass. Positive key words for Mars are courage, energy, activity, initiative, and originality. Negative key words for Mars are arrogant, aggressive, headstrong, selfish, and impulsive. As per Numerology numbers 9, 18, 27, 36 and all those that adds up to nine, are governed by it.


Body parts, function and diseases governed Mars:
Mars is associated with our physical and energy levels It is the natural significator of muscles, without Mars one cannot move a muscle and it is the energizer and stimulator of all aspects of our bodies. In terms of body parts and health problems Mars signifies head and reproductive organs due to its ownership of Aries and Scorpio, the natural first and eight houses of the zodiac. It governs muscular system, adrenal and prostate gland, blood -specifically red blood cells and thus signifies any disease related to blood disorders, such as anemia, blood poisoning etc. Any type of blows, cuts, accident, wounds and surgery are signified by Mars. Headaches including migraine headaches, brain fevers and any type of inflammation, high fever and rapid temperature increases are also governed by Mars. As Mars also rules over the reproductive system it governs most diseases related to them like hemorrhoids, diseases of the reproductive system, coon, bladder, and venereal diseases. If Mars is well placed and aspected then one can quickly bounce back from sickness and have good recuperating powers and stamina.


Professions governed by Mars:
People working in departments or trade related to police, army, firemen, security guards, weapons, ordnance, firearms, ammunition, artillery, inflammable substance and anything that is volatile, needs physical power including any fast, active and contact sports. Surgeons, radiologists, pathologist, technicians, mechanics and repair workers of any kind of machine, electronics and electrical systems, construction workers, iron and steel workers, butchers and barbers. Manufacturer or traders in acids, metal melting industries, furnaces etc.


The Mantras for Mars:
Beej Mantra of the Mars:
Om kram kreem kroum sah bhaumaya namah
Mars stotra:
Dharanigarbha sambhutam vidyut kanti samaprabha kumaram shaktihastam cha mangalam pranam mayaham
Gayatri Mantra of Mars:
Om angarakaya vidmahe sakti hastaya dhimahi tanno bhaumah prachodayat


Remedies for Mars which are performed if Mars is not well placed in the horoscope:
Worshiping the ruling deities of the Mars, Lord Kartikeya and Shiva.
Recitation of Durga or Hanuman chalisa.
Reciting of Mars Mantras.
Charity: Donate red cloths, red lentils, ghee and black pepper on Tuesdays to young males.
Fasting: On Tuesdays.
Pooja: Kartikeya or Hanuman pooja.
Rudraksh: Wear three mukhi (three faced) Rudraksh.

MARS:- Thirst, impurity of blood and diseases arising there from, jaundice, fever, troubles from fire, weapons and poison; leprosy; eye troubles, fits of all kinds, diseases of marrow, beri-beri, itches and boils, diseases of the head.
Mars is a violent planet and appears red in colour. Malefic effect on Mars denotes accidents, surgery, injury, blood disorders, acidity, acne, ulcers, smoking habits, boils, aggressive behaviour etc.

WHAT DOES MARS REPRESENTS ?
Mars represents : Murder, violence, Riots, Violent Fires, prominently relates to Brother & Earth, Machinery
Mars in positive house : Self Confidence, Daring, unusual Activity, Restlessness A well placed Mars gives good relations with Brothers,
Agricultural & House / property,
If Mars is related to the 10 th house then Authority is bestowed and can be misused. Mars rules : Iron, Steel, Knives, Arms & Ammunition, Political differences, Family disputes. Mars represents : Chicken Pox,
Measles, Cuts, Bleeding, Urinary System, Liver etc. Chemist, Druggist Surgeon.
Mars in Signs can relate to Occupation : 
In Water Signs = Navy,                                                                                               
Earth = Army,                                                                                                         
Air = Pilots,
Plants - Astrology and Mythology

Plants seen from an astrological perspective. See how zodiac signs and plants (trees, shrubs, herbs, crawlers, bulbs, vegetables, annuals, fruits and nuts) are connected.

The myths sourrounding the plants and the facts revealed, their medicinal properties give a flavour to your basic need from mother nature.How Plants are connected with the Planets ?



Sun Signs Education and Career

He signifies stamina and ability to break down a complex problem into smaller parts and analyze each of them to have a comprehensive study of the whole problem. It uses logical reasoning to get a solution. It represents technical knowledge, mathematics, logistics and surgery. Mars gives alert mind and makes one quick to act. However aspect of mars on mercury can cause break in education. Mechanical, electrical and industrial engineering, trades in metals, geological  institutions, railways, labour forces, surgery departments, trades in weapons, cooking are few professions related to mars.


What is Mars in the birth chart?:
This is where the planet Mars was when you were born. There are two things to consider that help to understand your Mars. What is your Mars sign? Where is your Mars (what house) on the birth chart?

How can I find out about my Mars sign and house position? :
You'll find it by looking for the Mars symbol on the birth chart .

What does Mars have to do with our sex lives?:
In astrology Mars is said to influence what turns you on, and how you'll pursue a potential mate. The sign and house position of Mars determines whether you'll have a detached or lovey-dovey approach to what goes on in the bedroom.

What's the difference between Venus and Mars in my birth chart?:
Mars is the passionate impulse and action, while Venus tends to the overall relationship atmosphere. Mars is the masculine aspect, and this goes beyond sex into your drive, discipline, will-power and stamina. Venus is the feminine aspect, and tempers Mars to smell the roses along the way. We need Mars' fire to generate sparks, and keep it spicy.

What does Mars have to do with my overall personality?:
Mars is like the volcano of vitality inside you that must be released and channeled. Mars lights up when you become filled with desire, and this guides you toward your destiny. It influences aspects of character related to action, like endurance, persistence, discipline. The aspects with Mars in your chart show things like how you handle frustration and conflict.

What does Mars have to do with anger and violence?:
Mars needs a mission, and can stir up serious trouble when repressed or twarted. When Mars is in conflict with other planets, you might struggle with anger issues and in extreme cases, be a rage-a-holic or veer toward violent behavior. The most famous example is Hilter, who had Mars squaring Saturn in his birth chart.

Why is Mars called the Red Planet?:
Mars was named for the Roman God of War, and is also known as "the bright and burning one." Its landscape is red and orange ochre, and its sky is a swirly red-pink.

What are the Keywords of Mars ?
ambition, sexual desire, passion, determination, will to act, discipline, motivation, initiation, impulses, fire within, energy levels, expressing anger

What is the meaning of Mars in Astrology?:
Mars lights a fire under our passions, and then propels us like an ignited rocket toward our goals. This is an important energy, since it determines how we pursue what we want to achieve in life. These flashpoints burn a path toward what is possible, if we follow them.

What do you consider before taking action? What creates momentum in your life? How do you corral others to join you in some activity? The answer to these questions are dictated by Mars.
Sexually, Mars influences how you go about initiating a night of amour. Mars determines how you court a potential lover, from being cooly detached, to becoming ablaze with ardent intensity, and every style in between.
The planet is named for the God of War, but Mars energy only becomes a negative force when it serves the Ego, and not a higher cause. On a social level, it is a primal force that can become destructive when its collective power is harnessed for questionable purposes. Your Mars, or desire drives, can be co-opted and channeled by others. That makes a strong case for understanding your desires, and not allowing them to fall into shadow.

When Mars is "afflicted" or has many conflicts in a birth chart, it can lead to repressing the vital fire within. But not to be denied, a stifled Mars will eventually erupt, and emerge through temper tantrums or just a lowgrade, but constant irritability.

All Mars asks is to be channeled and given an outlet. When your own Mars nature is understood, it's easier to master. It guides you toward making the most of your potential through the use of your own natural assertiveness.









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