mardi 22 juillet 2008

Gemini 10



Gemini 9


Gemini is the third astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Gemini. In western astrology, this sign is no longer aligned with the constellation as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. In astrology, Gemini is considered a "masculine", positive (extrovert) sign. It is also considered an air sign, and is one of four mutable signs. Gemini has been closely associated with the planet Mercury and is considered to be ruled by it.
Individuals born when the Sun was in this sign are considered Gemini individuals. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun is in the sign of Gemini roughly from May 21 to June 21. Under the sidereal zodiac, it is currently there roughly from June 15 to July 15.


Gemini is associated with the Greek myth of Castor (or Kastor) and Pollux and with the Greco-Roman god Hermes/Mercury. Gemini is sometimes associated with the norse gods Loki, Freyr, and Freyja, the Slavic deity Veles, and Greek god Asklepios/Aesculapius[citation needed], the goddesses Eris/Discordia, the goddess Hebe, and goddess Ate[citation needed]. Being twins, Gemini can also be associated with the Greek twins Apollo and Artemis.


The astrological symbol for Gemini is the Roman numeral for two, to represent the twins and duality.

Gemini 8


Gemini (Latin: twins, symbol , Unicode ♊) is one of the constellations of the zodiac known as "the twins". It is part of the winter sky, lying between Taurus to the west and the dim Cancer to the east, with Auriga and the near-invisible Lynx to the north and Monoceros and Canis Minor to the south. The Gemini program is named for it.


The stars of the constellation Gemini can be connected in an alternative way, which graphically shows a pair of twins holding hands.
The twin to the right is Castor, whose brightest star is alpha Geminorum (more commonly called Castor), is of the second magnitude, and represents Castor's head. The twin to the left is Pollux, whose brightest star is beta Geminorum (more commonly called Pollux), is of the first magnitude, and represents Pollux's head.
Pollux's torso is represented by star upsilon Geminorum, Pollux's right hand by iota Geminorum, Pollux's left hand by kappa Geminorum: all three of these stars are of the fourth magnitude.
Pollux's pelvis is represented by star delta Geminorum, Pollux's right knee by zeta Geminorum, Pollux's right foot by gamma Geminorum, Pollux's left knee by lambda Geminorum, and Pollux's left foot by xi Geminorum. Gamma Geminorum is of the second magnitude, while delta and xi Geminorum are of the third magnitude.
Castor's torso is represented by the star tau Geminorum, Castor's left hand by iota Geminorum (which he shares with Pollux), Castor's right hand by theta Geminorum: all three of these stars are of the fourth magnitude.
Castor's pelvis is represented by the star epsilon Geminorum, Castor's left foot by nu Geminorum, and Castor's right foot by mu Geminorum and eta Geminorum: epsilon, mu, and eta Geminorum are of the third magnitude.

Gemini 7




Tefnut (Tefenet, Tefnet) was the lunar goddess of moisture, humidity and water who was also a solar goddess connected with the sun and dryness (more specifically, the absence of moisture). She was the daughter of the creator god, mother of the twin sky and the earth deities and the 'Eye of Ra' as well as a creative force as the 'Tongue of Ptah'. Her name itself is related to water - tf is the root of the words for 'spit' and 'moist'. Her name translates to something like 'She of Moisture'.



Tefnut was generally shown as a woman with a lion's head, or as a full lioness. She was occasionally shown as a woman, but this is rare. She was shown with the solar disk and uraeus, linking her with the sun. She was often shown holding a sceptre and the ankh sign of life.
Related to moisture, she was also linked to the moon, as were other deities of moisture and wetness. She was originally thought to be the Lunar Eye of Ra and thus linked to the night sky as well as to dew, rain and mist.



As with other water deities, she took on some form of a goddess of creation. As the 'Tongue of Ptah', she was one of the gods in Mennefer (Hikuptah, Memphis) who helped Ptah - that city's main god - with creation by carrying out his will. Yet in the cities of Iunu (On, Heliopolis) and Waset (Thebes) she was more of a female form of her husband-brother Shu, whose main task was to start the sexual, creative cycle and give birth to Shu's children.
Atem is he who masturbated in Iunu. He took his phallus in his grasp that he might create orgasm by means of it, and so were born the twins Shu and Tefnut.
-- Pyramid Text 1248-49
Tefnut and Shu - god of dry air - were the children of Atem (a form of the sun god Ra), who in turn created the twins Nut and Geb. Originally, though, rather than being paired with Shu, she had been paired with a god called Tefen. Other than his name, little is known about this Tefen. It seems, though, that he and Tefnut were linked together in connection with the goddess Ma'at:
"Tefen and Tefnut have weighed Unas and Ma'at has listened, and Shu has born witness."
-- Pyramid Text of Unas
During the Middle Kingdom Tefnut became connected to Ma'at, and as such this goddess is sometimes seen assisting Shu in his task of holding Nut above Geb. More often he is alone in the task.



"O Amen-Ra, the gods have gone forth from thee. What flowed forth from thee became Shu, and that which was emitted by thee became Tefnut ... thou was the lion god of the twin lion gods (Shu and Tefnut)."
-- The Gods of the Egyptians, E. A. Wallis Budge
One story says that Shu and Tefnut went to explore the waters of Nun. After some time, Ra believed that they were lost, and sent the his Eye out into the chaos to find them. When his children were returned to him, Ra wept, and his tears were believed to have turned into the first humans.



Not only was the sun god her father, but she also took on the aspect of the sun - no longer the moon - as the 'Eye of Ra', the 'Lady of the Flame' and the 'Uraeus on the Head of all the Gods':
Tefnut was thought to have been the upset goddess who fled into Nubia, taking all of her water and moisture with her. Egypt soon dried, and the land was in chaos while in Nubia, Tefnut turned herself into a lioness and went on a killing spree in her anger at her father, from whom she had fled. Eventually Ra decided that he missed her, and wanted her back. Ra sent Thoth and Shu to get her, and they found her in Begum. Thoth began at once to try and persuade her to return to Egypt. In the end Tefnut (with Shu and Thoth leading her) made a triumphant entry back into Egypt, accompanied by a host of Nubian musicians, dancers and baboons. She went from city to city, bringing back moisture and water (the inundation), amid great rejoicing, until finally she was reunited with her father, and restored to her rightful position as his Eye.
This story also explains how the goddess of moisture could also be the goddess of dryness, heat and the negative aspects of the sun. The people believed that without her water, Egypt could dry and burn in the sun. So she took on the form of a lion - as did the other goddesses with the 'Eye of Ra' title - and was also strongly linked to the sun.



As the 'Eye of Ra' she was also linked to Bast, Sekhmet, Hathor, Isis, Wadjet and Nekhbet. This story is very similar to another tale of the 'Eye of Ra', where Sekhmet slaughters mankind before getting drunk, returning to heaven and turning into the sweet goddess Hathor.
At Iunet (Dendera) there was a portion of the city named after her - "The House of Tefnut" . She was worshiped in connection with the Ennead at Iunu, and in her lion form at Nay-ta-hut (Leontopolis).



Despite Akenaten's distaste for the gods of Egypt, he and Nefertiti used Tefnut and Shu for political purposes. They depicted themselves as the twin gods in an apparent attempt to elevate their status to that of being a living god and goddess, the son and daughter of the creator, on earth. Akenaten was not a monotheist - despite raising the Aten above all other gods, and attempting to quash the worship of some other deities, Akenaten did not drop all links with other deities. Ra, Shu, Tefnut, Thoth, Ptah and Hathor were still prominent gods in Akenaten's religion.



Tefnut was both the Left (moon) and the Right (sun) Eyes of Ra, representing both heavenly sources of light that the ancient Egyptians saw, and thus she was a goddess of both the sun and dryness, and the moon and moisture. She was one of the original deities - one of the Ennead - in the various versions of creation, and she was the first mother, according to these stories. Even though she was not as popular as her daughter Nut, or her granddaughters Nephthys or Isis, the Egyptians knew that without her, Egypt would descend into chaos. It is no wonder that they equated her with the goddess Ma'at.

Gemini 6

the Twins, are really only half-brothers. They share the same mother (Leda) but have different fathers. Castor's father was a king of Sparta, Tyndareus - who would be chased from his throne but later rescued by Heracles (who nevertheless wound up killing him).
The father of Pollux was none other than Zeus, or Jupiter. Zeus visited Leda on her wedding night in the guise of a swan. Thus the twins would be born. (In fact two twins came from this double union, but let's not complicate the matter even more...)
It should be said, however, that Pollux had a sister as well by Leda and Zeus: the beautiful Helen, who would become Queen of Sparta, and whose abduction by Paris would lead to the Trojan War.
Castor was a great horseman and fighter. One of his pupils was Heracles. Like Heracles, both Castor and Pollux would become Argonauts, that is, join Jason in his quest for the golden fleece.
The twins spent their time raiding cattle and abducting young women, as Greek gods were wont to do. During one such cattle raid a cousin (Idas) became enraged at Castor and killed him. Zeus threw a thunderbolt at Idas, killing him instantly.
Since Pollux was the son of Zeus, he was immortal. But Pollux mourned over his brother's loss to such a point that he wanted to follow Castor into Hades. Zeus was so stricken by Pollux's love for his brother, he allowed them both to share Hades and Olympus, (on alternate days). Later Greek writers had Zeus place the two in the heavens side by side.
The stars of Gemini include two of the most recognisable in the heavens: the twins Castor and Pollux.
Castor (alpha Geminorum) is the slightly dimmer star. It has a visual magnitude of 1.93 and is 52 light years distant. It isn't a particularly large star, at about twice the Sun's diameter. The star is a noted binary, discussed below.
Pollux is the brighter of the two stars with a visual magnitude of 1.16 and a distance of 33.7 light years. It is also considerably larger, with an estimated diameter of about ten Suns.
Castor and Pollux are 4.5 degrees apart, which helps observers estimate separation distances between other stars.
Epsilon Geminorum is a supergiant at about 30 Sun diameters. This star may be as far away as 950 light years, but the combination of visual and absolute magnitudes suggests a much closer star, at only 190 light years.
Zeta Geminorum is the most distant of the bright stars in this constellation, at over 1200 light years. This is a cepheid variable (see below).
Eta Geminorum is a red giant, about 50 times the size of the Sun, at a distance of 280 light years. It is a visual binary and a variable (details below).
Double stars in Gemini

Alpha Geminorum is a well-known binary with the companion currently (2000.0) at a PA of 65º and separation 3.9". The visual magnitudes are 1.9 and 3.0. There is some disagreement over the precise period of the companion; one observer has it at 420 years, another at 511. More recent measurements put the orbit at 467 years and the orbit we've prepared uses this revised value.
This was the first binary system that was so recognised, in 1802 (or 1803, accounts vary) by William Herschel. However there is considerable speculation that the star was a known double long before that, perhaps even a century before Herschel made his announcement.
The companion, Castor B, is also a spectroscopic binary, with its companion revolving around Castor B every three days.
In fact, the entire system is comprised of six stars, including a red dwarf, Castor C, which slowly revolves around both Castor A and Castor B. This star is also a variable (and therefore catalogued as YY Gem).
Delta Geminorum: visual magnitudes 3.5, 8.2, PA 225º, separation 5.8". The period is estimated at 1200 years; the companion is an orange dwarf which may be difficult to resolve in smaller telescopes.
Eta Geminorum is a visual binary that takes some work to resolve; the companion is only 8.8 (primary is 3.3), the PA is 266º and separation 1.4". This is nearly a fixed binary, with very little movement.

Variable stars in Gemini

Zeta Geminorum is a cepheid variable, from 3.62 to 4.18 every 10.15 days.
Eta Geminorum is a semi-regular variable with an average period of 232.9 days. It ranges from 3.2 to 3.9.
R Geminorum is a Mira-type long-period variable, with large variation from 6.0 to 14.0 every 370 days. The 2000 maximum should arrive in mid October.

Gemini 5


The twins were raised by the centaur Chiron (now the constellation Sagittarius) and later joined Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. Eventually they decided to take wives and selected the two beautiful daughters of the king of Sparta. Now it happened that the two women were already married to Idas and Lynceus, cousins of the twins. But this seems to have made little difference to the Twins. They simply carried to girls off and settled down with them. The two cousins were not bothered by this. A few years later, the cousins, in friendly company of the Twins, made a joint raid on some cattle. It is said that trouble between the two pairs of thieves began when the tried to divide the cattle among themselves.


Idas had the solution. He hacked one of the cows into four equal pieces and said that whichever two individuals completely finished eating their quarters first would divide the spoils. This took the Twins off guard and they watched helplessly as their two cousins wolfed down their quarters of the cow. Idas and Lynceus then drove off the entire heard.


Tricked, Castor and Pollux vowed to get even with their cousins. Within a few days they set out after the two cousins to recover their share of the cattle. During the fight that followed, Idas killed Castor with a spear. Infuriated over the loss of his twin brother, Pollux chased his cousins and killed Lynceus with a single blow. Just as Idas was about to hurl a tombstone at Pollux, Zeus came to Pollux's aid and hurled a thunderbolt at Idas, killing him on the spot. Pollux, the immortal son of Zeus, begged to die so that he would not be separated from his brother. Not even the mighty Zeus could do such a thing so he placed them together in the sky as the constellation Gemini, the twins.


Uranus and Pluto were discovered in Gemini. Uranus was found near h Geminorum and Pluto near q Geminorum.


In Greek mythology, Castor & Pollux were twin heroes. The two were born from an egg laid by Leda after she was seduced by Zeus in the disguise of a swan. Yet it was said that Pollux was the son of Zeus, and Castor was the son of Tyndareus. The two brothers were good companions and became gods, patrons of athletes and protectors of sailors at sea. Castor & Pollux had power over the winds and waves. Castor became famous as a rider of horses while his brother Pollux became equally skilled at boxing and fighting battles.

Gemini 4


Gemini is the first of the air elements whose basic elemental qualities are hot and wet. Its seasonal qualities are hot and wet in the Northern latitudes while cold and dry in the Southern. It is masculine whose similitude is of the diurnal sect.Gemini is the diurnal domicile of Mercury (Hermes) and the North Node is exalted in the 3rd°. It is the detriment of Jupiter. The ruler of its triplicity by day is Saturn followed by Mercury. By night it is Mercury followed by Saturn. The co-ruler by day and night is Jupiter.


"Gemini is masculine, bicorporeal, euphonius, ascending, airy, effeminate, pertaining to freedmen, barren, public. . . fond of discourse, who work with letters and education, poetic, lovers of music, teachers of the use of the voice, capable in matters of household management, those who receive trust.. . also interpreters, those with an aptitude for commerce, critics of good and bad, prudent, curious, initiates in occult matters."- - Vettius Valens: The Anthology Book I
Gemini is the next of the season's transitional signs. However here in the north Gemini is completely in it's element. Hot and wet. While Taurus was busy throwing down roots and establishing solidity and order, Gemini wants to learn to use them. This sign brings about mental application, awareness, versatility and communication making it essentially a "mental" constellation. Intellectuality and brilliance notwithstanding, Gemini, nevertheless bestows an impatient restlessness and seldom ease, it always craves excitement or sensation. It bestows a restless spirit which forces the planets' found there to continually seek variety.


In ancient star maps two naked boys, one of who holds a lyre and the other a sickle knife, represented Gemini. The earlier astrological texts offer that Gemini represented the gaiety and delightfulness of youth, like the young plant whose leaves are opening to receive and use the necessary elements for sustaining life. It is about discovery and investigation.It is perhaps appropriate that Mercury was awarded Gemini as its domicile.


Because Mercury is "logos" which functions like a relay switch for the two sects. As if to mimic the nature of this duality, Gemini is considered bicorporal, meaning double-bodied. The twins bring about a duality of perspective. It is a sign remarkable for its versatility and adaptability. As Castor cannot exist without his Pollux, neither can the planets found in Gemini without their "alter egos".

Gemini 3


In Greek mythologyThe Twins represents the two brothers, Castor and Polydeuces (in Latin, Pollux). Their mother was Queen Leda of Sparta, who was seduced by Zeus in the form of a swan. That same night she also slept with her husband King Tyndareus. As a result she bore the Twins, one of whom was mortal, and the other immortal.Castor was the mortal Twin and the son of King Tyndareus. Pollux was immortal; Zeus had fathered him. According to other stories, there were two girls born as well - Helen, who was implicated in the Trojan War - and Clytemnestra.

And the children are usually portrayed as coming from an egg - probably because of Zeus seduced the queen in the form of a bird.The two brothers were good companions and became gods, patrons of athletes and protectors of sailors at sea. Castor and Pollux had power over the winds and waves. Castor became famous as a rider of horses. He was skilled with the sword as well and taught the art of sword fighting to the young Hercules. His brother Pollux became equally skilled at boxing and fighting battles.The twins were raised by the centaur Chiron (now the constellation Sagittarius) and later joined Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece.Eventually they decided to take wives and selected the two beautiful daughters of the king of Sparta. Now it happened that the two women were already married to Idas and Lynceus, cousins of the twins. But this seems to have made little difference to the Twins.

They simply carried the girls off and settled down with them.A few years later, the cousins, in friendly company of the Twins, made a joint raid on some cattle. It is said that trouble between the two pairs of thieves began when they tried to divide the cattle among themselves.Idas had the solution. He hacked one of the cows into four equal pieces and said that whichever two individuals completely finished eating their quarters first would divide the spoils.

This took the Twins off guard and they watched helplessly as their two cousins wolfed down their quarters of the cow. Idas and Lynceus then drove off the entire heard.Tricked, Castor and Pollux vowed to get even with their cousins. Within a few days they set out after the two cousins to recover their share of the cattle.

During the fight that followed, Idas killed Castor with a spear.Infuriated over the loss of his twin brother, Pollux chased his cousins and killed Lynceus with a single blow. Just as Idas was about to hurl a tombstone at Pollux, Zeus came to Pollux's aid and hurled a thunderbolt at Idas, killing him on the spot. Pollux, the immortal son of Zeus, begged to die so that he would not be separated from his brother. Not even the mighty Zeus could do such a thing so he placed them together in the sky as the constellation Gemini, the twins.

Gemini 2


"In Gemini there are 18 stars..."- - Ibn-Ezra"It has 21 stars..." - - Vettius Valens"the stars in the feet of Gemini have an influence similar to that of Mercury, and moderately to that of Venus; the bright stars in the thighs are like Saturn. It is said to cause trouble and disgrace, sickness, loss of fortune, affliction and danger to the knees."

Ptolemy With spring approaching Gemini lies right along the Milky Way, and the ecliptic (the region in which the Sun and planets are constrained) passes through it.It is circumscribed (clockwise from north over west) by the constellations of Auriga, Taurus, Orion, Monoceros, Cancer and Lynx.The declination of this constellation ranges from +10 to +35 degrees. The most prominent stars of Gemini are Castor and Pollux, the "heads" of the twins in the upper left of the image.

A few galactic deep sky objects are visible in Gemini. Impressive is the rich open star cluster M 35 near the feet of the twins.Uranus and Pluto were discovered in Gemini.

Gemini 1


Delta Geminorum : Wasat : وسط

Zeta Geminnorum : Mekbuda :
الذّراع المقبوضة

Gamma Geminorum : Alhena: الهنعه

Yin-Yang ( Iota Geminorium).
陰 陽

双子座


( Horoscope Chinois) 井宿