My astronomy NEWTs:

[alt_sinistra]

If you get the chance, take a look at the western horizon after sunset the next night or two. Mars, Saturn, and Spica are in an unusually small equilateral triangle - about six degrees of each other. One thing everyone can enjoy are the colours: the crescent moon was nearly white last night, Saturn has a golden glow, and Mars is more orange than red. Spica herself is blue-white.

Spica, for those who don’t remember, is a particularly well-matched binary star system, and the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. 6th years, we’ll be discussing Spica in September as part of our look at precession. And for those of you who are early morning risers, Venus is particularly lovely in the hours before dawn this week as well.

I finally got a chance to spend the evening at the astronomy guild hall doing some research, and had a chance to catch up with several professional colleagues while we worked. There are some exciting topics under consideration for next summer’s guild-sponsored projects. Several have pieces that would make a good focus for the NEWT year-long research projects, and possibly open up internship opportunities for next summer. For those of you more interested in locational magics, there are a few possibilities there, as well.

Comments

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

[alt_sinistra]

Oh.

Good for them both, I agree. And I hadn't even really thought about that. Hypatia.

Thank you for the offer, but ... perhaps tomorrow evening? If that wouldn't be too much.

Both my parents are - well, now they've seen the details (some of Mum's colleagues are entirely too happy to share that kind of thing apparently), they need a bit of soothing. I don't want to be tricky to reach for a little yet, while they're still fussing.

Or my oldest brother is. (He was at school with Raz, which in this case is not helping. At all. Of all the times for him to actually notice the larger world.)

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

[alt_narcissa]

Do forgive me, dear, but I have not rushed out to obtain the thing in question. If for no other reason than it leaves one free to answer 'I've not read it, nor would I do,' should anyone be rude enough as to ask.

But I, for one, hardly think that either of you were pure as snow before meeting one another. Nor should you have been expected to be (whatever Inigo Sandoval may think about his daughter, we are living in more modern times than all that). Even if it was somewhat, well, wild let us say or impetuous, I should think if you were ashamed of anything in your past, you'll have already told Raz about it, or agreed that it doesn't matter.

He certainly is in no position to cast hexes at you, whatever the accusations may be. And thus far there has been no hint in him of any blame toward you, let me assure you.

I think the best thing you can tell your parents, my dear, is that obviously someone has forgotten their manners at In the Soup and clearly run with a story that shows poor judgement and worse taste. On their part, not yours.

Not to worry. It will sort itself given time. And given a few choice repercussions for the editor and his staff.

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

[alt_sinistra]

Raz does have a copy, should your curiousity get the better of you - that's part of what I sent by owl this morning.

And no. It's not that my parents think I'm pure as the driven snow. (Our family's actually more prone to earthy pragmatism than perennial protestations of chastity.) But I don't like rubbing Dad's face in it too much if I don't have to, and there is the complication of students.

Raz already knew all the (quite few) bits that were truth, and truly, I've no worries there, and know he's been just as honest with me. (Though it's good to be reassured, thank you.)

It's trying to figure out where a couple of the accusations came from that bothers me. There's a couple of pieces that were just detailed enough to have had an ill-informed source of a particular kind. And I didn't think there were more than a couple of people who disliked me quite that much.

If you're sure it's all right and won't be a bother, I think I would like to come tomorrow, rather than wait, though.

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

[alt_narcissa]

Yes, of course. Come whenever you like. We shan't stand on formalities here.

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

[alt_sinistra]

Oh, thank you.

I'll aim for four or so, and be safely out of the way in case my brother thinks better of tonight's conversation tomorrow.