The astronomy tag has no wiki summary.
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4answers
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How to care about the molad
I have read the great answers to Purpose of announcing Molad and understood that the halakhic reason to know the molad is to know what the Sanhedrin would know when they declared a new month.
But ...
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0answers
32 views
Why did God create outer space? [duplicate]
Everything God does has a reason. He created the world for us to serve him. How does most of outer space help us serve God.
Or just plainly why was space created?
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0answers
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Levana or Yareach?
In the entire Tanach the moon is generally called Yareach. There are 3 instances where it is called Levana. One is ישעיהו: כד. כג.
וחפרה הלבנה ובושה החמה. Another one is ישעיהו: ל. כו.
והיה אור הלבנה ...
5
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0answers
54 views
What defines “on this earth” from a halachic standpoint?
Rabbi Ben-Zion Firrer asked whether Torah Law must be observed in space, since Deuteronomy 12:1 says one should follow the Commandments "all of the days which you are alive on this earth."
What ...
2
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2answers
70 views
Shouldn't the flood have ended on the 18th of Cheshvan?
Inspired by this question: New date at sunset: question on Sifse Chachamim
The Torah tells us that the Flood started the 17th of Cheshvan (Bereshit 7:11) and concluded the 27th of Cheshvan (Bereshit ...
3
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0answers
61 views
On what basis do we understand references to Orion and the Pleiades in Iyov?
Iyov 38:31-32 reads:
הַתְקַשֵּׁר מַעֲדַנּוֹת כִּימָה אוֹ מוֹשְׁכוֹת כְּסִיל תְּפַתֵּחַ:
. הֲתֹצִיא מַזָּרוֹת בְּעִתּוֹ וְעַיִשׁ עַל בָּנֶיהָ תַנְחֵם:
Can you tie the chains of the Pleiades ...
8
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3answers
209 views
Permissibility of images of celestial bodies
There is precedent in halachah that one may not create images of celestial bodies such as the moon and stars; see here for background. This is derived in the Gemara from the pasuk "Do not make [images ...
0
votes
2answers
109 views
When did hashem stop the sun?
As in the time of milchemes Ay, Hashem stopped the sun for 36 hours . Where else in Tanach did it happen? I need more then one.
1
vote
1answer
80 views
What was the first Hebrew date of the first Molad?
If one were to represent the Molad Tohu as a date, comprised of a month, day, year, hours, minutes, seconds, and chalakim, what date would that be?
6
votes
1answer
99 views
What does Maimonides say about geocentrism?
I have read that Maimonides described the universe in a geocentric fashion, but I have not been able to find the specific passages to which they refer.
What does Maimonides say about geocentrism?
3
votes
1answer
98 views
Good and Bad Omen - on something that can be calculated in advance
Inspired by Why make a bracha on an earthquake but not on an eclipse?
When something can be predicted in advance to an exact moment - for example an eclipse which Chazal say it is a bad Omen (Sukkah ...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
Why make a bracha on an earthquake but not on an eclipse?
According to this page, Chaza"l intentionally omitted solar and lunar eclipses from the list of natural phenomena upon which we make a bracha. The following explanation is given:
"The Hebrew term ...
6
votes
1answer
91 views
Is there an exhaustive list of astronomical/environmental events for which there are blessings?
Inspired by:
What Bracha do you say on a Hurricane?
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse?
Bracha for the transit of Venus?
Is there anywhere in the Halachic literature that lists all of ...
9
votes
2answers
154 views
Bracha for the transit of Venus?
Venus is transiting today for the last time until 2117 (or 5878, if you prefer). Is there a specific bracha that should be made upon witnessing this spectacular event?
11
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1answer
168 views
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse?
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse? I will be in Nevada next week and would like to make a blessing over the May 21 Solar Eclipse. Thanks!
8
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2answers
217 views
Minhag not to view moon through a window?
I have a vague memory of being told not to gaze at the moon through the glass of a window. I think it had something to do with kabbalah. I know it's permitted to say kiddush levanah by looking at the ...
13
votes
7answers
331 views
How did the moon shrink?
The Bavli, Chulin 60:2, says (in my own loose translation):
Rabbi Shim'on ben Pazi noted a contradiction: [B'reshis 1:16] says, "God made the two big luminaries" and "the big luminary… and ...
7
votes
2answers
247 views
Magen Avraham - Practically no Plag HaMinḥah or just no Plag HaMinḥah in winter?
Calling all science and math-oriented Judaism.SE-ers!
According to the website MyZmanim.com, today's Halachic times where I work are as follows (only a handful of times are shown because the question ...
6
votes
1answer
144 views
New date at sunset: question on Sifse Chachamim
Avoda Zara 25 cites a difference of opinion as to how long the sun stood still for Y'hoshua: twelve hours, twenty-four, or thirty-six. According to those who say twelve or thirty-six, the sun finally ...
6
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4answers
349 views
Eclipse of the moon, bad sign for the Jews
Tonight, December 20, 2010, there will be a full lunar eclipse visible from North America and many other areas. I recall there is a Gemara that says that a lunar eclipse is a bad omen for the Jews as ...
6
votes
1answer
138 views
Why does it get darker in Israel quicker?
Why is it that it gets darker in Eretz Yisroel quicker than in the USA, making for a shorter Ben Hash'moshos?
9
votes
2answers
248 views
Latest shabbat not longest day…?
I was under the impression that the longest day was June 22nd, and yet, year after year- the latest time for candle lighting takes place about a week and a half after that. Intuitively, the latest ...
2
votes
1answer
118 views
Why is my molad-time chart off by a day?
The HaMaor Mikraos Gedolos chumash has a chart of molad (forecasted first visibility of the new moon in Jerusalem, based on averages observable to the naked eye, assuming Jerusalem local time; am I ...
4
votes
1answer
195 views
Jewish Sunrise and Sunset
How can one calculate Jewish sunrise and sunset? I'm not necessarily asking for a formula. Just wondering if there's a difference between Halachik rise/set and what the world considers [e.g. science] ...
4
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6answers
668 views
What's with Kiddush Levana?
In general Kiddush Lavanah has always seemed to me to be akin to "Avodas Kochavim" - so does anyone know of a satisfying answer that works with Occam's razor?
More specifically:
We say Just as I can ...
