Golden_Gate_of_the_Ecliptic
Golden Gate of the Ecliptic
Two star clusters in the constellation Taurus marking the Sun's path in the night sky
The Golden Gate of the Ecliptic is an asterism in the constellation Taurus that has been known for several thousand years. The constellation is built by the two eye-catching open star clusters of the Pleiades and the Hyades that form the two posts of a virtual gate at the two sides of the ecliptic line.
Since all planets as well as the Moon and the Sun always move very closely along the virtual circle of the ecliptic, all these seven orbiting bodies are regularly passing through the Golden Gate of the Ecliptic. Since the Moon is the closest of these heavenly bodies to the Earth and it is inclined strong enough against the ecliptic, in some occasions the Moon can cover the stars of the open star clusters or even can pass outside of the gate.[1]
- From lower left to upper right: Sirius (Canis majoris), constellation Orion, constellation Taurus with open star cluster Hyades, planet Mars exactly in the Golden Gate of the Ecliptic, open star cluster Pleiades.