Astronomical OverviewEarth is about 1/3 of the way from the outside border in our galaxy. The galaxy has a
diameter of about 100,000 light years and contains about 100 billion stars. The biggest
concentration of stars is found in the central area. There are billions of other galaxies in
the universe. These galaxies are grouped into clusters and in turn these clusters belong
to super clusters. Our galaxy belongs to a group of about 30 other galaxies called “the
local group”. The closest other big galaxy is the Andromeda nebula. We find this star
nebula at a distance of 2,200,000 light years, which means that the pictures we see now
were sent out 2.2 million years ago. On a dark clear night, we can see the Andromeda
nebula without any binocular or telescope. Some of the stars we are seeing are in fact
galaxies composed of billions of stars.
In Taoist astrology the sky is divided in 28 or 64 constellations. Astronomers often use
the different distances of the stars in one constellation as proof that there is a connection
between the stars in these constellations and in this way they affect the human condition.
However, in the unique quality of each constellation, the real distance of the stars is just
an aspect that co-creates the magnitude of the star as seen from the earth. The collective
angle or direction of influence is what forms the specific group energy and connection
between the stars in all constellations.
In the case of Polaris for instance, which is located in the center of the galaxy, it is
certainly not the brightest star in the sky.
For the Big Dipper, the five most central stars belong to one star cluster which is at a
distance between 59 and 75 light-years (the closest star cluster for us). The outer two
stars are at a different distance and move in a different direction.