Friday April 5th 2002 - edited by Patty Greenall This week in Astro News: ~ Comet Ikeya-Zhang ~ ~ Astrologer's Diary ~ ~ New Service from the Astrological Association of Great Britain ~ Comet Ikeya-Zhang Research: Nick Kollerstrom Astrologically, apart from a historical link with the death or birth of royalty, major comets are associated with the end and beginning of eras. Time will tell exactly what Ikeya-Zhang will usher in. Since its discovery two other less-bright comets have been found by amateur astronomers. The first, on March 11, Comet Snyder-Murakami, is visible in medium-size telescopes moving north-northeast, from Aquila to Sagitta and then to Vulpecula. One week after the Snyder-Murakami find, Japanese observer Syogo Utsunomiya spotted another comet with a pair of binoculars. It is near the Sun throughout this period, so observations will be difficult. Where is comet Ikeya-Zhang visible? The comet has just moved out of Taurus into Aries. Today it is visible low in the west after twilight. To be exact, it is at 29deg 55' latitude and 33deg longitude. Right now its motion is 'retrograde', moving backwards through the zodiac into Pisces on April 27. Here are the latitude/longitude locations of Ikeya-Zhang at intervals throughout April. April 9: 28 deg/40 deg April 11: 27.1 deg/44 deg April 13: 25.7 deg/47 deg April 15: 24.5 deg/51 deg April 17: 22.2 deg/55 deg April 19: 19.9 deg/58 deg April 21: 16.7 deg/62 deg April 23: 12.4 deg/66 deg April 25: 6 deg/70 deg April 27: -2 deg/73 deg (into Pisces) April 29: -16 deg/76 deg Astrologer's Diary Sunday April 7: Combining astrology with the principles of The Psychology of Vision - one-day workshop with Pam Carruthers, Hammersmith, London. £70. Booking and venue details: 020 8741 4770 pam@healingstars.co.uk Exeter Astrology Group, Friends' Meeting House, Wynards Lane, Off Magdalen Street, Exeter. June Posey leads a session about her atrology-themed crime novel. 2.30-5.30pm. £2. Astrological Lodge of London. New term begins April 22. Details: www.astrolodge.co.uk Are you holding an astrological event - especially one outside London!! - that you would like others to know about? Write to jon@cainer.com with subject heading: Astro Events with website links. Please note - we cannot promise to include ALL submissions but will do our best. New Service is Top for the Charts The Astrological Association of Great Britain is proud to announce that you can now speak LIVE to an expert astrologer. For an instant in-depth telephone consultation about your full horoscope call 0845 120 1416 or +44 207 436 9101 (a confidential 30-minute reading costs £29.50, payable by credit card. Or cheque/postal order from UK.) Lines are open 9am-9pm GMT, Monday to Friday. A few weeks ago, the Astrological Association of Great Britain launched this new, live fixed-fee, telephone chart reading service. It has since proved big hit with callers from all over the world. AA President Roy Gillett told Astro News: "I am delighted with the warm response that we have had. Once, if you wanted a reading of your full birth chart, you would have to struggle to find a genuine, reputable astrologer. Then, you would have had to make an appointment and travel miles. Now, at last, there's a quick and easy way to get your questions answered by a real expert - from the comfort of your own home." Mirror reader Julie Roberts from Rochester was equally enthusiastic. "I rang last Tuesday and spoke to an astrologer called Maria. Within moments, she was telling me details about my childhood that she could not possibly have known... then she said some fascinating things about my future. If you missed any of Friday's Astronews articles, click on the Archive Thought for the Day link in the left hand frame.