The Perseids - Astroman

The Perseids


The Perseids, also known as the "Tears of St. Lawrence" or Dmugħ ta' San Lawrenz - as the phenomenon falls on the feast of Saint Lawrence - is a popular, moderate ZHR meteor shower associated with the passing comet Swift-Tuttle. The Perseid shower is so called because its radiant lies in the constellation Perseus.
 
Though the comet is nowhere near Earth, the comet's tail does intersect Earth's orbit. We glide through it every year in August. Tiny bits of comet dust hit Earth's atmosphere traveling at 132,000 mph. At that speed, even a tiny piece of dust gives the appearance of the vivid streak of light which is seen when a meteor disintegrates.

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere can start seeing Perseid meteors as early as July 23rd, when one meteor every hour or so may be visible. During the next three weeks, there is a slow build-up. It is possible to spot five Perseids per hour at the beginning of August, and perhaps 15 per hour by August 10th. The Perseids rapidly increase to a peak of 50-80 meteors per hour by the night of August 12/13th, and then rapidly decline to about 10 per hour by August 15. The last night meteors from this shower are likely to be seen is on August the 22nd, when an observer might see a Perseid every hour or so.

Sellarellium + CS4: Look East on the night of the 12th August and don't blink!  

On the night of the 12th August, one must look East to see the Perseus Shower. A standard rate of 80 ZHR is expected, but this can vary wildly from year to year. The Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) is the amount of meteors visible per hour when the radiant is at the Zenith (the highest point in the sky).


More details: http://meteorshowersonline.com/perseids.html
Some new(ish) images taken by myself: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24850591@N03/

Astronomical Society Activity:

Perseid Observing Session
Date: Wednesday 12 August starting at 9 pm
Location: Irdum il-Maddona,  L-Aħrax. limits of Mellieħa

Messier 51: The Whirlpool Galaxy - Astroman

Messier 51: The Whirlpool Galaxy

Messier Object 51

9 Unguided 1-minute exposures
Celestron C8 Asgt + Meade Dsi IIc
Stacked in Registax 5, processed in Ps
Date - June 10th, 2009
Conditions - good, slight haze

More at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24850591@N03/ and 

[url=http://autostarsuite.net/photos/chris_sant/default.aspx]http://autostarsuite.net/photos/chris_sant/default.aspx

Also worth a look: http://www.heavens-above.com/, for latest ISS passes and basic sky maps.


Messier 51 was discovered in 1774 by Charles Messier, and is designated as M51. Its companion galaxy, NGC 5195, was discovered in 1781 by Pierre Méchain. It was, however, not until 1845 that the Whirlpool became the first to be recognized as a spiral. This was achieved by Lord Rosse, employing a 1.83 m reflecting telescope, at Birr Castle in Ireland. Sometimes, M51 is used to refer to the pair of galaxies, in which case the individual galaxies may be referred to as M51A (main body) - NGC 5194 - and M51B (smaller satellite) - NGC 5195.

Messier 51 is easy observable by using an amateur telescope (~8 inch). Even through the light-polluted, Maltese skies, with larger instruments (over 11~12 inch in good dark skies), details in the spiral arms can be observed.

Messier 51 is located near Ursa Major (the Big Dipper or Bear), one of the most recognizable constellations visible all year round,  though - technically - it is under the boundary of Canes Venatici.

Astronomical map showing location of Messier 51

Astronomical Society of Malta: June 2009

Guided Walk and Observing Session at il-Majjistral Nature and History Park
This will include a talk about the Summer Solstice by Prof. Frank Ventura. 
Meeting: 19th June, 7pm sharp, in front of the Manikata Parish Church, near Mellieha. 
There will be an opportunity to look through a replica of Galileo's telescope for a small donation.
Society website: http://www.maltastro.org/  (old updates)

Hope to see you there!

I should be coming, if I can manage to find a battery...... and some time to spare!

Astroman

Jupiter - Astroman

Jupiter

Own image: Moons visible Io, Europa and Ganymede respectively (from L to R).
Equipment: Celestron C8 asgt, Meade DSI II,Barlow lens
Technical details: 0.1250 sec exposures, 200 stacked and registered PP in Cs4

Jupiter

The largest and fifth planet from the sun is named after the Roman God, Jupiter (Jove), and is by far one of the most 
heavily studied Gas Giants (Jupiter as well as Saturn, Uranus, Neptune which are also known as Jovian planets due to their 
simalarities and relatively large sizes). The most impressive thing about Jupiter is it's massive size, with an equatorial 
diameter of  142,982km - meaning that if you put all the other planets together Jupiter would still be two and a half 
times larger. Despite this, Jupiter has only a density of around 1.326 g/cm³  but a mass of 1.8986×10²⁷ kg.

Atmosphere

Jupiter's atmosphere in mainly made up from gas composed of around 89% hydrogen, 10% heilum with the rest made 
from trace gases such as methane. This mix is roughly of solar proportions (meaning similar to the sun's composition,  
unlike Earth). Jupiter's atmosfere is divided into cloud layers (belts) such as the SEB (South Equitorial Band) which is 
usually the darkest belt, the NEB (North Equatorial Belt), the STB etc. 

The most impressive feature is Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot (accompanied by Red Spot Jr), which is a giant, 
anticyclonic storm which has lasted for at least 340 years - if not more. The red spot is changing in shape from oblong 
to a more circular shape which has become even more prominent in recent years.

These all give Jupiter one of the most active and spectacular atmosferes of the gas giants. It is a marvel to look at through
an 8-inch, or larger, telescope and has delivered breath-taking images from missons such as Galileo 1989-2003(NASA), the New Horizons
mission not to mention the Hubble space telescope.


Satellites

Jupiter possesses around 28 known satellites, four of which - Callisto, Europa, Ganymede and Io - were observed by 
Galileo Galilei as long ago as 1610. These moons (called the Galilean moons) are easily visable using a small telescope and 
resemble stars, as they are too small and distant for average telescopes to resolve in any detail. 





1. Callisto
Callisto is the third largest moon in the Solar system (after Ganymede and Titan). Callisto's surface is highly impacted 
and rocky suggesting a lack of an atmosphere (hence no 'shielding' from solar debris), but a analysis by the Galileo probe 
detected a very thin atmosphere of carbon dioxide, probably replenished by under-surface ice.





2. Europa 
Europa is slightly smaller than Earth's own moon, making it the 6th largest in the solar system. Contrary to Callisto, 
Europa is an extremely smooth moon and  one of the smoothest objects in the solar system. Europa's most well known 
feature is it's ice-covered surface and the possibility of a liquid body underneath implies that extra-terrestrial 
life might exist there. Europa is currently the most probable host for life in the Solar system - unlike Mars where it is thought 
that no life exists, at least currently.





3. Ganymede
Ganymede is the Solar system's largest moon and greater in size (though not in mass) than the planet Mercury. 
Ganymede is the only moon in the Solar system known to have an active magnetosphere. Ganymede's surface is also 
relatively impacted  but the surface resembles a patchwork of new and old areas.





4. Io
Io is the fourth largest moon in the solar system but the most geologically active, with over 400 active volcanos.
This highly observed moon has a very dynamic surface as seen in images from the Galileo probe in 1999 and New 
Horizons in 2007, where in the time-frame separating the two missons major variations occurred.

More information:
http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Jupiter

Il-Pipa ta' Belen - Anthony Cordina

IL-PIPA TA’ BELEN

Anthony Cordina


“Fejn hi dik il-pipa?” beda jgħid Belen ’l oħtu Mikelina.
Ma seta’ jsibha mkien! Fittex ’l hawn u fittex ’l hinn; dan it-tiftix kollu kien għalxejn għax din il-pipa ma setgħet tinstab b’ebda nemes.
   “Ara, issa, dejjaqtni tafx, ħi; iddur u tagħqad mad-dar qisek mekkuk! Aħjar tħalliha u forsi tiġi weħidha,” qatgħetlu fl-aħħar oħtu Mikelina, għax bdiet tiddejjaq b’ħuha l-ħin kollu jfekren ma’ sieqha.
“Ara, jien, se mmur sat-titotla … għal nofsinhar, inkun hawn, Mikelin,” qalilha u telaq.
Oħtu, dak li riedet biex tkun tista’ tkompli mal-faċendi u l-qadi. Lestiet dawk iż-żewġ qadjiet li kellha tagħmel għand Spiru l-Landier u għand Toninu l-Ħajjat, u reġgħet lura f’darha. Issa li l-borma kienet ilha fuq in-nar ma kellhiex x’tagħmel aktar għajr li toqgħod bilqiegħda fuq il-pultruna tan-Nanna Perpetwa, u toqgħod issegwi dak li kien għaddej fuq ir-radju.
   Belen u oħtu Mikelina kienu joqogħdu f’terran, fil-misraħ tar-raħal tefgħa ta’ ġebla bogħod mill-knisja u t-titotla ta’ Rafel.
Fir-Raħal ta’ Belen kont issib minn kollox, mill-iskarpan sal-landier. Ma’ dawn kellek il-ħanut tal-merċa ta’ Dovik u l-ħanut tal-laħam ta’ Kolinu l-Biċċier, u wkoll, maż-żmien, kienu fetħu żewġ pubs għaż-żgħażagħ.
   Imma, l-aktar li kienet imfittxija, kienet it-titotla ta’ Rafel. Kien imfittex bil-wisq aktar mill-każin tal-banda. Għandu kienu jintefgħu kemm xjuħ u kemm żgħażagħ.
   It-titotla kien il-post fejn wieħed jitkellem fuq kollox. Barra l-pulitka u l-kliem ħażin. Rafel raġel tal-knisja. Raġel sewwa kemm tridu, imma ara ma jiftillekx iżżarrat xi waħda għax kont ixxellef difrek miegħu bl-ikreh. U la darba Rafel irid mingħand kulħadd, ma riedx jitlef il-klijenti u l-parruċċani, u ’l min ikun se jaqbadha fuq il-pulitka, dlonk jidħol huwa fin-nofs, u jwaqqfu minnufih.
   “Ara, sieħeb, jien hawnhekk ma rridx pulitka …” dlonk jgħidlu. Ikollu raġun biex ibigħ.
   Fit-titotla ta’ Rafel, ikun hemm ir-Rocky, kelb daqsiex, li kien ibeżżgħek jekk tħares lejh, imma dan ir-Rocky kien tabilħaqq kelb li jinbaħ u ma jigdimx. Jifraħ b’kull min jidħol fit-titotla. Ġolu l-Bennej, fuq dik il-ħbejża bil-perżut u l-ġobon u l-basla, kien iridha dik il-pinta nbid. Ir-Rocky jkun lublieb għal dik il-biċċa perżuta. Jarma jinbaħ. Ġolu, kelb bil-ġuħ jitimgħu. U trid tarah iwaddablu xi biċċa perżuta. Il-kelb itir għaliha bħal għafrit. Kien kelb iħobb lil min ifissdu kif ukoll jilgħab miegħu. Mhux darba jew tnejn ikun hemm xi pakkett tas-sigaretti vojt taħt il-mejda, u jmur jogħdos għalih.
Ma jdumx ma jinqala’ Belen. Ipejjep dik il-pipa li kien tah nannuh Fidiel.
“Hawn, Belen,” isellimlu kull min jinzerta fit-titotla.
   “U, hekk u hekk,” iweġibhom.
   Il-pipa tibda tarmi riħa ta’ tabakk; jinten seba’ pesti.
   Rafel ma kien jgħid xejn, imma kien jitfantas bl-ikreh meta jkun hemm min jitlaq ’il barra minħabba l-pipa ta’ Belen.
   B’din il-biċċa ma jdumux ma jsiru jafu Spiru l-Landier u Kolinu l-Biċċier, li kienu donnhom il-ħabel u s-satal. Dawn ma damux wisq jaħsbuha biex joħorġu bi praspura sabiex forsi Belen ma jibqax jidħol aktar b’dik il-pipa ddaħħan, tnitten post, u tnaffar lill-klijenti li jkollu Rafel fit-titotla. U Rafel, ta’ raġel twajjeb li kien, erħilu jinfiska f’demmu biex ma jiksirhiex ma’ Belen.

*   *   *

   

Mela, kien wasal il-ħin li Rafel jagħlaq it-titotla u jitlaq lejn daru. Spiru l-Landier u Kolinu l-Biċċier flimkien ma’ Belen kienu jħobbu jqattruha sal-aħħar! F’ħin minnhom, il-Biċċier jaljena ’l Belen waqt li dan ikun medhi jlablab mal-Landier fuq l-armar tal-festa tar-Raħal. Mingħajr ma jħallih jintebaħ, il-Biċċier jeħodlu l-pipa minn fuq il-mejda. Iqegħidhielu fuq is-siġġu ta’ ġewwa, waqt li Belen jidħol f’argument ma’ sieħbu Spiru.
   “L-isbaħ pavaljuni għamilhom is-Sur Karm, Spir …”
   “Belen, għalija, li kien għamel Patist kienu bil-qabda isbaħ … tinsiex li kien ħareġ sal-inqas ċenteżmu fuqhom … biex, imbagħad, ma laħaqhomx lesti għax kien ħalliena laħmu u xaħmu,” reġa’ l-ieħor.
   U baqgħu sejrin hekk sakemm Rafel ġie fuqhom u qalilhom: “Għal-lejla se jkollkom taġġornaw, ħbieb tiegħi, għax il-ħin tiegħi sar, u Ċikka tkun qiegħda tistennieni, miskina.”
   Ma’ kelmet Rafel sar l-aġġornament. U l-ħbieb tagħna sellmu ’l xulxin u kulħadd telaq lejn daru.
   Il-pipa li xi darba kienet tan-Nannu Fidiel spiċċat f’ħalq ir-Rocky u Alla m’għamilha!
   Jista’ jdum ifittixha Belen! Kellu jitqanna’ bir-riħa tagħha. U povra oħtu Mikelina għax ma qagħditx waqt wieħed bi kwietha.

---

Grazzi lil Salvu ghall-qari tal-provi.

Dik Sajda! - Anthony Cordina

   Għodwa waħda Manwel ikun għaddej tul ix-xatt ta’ San Ġiljan meta fuq il-moll ta’ taħtu lemaħ tfajjel, li ma kellux aktar minn għaxar snin, bilqiegħda fuq banketta, b’qasba f’idu jistad għall-mulett. Ħdejh, fil-barmil, kellu biċċa ta’ ħuta daqsiex. Kien fiha mal-ħamsa u erbgħin ċentimetru. Mal-lotta ta’ bejn ħajja u mewt - biex forsi teħles minn dak l-għawġ li ħabta u sabta sabet ruħha fih bla mistenni - fis kont tintebaħ li kienet għadha kemm tinqabad.
   ‘Forsi xi kaplat?’ staqsa bejnu u bejn ruħu Manwel, waqt li waqaf u ltewa ftit fuq ir-railings biex jedha ftit mill-ħsibijiet li kienu għoddhom għawrulu l-ġewwieni ta’ qalbu. Qajla kellu moħħ dik is-sajda li kien għadu kemm għamel dak it-tfajjel.
   ‘Ma nistgħux noqogħdu aktar f’dawk iż-żewġ gabubiet li għandna! Ma jistax ikun li ibni l-waħdieni jkollu jitrabba mal-kunjata. Imma? ... Kif nista’ naffordja kera ta’ mitejn u tlieta u tletin ewro fix-xahar? Dawk l-appartamenti li għadhom kemm telgħu huma sbieħ, kieku ... IMMA mhux għal bwietna.’ U ħsibijietu għaddew minn qalb il-garigori ta’ moħħu bħal nixxiegħat għaddejja minn qalb mergħat u msaġar kotrana.
    Mitluf fi ħsibijietu ma ntebaħx b’koppja anzjana Ingliża li kienet għaddejja minn fejnu.
    “Ara dak it-tfajjel kemm hu kattiv! Ma kienx biżżejjed li qabad l-imsejkna ħuta? Imma, ara ftit xi jtiha max-xifer tal-barmil,” bdiet tgħid il-mara ‘l żewġha.
    “Isma’ minni u tindaħalx,” qatgħalha żewġha.
    “Mhux ma nindaħalx, imma.......” weġbitu fil-pront, u marret fuq Manwel.
    “Sinjur, int taf titkellem bl-Ingliż?” staqsietu.
    “Iva, x’għandkom bżonn?” staqsihom Manwel xi ftit jew wisq maħsud.
    “Tagħmilli pjaċir u tmur tgħid ’il dak it-tfajjel li rrid inkellmu?” staqsietu.
    “Għal daqshekk ... Ħaġa żgħira, Sinjura.” weġibha.
    “Boy! Hawn dis-sinjura ... trid tkellmek,” beda jgħidlu Manwel.
    “Sissy, qiegħed niddejjaq tafx, issa. Kemm inti defsa, ħej! Għalxejn ngħidlek biex ma tindaħalx fejn ma jesgħakx.” reġa’ żewġha, waqt li beda josserva kemm dik il-ħara hija storbjuża bit-traffiku u ma ddarrasx ftit meta, mal-mogħdija, jilmaħ dak li warajhom iħallu l-klieb meta kmieni filgħodu joħorġu għal dik il-passiġġata.
    Medhi kif kien, it-tfajjel qajla ta widen għal dak li beda jgħidlu Manwel.
    ‘Forsi kien xi daqsxejn trux?’ ħasbet Sissy, waqt li qabdet u niżlet dawk it-turġien li minn fuq il-bankina jagħtu għal fuq il-moll.
    Għad-dehra tagħha t-tfajjel ħassu jitgerrex.
    “Sir, can you tell him that I want to talk with him, please?” reġgħet staqsiet Sissy lil Manwel.
    “Yes! I can!” wieġeb Manwel u bis-santapaċenzja kollha niżel ħdejn it-tfajjel u, waqt li misslu spalltu, bil-ħlewwa kollha beda jgħidlu, “Ħabib, dis-sinjura, trid tkellmek. Isa, agħti widen għal dak li se tgħidlek ...”
    Harset it-tfajjel ġriet fuq Manwel, u mbagħad fuq dik is-sinjura liebsa kowt tal-mink, ‘Mela, tal-flus!’ ħaseb it-tfajjel, u tbissima feġġet fuq wiċċu.
    “I want to buy that miserable fish,” qaltlu s-sinjura Ingliża.
    “Fhimtha! Fhimtha! Trid tixtri l-ħuta!” għajjat it-tfajjel, u reġa’ tbissem.
    “One hundred euro, for you, Madam!”
    Dikment, dik is-sinjura, fetħet il-portmoni u minnu ħarġet mitt ewro sħan sħan.
    Issa l-ħuta kienet tagħha! Ma qagħditx taħsibha darbtejn; qabditha u tefgħetha lura mnejn kienet ittellgħet ftit qabel.
    Il-mara dehret kuntenta li kienet għamlet opra ta’ karità ma’ dik l-imsejkna ħlejqa. Żewġha kellu jikkuntenta b’dik il-manifestazzjoni ta’ martu u jkattar is-sabar li kien għoddu tilfu! Imma?
    Imma dak is-sinjur Ingliż, bilkemm kien għadu laħaq mexa sitt passi minn fejn kien hemm it-tfajjel jistad li, sieq minnhom, ma tmurx fuq ċappa ċappun minn dawk li jħallu warajhom il-klieb fil-bikri ta’ kull għodwa ġdida.
    Addiju sabar u addiju mixja max-xtajta ta’ San Ġiljan. Għax beda jisħet dik is-siegħa u dak il-mument li fettillu jwebbel ‘il martu Sissy għal dik il-passiġġata li minn Font Għadir ħadithom sa San Ġiljan.
    It-tfajjel ferħan se jtir qabad il-qasba, il-banketta u l-barmil, sellem ‘il Manwel, u rħielha lejn id-dar ta’ nanntu.
    “Din l-għodwa qatt ma kont noħlomha. Lanqas kieku mort narma s-suq ma kont immur tajjeb daqshekk!” qal bejnu u bejn ruħu, u wiċċu reġa’ xegħel bil-ferħ.
    Manwel reġa’ ntilef fi ħsibijietu ...
    ‘Imma jien ma nistax naffordja dik il-kera kollha ... IMMA? 

Xagħar - Ħrafa ta' Alex Vella Gera

Xagħar - Ħrafa ta' Alex Vella Gera

Is-siparju jiftaħ f’pajjiż imbiegħed, f’epoka oħra, forsi f’univers ieħor, fejn in-nies kollha, f'saħħithom jew morda, tfal, irġiel, u nisa, u tabilħaqq l-annimali, m’għandhomx imqar xagħra jew sufa waħda fuq ġisimhom, u qatt ma raw ix-xagħar b’għajnejhom. Kif ta’ spiss jiġri fil-ħrejjef, ġara darba li f’din l-art twieldet tarbija speċjali, tarbija mirakoluża.

L-ewwel ħaġa li raw għajnejn missierha u l-qabla hi u tiżloq ’il barra minn ommha, kien il-pil ħafif ileqq fuq rasha. F’dal-pajjiż fejn lanqas ix-xoffa ta’ fuq tal-ixjeħ xiħa ma tkun inkurunata bil-mustaċċi li jkollhom in-nanniet tagħna, ma nistagħġbu xejn li baqgħu skantati meta raw il-materjal skur fuq ras dik il-kreatura tnewwaħ u twerżaq.

It-tarbija saret tifla, li ħlief għax-xagħar fuq rasha, kienet bħall-bniet kollha l-oħra. Ir-raħal kien ġo wied ċkejken li min-nofsu kienet tgħaddi t-triq prinċipali għall-Belt Irjali. Kienu bosta l-vjaġġaturi li għaddew minn hemm mingħajr ma jagħtu kas, u oħrajn li bix-xorti kellhom l-opportunità jerfgħu għajnejhom fuq it-tfajla mistagħba, u jistagħġbu huma biha, b’xagħarha, li sena wara sena twal u twal, għaliex ħadd ma kien jobsor li b’sikkina jew xafra seta’ jinqata’ faċilment.

Ta’ erbatax-il sena kienet saret xebba li kull ftit passi titgerbeb f’xagħarha, li kien jaslilha sal-għaksa. Bdiet tiġbru f’bukkett u żżommu fi xkora mdendla wara daharha; kull fejn kienet tmur in-nies kienu jisktu u jbaxxu rashom quddiem ix-xebba bil-ħarir fuq rasha.

Sakemm, darba waħda, tfaċċa l-emissarju mill-palazz. Il-kelma kienet laħqet Widnet is-Sultan u l-istorja tax-xebba mirakoluża qanqlet Fih interess Irjali. Ried Jaraha minnufih, b’Għajnejh Ѕtess. Meta l-emissarju tefa’ għajnejh fuqha, bix-xalla madwar rasha u x-xkora maħmuġa mdendla wara daharha, qalbu ferfret ġewwa sidru. Is-segretarju tiegħu għaddielu parċmina ħoxna bit-timbru tqil tax-xema’ ċelesti tas-Sultan.

Fuqha kien hemm miktub:

“Il-Maħbub Sultan Ċelestjali tagħna Jikkmandak takkumpanja dan is-serv fidil Tiegħu sal-palazz, sabiex Jara b’Għajnejh Ѕtess dik li tant Sema’ dwarha.”

Dakinhar, mal-għabex, għannquha malajr il-ġenituri qabel ma telqet mir-raħal fil-karozzella tas-Sultan miġbuda minn erbat iżwiemel bil-ġilda lewn il-ħalib. Ivvjaġġaw għal lejl u nhar, u ftit li xejn kellmet lill-emissarju jew lis-segretarju, għax kienet mistħija, u għax ma kinitx imdorrija tkun waħedha ma’ rġiel bħalhom, kolti, mill-belt, b’dawk l-għajnejn feroċi u setgħana.

Fil-palazz is-Sultan m’Emminx dak li Ra b’Għajnejh Ѕtess u Kellu Jinżel mit-tron u Jmelles ix-xagħar ħamrani, mewġa fuq mewġa ta’ xagħar aħmar ileqq bħal tessut prezzjuż fid-dawl tal-mijiet ta’ xemgħat idawlu s-sala tat-tron. Għajnejh Ѕwiedu u Rtabu.

“Inti ser tiżżewweġ lil Ibni,” Qal, u l-Maġistrat tal-Palazz, bilqiegħda wara l-iskrivanija tiegħu, dlonk niżżel Kliemu fil-Ktieb tal-Liġijiet.

F’parti mwarrba tal-ġnien tal-palazz kien hemm kamra sempliċi b’sodda u tieqa żgħira. Hemmhekk kellha tgħix ix-xebba sa jum it-tieġ. Is-Sultan Ikkmanda li x-xagħar ma jibqax fl-ixkora qed titmermer u maħmuġa, u jinġarr minflok minn erba’ servi lebsin ingwanti tal-bellus, li xogħolhom issa kellu jkun biss li jħarsu dak il-materjal prezzjuż minn kull ħsara.

L-alkemisti, wara jiem u ljieli sħaħ jiddjalogaw dwar kemm seta’ kien hemm xagħriet individwali jispontaw minn ras ix-xebba, fl-aħħar talbu nokkla ħalli jistudjawha, u s-Sultan Dam Jaħsibha qabel ma Tahom il-Permess biex jiġu skortati sal-kamra fil-ġnien, b’xafra tal-fidda u kaxxa ċkejkna tal-avorju f’idejhom.

U t-tliet filosfi ewlenin tar-Renju kitbu trattat twil u pompuż li dejjaq anke lis-Ѕultan. Urtatu l-iktar il-konklużjoni fejn ikkwotaw l-astronomu xwejjaħ Irjali li kien stqarr qabel ma miet li fis-smewwiet tat-Tramuntana l-kwiekeb kienu wrew biċ-ċar li kien riesaq fuqhom sinjal importanti li kellu jwitti t-triq għal ġrajja kbira. Fl-opinjoni tagħhom din it-tfajla kienet dak is-sinjal.

It-tieġ sar, u l-popolazzjoni kollha ferħet għax ingħata l-ikel b’xejn u saru l-festi fl-imsieraħ kollha; f’kull raħal u f’kull belt il-qniepen daqqew u fil-knejjes u l-kappelli mżejna nġieb ritratt tal-Prinċep u martu mpitter mill-aqwa artist tas-Sultan, kull kopja xogħol l-aqwa studenti tal-bottega tiegħu. Kien hemm min qal li l-artist kien se jħalli barra l-materjal ħamrani fuq ras l-għarusa, iżda dawn żbaljaw għax ir-ritratt offra xbieha perfetta u fidila tal-Koppja Rjali, bil-kuda ta’ xagħar aħmar tal-Prinċipessa tidher prominenti fl-isfond.

Fis-sala tas-sodda, wara t-tieġ, meta sabu ruħhom waħedhom għall-ewwel darba, il-Prinċep niżel għarkupptejh quddiem il-Prinċipessa u fired il-purtiera ta’ xagħar ileqq miġbura madwarha bħas-suttana mżejna ta’ kardinal. Hemm, il-Prinċep skopra bejn kuxxtejha l-għadira ħarir iswed madwar il-fetħa, u bir-rogħda li ħakmitu quddiem dan il-miraklu, kellu jintelaq lura fis-sodda biex jiġi f’tiegħu.

U s-snin għaddew ġmielhom.

Xagħar il-Prinċipessa twal u twaal u twaaal u twaaaal u twaaaaaal.

Biż-żmien faqqsu bosta teoriji li ttantaw jispjegaw ix-xagħar fuq rasha, iżda l-ebda minnhom ma kienet kredibbli, u lanqas l-ikbar alkemisti u studjużi tas-Sultan miġburin fil-palazz għal kungress interminabbli biex jiddiskutu l-fenomenu ma rnexxielhom ifissru x’kienet dik il-veġetazzjoni li ma setgħux jaqbdu tarfha.

M’hemmx għalfejn ngħidu, mar-Renju kollu, kull ġenitur talab li t-tarbija li kien imissha titwieled tkun ukoll imbierka bid-don tax-xagħar, iżda kien kollu għalxejn, u anke dawk li bil-makakkeriji kollha ppruvaw iwaħħlu l-ħarir mal-irjus ta’ trabi jew tfajliet żgħar – uħud minnhom saħansitra waslu biex iħaffru fil-ġilda tat-tfal li sfaw vittmi tar-regħba tagħhom – dawn kollha nqabdu u spiċċaw il-ħabs qalb id-dud u l-firien.

Fil-palazz, maqtugħa għalkollox mid-dinja ta’ barra, il-Prinċipessa bkiet iż-żmien meta kienet tiġġerra ħielsa fil-wied ta’ raħal twelidha. Malajr xebgħet tagħmilha ta’ ġawhra prezzjuża, waħedha mas-servi tagħha bl-ingwanti tal-bellus li qatt ma kienu jinżgħu, u bdiet tqis xagħarha bħala formazzjoni morbuża li bil-mod il-mod kienet qed toħnoqha u żżommha ’l bogħod mid-dinja tal-bnedmin. Ix-xagħar qatt ma mess ma’ sikkina jew xafra, u l-Prinċipessa ġieli kienet tippassiġġa fil-kuruturi u s-swali tal-palazz liebsa biss il-mantell ta’ xagħarha, warajha l-erba’ servi jżommu t-truf milli jmissu mal-art, u quddiemha kavallier li xogħlu kien li jkeċċi min-nofs kull min kien jinzerta għaddej.

Fis-sala tas-sodda ħadd ma tħalla jidħol ħlief dawk l-erba’ servi fidili, il-Prinċep, u s-Sultan. Kull ħmistax ix-xagħar kien jinħasel f’ċerimonja li kienet iddum jum u lejl, u wara, is-Sultan Kien Iżurha u Jġegħelha tkantalu xi għanja minn tfulitha, waqt li Jitniehed u Hu Jmellsilha xagħarha. Mill-viċin Ѕeta’ Jinnota kif il-ħarir ma kibirx biss fuq rasha iżda wkoll ma’ dirgħajha, ma’ għonqha, u ma’ saqajha, filamenti minuskoli bħall-ħaxix salvaġġ fl-għelieqi ta’ wara l-palazz.

Darba waħda, hi u tkanta, Qabad ponn xagħar minn rasha u Ġibed. Bdiet twaħwaħ u tibki bl-uġigħ, u s-Sultan, Maħsud għax Kien Mitluf fis-sbuħija tagħha, Niżel Għarkupptejh Jitlobha maħfra.

Il-Prinċipessa ma damitx ma welldet tarbija u din it-tarbija, għaġeb fuq għaġeb, ħarġet bħal missierha, mingħajr l-ebda xagħra fuq ġisimha. It-tobba stagħġbu meta raw dik ir-ras bħal bajda tiżloq ’il barra minn bejn iċ-ċirku xagħar iswed ta’ bejn koxxtejha, u l-istudjużi ħakku l-ġilda tal-qorriegħa ta’ rashom u għalxejn ippruvaw isibu tarf din il-problema permezz ta’ tifsiriet filosofiċi u tiswiriet matematiċi.

Kien fl-eqqel tas-sajf meta waslet l-aħbar li omm il-Prinċipessa kienet marida u f’xifer il-mewt. Il-Prinċipessa talbet is-Sultan biex tmur taraha iżda Dam Jaħsibha, għax Beża’ li barra l-palazz kienet fil-periklu li tinsteraq jew anke tinqatel minn xi vagabondi minħabba l-materjal prezzjuż fuq rasha. Wara li talbitu fuq li talbitu, fl-aħħar Raddilha l-Barka Tiegħu, u Ħallieha tmur sa raħal twelidha bi skorta ta’ għoxrin suldat u akkumpanjata minn dawk l-erba’ servi tagħha.

Kienet xena tal-għaġeb dik li laqgħet ħarset ir-raħħala jaħdmu fl-għelieqi maġenb it-triq – karozzella tal-fidda miġbuda minn tmint iżwiemel lewn il-ħalib u korteo twil ta’ servi u suldati. Mit-twieqi dehru munzelli materjal aħmar jerħu fwieħa qawwija, iktar qawwija minn dik tal-fjuri joħonqu l-għelieqi fuq kull naħa tat-triq.

Fir-raħal kulħadd inġabar madwarhom, bis-suldati jżommu n-nies lura, waqt li l-Prinċipessa daħlet fid-dar ta’ tfulitha, b’xagħarha jilħaq sa barra, fejn is-servi bl-ingwanti tal-bellus baqgħu mal-bieb iżommuh milli jmiss mal-art. Fit-triq ir-raħħala kurjużi mbuttaw biex jaraw u jmissu, u s-suldati tħabtu biex iżommuhom lura.

Fl-għafja tal-mewt, omm il-Prinċipessa talbet biex tkun waħedha ma’ bintha, u meta fl-aħħar tħallew waħedhom, b’nifisha maqtugħ stqarret dan li ġej:

“Binti, li se ngħidlek missni għedthulek ħafna snin ilu, iżda bżajt, u issa m’għandix għalfejn nibża’ għax dalwaqt nitlaq minn din id-dinja. Ma rridx li dan is-sigriet jibqa’ magħqud bħal ponn ġewwa sidri. Binti, darba waħda ftit qabel ma żewwiġt lil missierek, kont miexja lura mill-għalqa meta rajt riesaq lejja raġel twil liebes kappell kbir li qatt ma kont rajt bħalu qabel. Wara li talabni nurih it-triq barra mill-wied neħħa l-kappell minn rasu u kixef mewġa ħarir aħmar preċiż bħal tiegħek, u saħħarni ... ”

Nefħet l-aħħar nifs ta’ ħajjitha f’wiċċ bintha.

Il-Prinċipessa bkiet u bkiet, u n-niket tagħha ma kienx biss għall-mewt ta’ ommha. Imbagħad ħarġet mid-dar żgħira, għannqet lil missierha, daħlet fil-karozzella, u telqet lura lejn il-Belt Irjali.

Issakkret fil-kamra tagħha fil-palazz, waħedha tolfoq id-dmugħ li tebba' t-tapit artab ta’ xagħarha. Barra l-bieb, is-Sultan, żewġha l-Prinċep, is-servi, kollha talbuha biex tiftħilhom, iżda hi wkoll talbithom xi ħaġa, biex iħalluha bi kwietha, u fl-aħħar ma baqgħetx tweġibhom. Għalxejn ħabbtu mal-bieb u għajtu isimha.

Raqdet u ħolmot li bosta nies bl-istess ħarir bħal tagħha fuq rashom ta’ kull lewn u ta’ kull għamla kienu msakkrin fil-kamra magħha, jiżfnu fuq it-tapit ta’ xagħarha. Għarfet stramberija wara l-oħra fix-xagħar taż-żeffiena. Kien ta’ lwien varji, u wħud minnhom kellhom xagħarhom qasir, irrakkmat u irranġat bħall-ħaxix u l-arbuxelli fil-ġonna tal-palazz. Resqu lejha jitbissmu bi skieken f’ħalqhom u ntelqet lura tħallihom jagħmlu biha li jridu, u b’hekk qaxxrulha xagħarha kollu minn rasha sal-ponot ta’ subgħajha. Issa inti ħielsa, qalulha, hekk kif għebu mill-ħolma, u stenbħet għat-tisbit fuq il-bieb li tfarrak ’il ġewwa biex jidħlu jgħajtu suldati, servi, il-Prinċep, u s-Sultan.

Xi jiem wara, meta d-dmugħ kien nixef ma’ ħaddejha, ikkmandat is-servi biex iġibulha mus, xafra, u mera, u wissiethom ma jgħidu ’l ħadd. Iżda s-servi l-ewwel u qabel kollox kienu leali lejn is-Sultan, u marru dritt Għandu u qalulu b’kollox. Is-Sultan Ѕejjaħ numru ta’ suldati biex jaqbdu ’l-Prinċipessa u jorbtuha ma’ wieħed mill-erba’ pilastri tas-sodda matrimonjali. Meta waslulu l-kelma li kienu għamlu li Talabhom, Mar Iżurha.

“Eħlisni Sultan tiegħi!” bkietlu, iżda l-ilfiq tagħha ħallieh biered.

“M’għandekx dritt teqred dak li huwa don mhux biss tiegħek iżda tar-Renju kollu,” Qalilha, u ħasadha l-mod awtorevoli kif Kellimha. Hu li minn dejjem Kien Idur biha bil-ħlewwa issa Ta l-kmand biex tibqa’ marbuta mas-sodda bħala penitenza.

Ġara li dak iż-żmien inqala’ l-inkwiet mal-kosta fit-Tramuntana: nies minn pajjiż imbiegħed ġew bi xwieni kbar u niżlu fuq l-art. Kienu ħafna, skont rapporti varji, u ħallew ħerba warajhom kull fejn marru, ibiċċru n-nies tal-post, jagħtu n-nar ’il-irħula u ’l-għelieqi, jaħtfu t-tfal u n-nisa. L-aħbar waslet sal-Belt Irjali, u fuq is-Sultan waqa’ niket kbir, iżda mhux kbir daqs in-niket li ħakem lill-Prinċipessa meta semgħet li n-nies mill-pajjiż imbiegħed kienu kollha lebsin kpiepel kbar.

Kienet mistennija. Ir-Renju tas-Sultan kien paċifiku, u l-armata tan-nies bi kpiepel kbar feroċi. F’temp ta’ ġimgħa waslu sal-bibien tal-Belt Irjali u kkmandaw lis-Sultan biex iċedilhom il-Belt u kulma kien hemm fiha. Il-popolazzjoni mwerwra setgħet tobsor x’kien hemm taħt il-kpiepel tal-għadu: u ġriet il-kelma li biex jerġgħu lura lejn pajjiżhom kulma riedu kien li taqa’ taħt idejhom il-Prinċipessa. Iżda s-Sultan ma Riedx Iċedi, u Ħejja l-armata Tiegħu għall-assedju.

Intant, il-Prinċipessa kienet għadha priġuniera fil-kamra tas-sodda. Saru l-arranġamenti biex tintbagħat ’il bogħod mill-palazz u mill-belt ħalli tistaħba xi mkien fejn l-għadu ma setax isibha, għaliex is-Sultan ukoll, bħall-ministri Tiegħu, u bħall-popolazzjoni kollha, Kien Ċert mill-fatt li l-għadu bi kpiepel kbar ħaġa waħda ried anke jekk ma kienx qed ileħħen xewqtu.

Fid-dlam tal-lejl ħelsuha mill-għoqdiet li rabtuha mas-sodda. B’mod goff, billi l-ħin kien qed jagħfas, ġeżżewha għax b’dak ix-xagħar kollu żgur kienet tagħti fil-għajn, u taħt skorta ta’ erba’ kavallieri lebsin ta’ tallaba, għaddew minn passaġġ sigriet ’il barra mill-ħitan tal-belt u ħarbu lejn il-muntanji u l-foresti tal-Antipodi tan-Nofsinhar fejn jingħad li kull min jistaħba qatt ma jerġa’ jinstab, lanqas minnu nnifsu.

U b’hekk għebet minn din il-ħrafa l-Prinċipessa tax-xagħar aħmar. Ħalliet warajha fil-palazz kamra mimlija sa fuq bix-xagħar, li nġabar u beda jiġi meħjut mill-aqwa ħajjata tas-Sultan f’libsa tal-għaġeb li l-Prinċep ried iħejji għal martu, il-Prinċipessa tiegħu, għal meta terġa’ lura fi ħdanu, anke jekk il-libsa kienet għadha biss nofsha meħjuta meta l-għadu beda jfarrak il-ħitan tal-palazz b’balal kbar tan-nar, u n-nirien kienu bdew jaħkmu l-purtieri u t-twapet fis-swali ta’ ġewwa tal-palazz, u x-xwabel diġà x-xhur jitħabtu ma’ xulxin ...

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Illustration by Noel Tanti

The story may not be reproduced as a whole, or in part, without prior permission from the author.

An Interview with Francis Xavier Aloisio

 
 

Who is Francis Xavier Aloisio?

I was born on the island of Malta but spent more than half of my life abroad: first in Peru as a missionary priest and then in England,  where I eventually settled after resigning from the Church. During my 22 years in England I worked as a probation officer, social worker and was then appointed as chief executive of a charity caring for people with learning disabilities in Sussex. I returned back home to Malta in 1999.

 How was your ample interest in Malta's prehistoric temples born?

Since childhood I was always fascinated by our prehistoric culture. During my long years abroad I slowly started to become more aware, and more appreciative, of the history of my culture and the wealth of heritage found on the small islands. Throughout these years, I realised that not many people knew about the temples of Malta. Everyone knows of the Pyramids, Stonehenge, Newgrange, Nasca and Machu Picchu but they draw a blank when it comes to Malta’s temples; and yet these temples are far older than those well known sites. On my return to Malta, in the year 2000, I had a strong urge to find a way to promote the unique wealth of the Maltese prehistoric culture.

When reading articles about you, on the net, I often came across the word "mystic" applied to our temples? Can you tell me more about this?

The word ‘mystic’ refers to something/somebody being spiritual, supernatural, magical and numinous. We generally allude to these sites as temples, but I think we should endeavour to find another word for these unique structures as they were not built for religious rituals. These structures were much more than that. While doing my research for my book I found myself challenged to think about the temples in a very different way. Now I am asking readers to challenge the boundaries of their beliefs.

On your website you mention Sophia - who was she?

Sophia is the Greek transliteration for the word Wisdom - the personification of the divine feminine, through whom all of creation is born ... and in her, all of creation is renewed.  Sophia is the breath and spirit of God and the feminine image of the eternal Holy Source. So when one speaks about Sophia or the Goddess, one is not talking about Gender; it is about Energy or Consciousness. The Mother Goddess is the feminine principle and the Father God is the masculine. It is the higher wisdom of the Divine – the Sophia. These masculine and feminine energies are meant to be one. Sophia, the divine energy of the Goddess, is rooted in the land of Malta. Malta is an experience of the Goddess. The old prehistoric heritage sites, the new Christian era buildings, the landscape and the whole natural environment of the Maltese islands aspire to the maternal expression. This small islands in the Mediterranean Sea bridge the prehistoric past of the temple builders with that of the new dispensation of the Christian era.

I hear you organise (facilitate) tours, for foreigners, to the Maltese temples. What's the kind of response you get?

These last few years I have noticed that many people have started to visit Malta for a particular purpose: to connect with the mystical aspect of the temples and to have a spiritual experience of the sites. These are people who have seen and visited all the other sacred sites around the world and finally realise that there are these forgotten, older, sites here on Malta. I escort people who are willing to have this spiritual experience. I have seen that many important people in the spiritual world are now coming here to connect with these sites before 2012 arrives. The experiences lived are quite amazing, and these will eventually come out in one of my books in the near future. 

Which is your favourite prehistoric temple? Why?

This question, for me, is very difficult because these prehistoric temples have to be taken in a wholistic way. I see them as energy centres so all have the same energy. Of course there are sites that have something special: like Mnajdra, Hagar Qim, the Hypogeum and Ggantija. But I also like to experience the smaller sites like Skorba, Tal-Qadi, Xemxija, Bugibba and Ta’ Cenc sites. The energies at some of these sites are very strong while in others they are very gentle yet powerful.

"Exploring the Consciousness of the Megalithic Temple Builders" was one of the lectures you have delivered on the subject. What can you tell me about the consciousness of the megalithic temple builders? What do you suppose was the reason for the building of our beautiful temples so long ago?

As I just mentioned in my previous answer the temples have to be seen as energy centres. They are in reality ‘a miniaturized hologram of the cosmos.’ They were ‘heart centres’ of Light and Life. The Temples were built to interact with the vital atomic energy of the Central Sun, in order to draw Cosmic Ray Consciousness and Star-Light Energies on Earth. Because of their unique purpose the temples are a Reservoir of Consciousness, so we need to start to look at the structures in a very different way. They were ‘charge compressors’, ‘energy generators’ and ‘power houses.’  In a word, they were ‘energy centres’ for planet Earth.

Can you tell us something about your first novel, Islands of Dream? Are you planning on writing anything else soon?

My first self-published book, Islands of Dream, is a novelogue that delves into the magic and secrets of the Maltese prehistoric sites. It recounts the meeting of a local couple with a foreigner in a series of fictitious dialogues and exchange of views about the temples. Although these views about the temples are expressed in the form of a novel, this does not diminish the hidden truths exposed, expressed and discussed between the main protagonists of the novel. Some of these will be the subject of disbelief, arguments and disagreement by many, but they will resonate with many others. The book is intended to challenge the conventional outlook and fixed theories about the temples, and to raise awareness of other concepts and views about the temples. This may be the first book which actually looks at the sacred structures from a wholistic perspective. I am currently in the process of publishing three more books which  will expand further on these mysterious structures, and a fourth book where I explore the experiences of individuals and groups vis-à-vis the temples.

You are also an artist. Tell me something about your art.

I started painting late in my life as a way of self-expression. I’m basically a self-taught artist, but later I worked on - and received - the Certificate in Art at the University of Brighton. I draw my inspiration from my Maltese background, my experiences in South America and from everyday observations.

A quote - preferably by yourself - which encapsulates your philosophy on life, love, wisdom and your beloved temples.

See what resonates within you, but do not dismiss a new idea ‘off hand.’

So ... ‘Keep an open heart, a clear mind and listen to your inner wisdom.’

Introduction

I basically opened this blog to save all the articles that so many people contributed to Il-Pjazza.com throughout the years. For this reason, I called the blog "Articles from a particular Pjazza". I hope that, maybe, they can still continue being enjoyed, who knows? I also think it better to keep the different articles, just in case the authors want to refer back to them in the future. The contributors obviously spent much time writing and researching these pieces, and I thought that they should be saved. 


Once again, I wish to express my gratitude to whoever contributed in any way - the authors, the translators and the proof-readers. All your work was thoroughly appreciated, always.


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