These are super cool!!!!

I like that 3rd pic, very pretty . The rabbit is a symbol of fertility, but I’m not sure what it has to do with winter solstice.

Maybe it has something to do with rabbits’ being traditionally associated with the moon (originating in the well-known visual illusion of “the rabbit in the moon”)?

I can think of a couple of reasons:

Rabbits are often associated with magic and faeries and being able to commune with the spirit world – on the longest night of the year this would be more likely, I imagine.

Tonight is the Wild Hunt in Norse pagan mythology, and Lepus is the bunny (hare) constellation that is always two steps ahead of the hunter Orion.

Just theories…

LPT, the pictures are beautiful! I had no idea the winter solstice had anything to do with rabbits.

Q8, I didn’t know there was a Lepus. Must go try and find it in the sky. I can find Orion’s belt, so maybe I have a chance =)

Posted By bam on 12/22/2017 3:55 AM

LPT, the pictures are beautiful! I had no idea the winter solstice had anything to do with rabbits.

Q8, I didn’t know there was a Lepus. Must go try and find it in the sky. I can find Orion’s belt, so maybe I have a chance =)

This should help  :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepus_(constellation)

Basically, look down under Orion’s foot (Rigel, the first-magnitude star at the lower right corner of the constellation) and to the right of his bigger hunting pooch (Canis Major, distinguishable by Sirius, the brightest star in the sky) and you’ll find the celestial bun. It’s not one of the more prominent constellations, but there are some very interesting features; among other things, three of its stars have been confirmed as having planetary systems; also, its brightest star, Alpha Leporis (Arneb) is thought by many astronomers to be in the latter stages of its stellar life, possibly ending as a supernova.

As you probably also know, the Rabbit is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac (which I’ve always personally preferred to the “Western” Zodiac, because my Chinese Zodiac animal is the Dragon, as opposed to the Western lineup where I fall under Pisces. A pair of fish? Bleah. Adding insult to injury, Pisces is one of the dullest constellations in the night sky.)  The next Year of the Rabbit is 2023, five years hence.

Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 12/21/2017 3:29 PM

Good theories. I’m a moon person. I love looking at the moon and would love to get a tattoo of a Rabbit and Moon. So many gorgeous designs out there.

I think it’s cool how rabbits are associated with magic and fairies. In medieval times, they were associated with witches as opposed to the cats who are today.

I didn’t even know there was a bunny constellation. Awesome!

LPT, I just read a short article about a “wolf moon” and a “Super blue blood” moon occuring this coming month.  Im familiar with the terms super moon and blood moon, but not those other terms. Pretty cool!

I’ve been trying to see the lepus in the sky, but I’m not sure it can be seen from here. Maybe later in January? I can see the Orion’s belt and Sirius and Aldebaran, but underneath them- nothing. It has been very cloudy though.

Posted By bam on 1/01/2018 2:44 PM

I’ve been trying to see the lepus in the sky, but I’m not sure it can be seen from here. Maybe later in January? I can see the Orion’s belt and Sirius and Aldebaran, but underneath them- nothing. It has been very cloudy though.

Where you can see any given constellation depends mainly (weather aside) on which latitude you’re at, with time of year being a consideration in some cases as well. Lepus, specifically, is located just south of the celestial “equator” and is visible from latitude 63 degrees north all the way down to the South Pole. You’re in Sweden, right?

Lepus doesn’t have any really bright stars so it’s not surprising it can be difficult to make out at first, especially in high-light urban areas or cloudy nights. Keep trying – it’s straight south of Orion.