nosing and obsessing
Standing crescent moon as a symbol for the falling (nidsigenden) moon
Moonship as a symbol for the rising (obsessing) moon
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Nidsigend or nidsigänd in German-speaking Switzerland refers to the period in the course of a month in which the day-to-day arc of the moon runs lower above the horizon from day to day . The antonym zu nidsgend is obsessive or obsessive, i.e. the period in which the day's arc of the moon runs higher above the horizon from day to day.
In southern Germany, Vorarlberg , Tyrol and other regions, the terms moon goes over / under itself , passing / setting moon and rising / falling moon are used.
This phenomenon corresponds to the rising and falling of the sun's diurnal arc over the course of the seasons (see solstice and equinox ).
In astronomical agriculture , the effect is used to determine times for sowing and planting. The symbols can be found in farmers' calendars, also known as the folk calendar or the limping messenger, depending on the region.
Other things are associated with it in astrology today . The symbols can therefore also be found in astrological lunar calendars .
etymology
In German-speaking Switzerland, the prefix nid stands for “below” or “below” (e.g. Nidwalden ), ob stands for above or above (e.g. Obwalden ). Nidsi and obsi are derived from nid- sich and ob- sich and mean "downwards" and "upwards" in Alemannic dialects . The basic word gend or actually gänd (with a long / ä /) stands for “going”. Nidsigend therefore means “not-going”, ie “going down” or “going down”. In written German texts, the translations "unter sich geht" (for nosing ) or "über sich gehtend" (for obsessive ) appear.
Confusion with other phenomena
The term nidsigend is mistakenly equated with waning moon ( moon phase ), while obsierend is often confused with waxing moon ( synodic month ).
One can also find that the nosing phase of a month is confused with waning and the obsessive with increasing distance of the moon from the earth ( anomalous month ).
Symbols
Similar to the phases of the moon, there are also symbols for the falling and rising moon , but these are almost exclusively used by astrologers. Both have the shape of a crescent moon ; its tips indicate whether the moon is falling or rising:
- for the falling (nidsigenden) moon stands a standing crescent moon, the tips of which point downwards
- for the rising (obscuring) moon the moonship stands accordingly, a lying crescent moon, the tips of which point upwards. It occurs z. B. in the flag of Mauritania .
meaning
For the astronomical basics, see topocentric lunar orbit (sight problem of the moon in astronomical phenomenology ).
Actual meaning
If the moon is “obsessive”, then it is “ascending” or “ascending”, ie moves upwards in relation to the celestial equator - to the north. The reason for this is the inclination of the plane of the lunar orbit compared to the plane of the celestial equator. For an observer in the northern hemisphere of the earth, the rising points of the moon on the horizon shift in the north-east direction, the setting points in the north-west direction. The height of the culmination in the south is noticeably greater from day to day.
When the moon has reached its highest (northernmost) position in relation to the celestial equator, then the change from "obsessive" to "nids" occurs. So now it is “going down” or “falling”. The rise and fall points on the horizon are now shifting further south from day to day, the height of the culmination decreases ( tropical month ).
The cycle averages about a month, i.e. H. the moon is obsessive for about 14 days and then again for about 14 days.
These terms testify to a good observation of the phenomena in the sky by people of past generations (see also: Nebra Sky Disc ). In common parlance, however , these exact astronomical terms were often combined with astrological views, for example in ideas that the alternation of nidsigend and obsessive influences growth and fertility processes in nature.
Figurative meaning
In Switzerland they also jokingly say nidsigänd if something keeps falling on the floor.
Web links
- Cybervisuals.ch MOON and PLANET CALENDAR - Interactive lunar calendar with the phases of the moon , Nidsigend and Obsigend as well as near and far from the earth
- The grisonids Obisigender und Nidsigender Mond - Waning and Waxing Moon ( Memento from January 23, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), article on the website of the Astronomical Society of Graubünden
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Schweizerisches Idiotikon , Volume II, Columns 33 and 34, articles ob-si ch -gänd and nid-si ch -gänd