The year was 1987. For over 15 years, an unusual astrological alignment had been predicted to begin on August 16–17: The Sun, Moon, Mars and Venus were in alignment, what astrologers call a conjunction, at the first degree of Virgo Mercury was at the fourth degree of Virgo, within the "orb of influence" of the four-planet conjunction Jupiter was in Aries, about 180 degrees from the massive conjunction. Saturn and Uranus were in Sagittarius, about 90 degrees between both the massive conjunction and Jupiter. This made what astrologers call a "Grand Trine," one of the most amazing such formations in history, involving eight of astrology's eleven planets (the famous nine plus the