Observatory
The Observatory as NextBlock City
The Observatory is NextBlock City’s timekeeper that turns Bitcoin’s blockchain into an astronomical calendar.
Quick Start
Date Format: AG_{halving}_{season}_{moon}_{position}
Example: AG_4_2_4_0430 = 4th halving cycle, Summer 🌞, Whale Moon 🐳, 430 blocks into cycle
Powered by Telescope - a TypeScript library for all astronomical calculations.
Celestial Bodies
- 🌙 Virtual Moon: 4,032 blocks per cycle (8 phases, 13 named moons)
- ☀️ Virtual Sun: 210,000 blocks per cycle (4 seasons aligned with Bitcoin halvings)
- 🌊 Virtual Tides: 42 events per lunar cycle (21 high + 21 low tides)
- 🌑 Eclipses: Occur at season midpoints when moon crosses sun
Date Format
Format: AG_{halving}_{season}_{moon}_{position_in_cycle}
- AG/BG: After/Before Genesis
- halving: Halving cycle number (0-based)
- season: 1=Spring, 2=Summer, 3=Autumn, 4=Winter
- moon: 1-13 (🍊 Orange, 🪶 Bird, 🫂 Friend, 🐳 Whale, 🐂 Bull, 🐻 Bear, 🌽 Corn, ⚡ Lightning, 🥜 Squirrel, 🌊 Wave, 🧊 Ice, 💎 Diamond, ₿ Satoshi’s)
- position: 0-4031 (4 digits, padded with zeros)
Hashtag-ready: Add # prefix for social media (e.g., #AG_4_2_4_0430)
Moon Phases
8 phases per cycle (504 blocks each):
| Emoji | Phase | Block Range |
|---|---|---|
| 🌕 | Full Moon | 0-503 |
| 🌖 | Waning Gibbous | 504-1007 |
| 🌗 | Last Quarter | 1008-1511 |
| 🌘 | Waning Crescent | 1512-2015 |
| 🌑 | New Moon | 2016-2519 |
| 🌒 | Waxing Crescent | 2520-3023 |
| 🌓 | First Quarter | 3024-3527 |
| 🌔 | Waxing Gibbous | 3528-4031 |
Calculation: phase = floor((block_height % 4032) / 504)
Solar Seasons
4 seasons per halving cycle (52,500 blocks each):
| Emoji | Season | Block Range |
|---|---|---|
| 🌱 | Spring | 0-52,499 |
| 🌞 | Summer | 52,500-104,999 |
| 🍂 | Autumn | 105,000-157,499 |
| ❄️ | Winter | 157,500-209,999 |
Calculation: season = floor((block_height % 210000) / 52500)
Tides
42 tidal events per lunar cycle (96 blocks per event):
- 21 high tides (even event numbers)
- 21 low tides (odd event numbers)
- Height range: -21 to +21 blocks
- Spring tides: New/Full Moon phases
- Neap tides: Quarter Moon phases
Tide Phases
Tide height follows a 42-block cycle pattern:
Tide Height Pattern (42-block cycle):
- Blocks 0-42: +21 to -21 (42 blocks)
- Next 42 blocks: -21 to +21 (42 blocks)
- Pattern repeats every 42 blocks
Tide Phases (mapped to 42-block height cycle):
| Emoji | Phase | Height Range | Block Range (42-block cycle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌊 | Peak High | +21 | 0 |
| 🌊⬇️ | Falling | +20 to 0 | 1-21 |
| 🏖️⬇️ | Falling | 0 to -20 | 22-41 |
| 🏖️ | Peak Low | -21 | 42 (start of next cycle) |
Maximum values: Height reaches +21 at blocks 0, 42, 84, 126… Height reaches -21 at blocks 42, 84, 126, 168…
Calculation: position_in_42 = block_height % 42, tide_height = 21 - position_in_42 (for first half, then reverses for second half)
Atmospheric Conditions
Based on transaction efficiency (tx per full block equivalent):
| Condition | Range |
|---|---|
| ☀️ Clear Skies | 8,000+ |
| 🌤️ Few Clouds | 6,000-8,000 |
| ⛅ Partly Cloudy | 3,000-6,000 |
| ☁️ Overcast | 2,000-3,000 |
| 🌦️ Heavy Clouds | 1,000-2,000 |
| 🌧️ Rain | 500-1,000 |
| ⛈️ Thunderstorms | <500 |
Calculation: efficiency = transaction_count / (block_weight / 4000000)
Eclipses
Occur at season midpoints (blocks 26,250, 78,750, 131,250, 183,750):
| Emoji | Type | Moon Phase | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌚 | Total Eclipse | New Moon | Moon completely blocks the sun |
| 🌝 | Annular Eclipse | Full Moon | Moon appears smaller, ring visible |
| 🌞 | Partial Eclipse | All other phases | Moon partially covers the sun |
The Observatory is more than just a timekeeper - it’s a window into the fundamental rhythms of our digital world.