dec +30°
Summer Solstice June 20, 2008
21:00 ADT
gamma Leonis
( Algieba )
Sept. 7th Sun crosses the Meridian at 13:14:32 ADT,
2 min 22 sec before
Mean Solar Noon
In 15 days from Sept. 7th, Sun’s position on the Celestial Sphere will reach the co-ordinates marking the Autumn Equinox, Right Ascension,
(R.A.) 12h 00m, and
declination (dec) 00° 00’
.
Sept. 7th Sun is positioned at
R.A.11 h 06.3 m and
dec +5.75° in the
Sun’s daily drop in altitude is now declining near its greatest rate ( note the spacing of the green analemma dots, each one 7 days apart). The rapid loss of altitude quickly shortens the length of day, especially noticable in the much earlier sunset time.
At Horton Bluff the Summer Solstice day was about
15h 38min long and Sun at noon reached 68.5 ° above the horizon. Length of day, Sept. 7th:
about 12h 56min, and Sun’s noon
altitude is about 49.9°
On the Equinox
Length of day: about 12 hours
Noon altitude: about 45°
South Horizon Avonport, N.S.
Winter Solstice December 21, 2008
08:04 AST
Dec 21, 12:04 UT
Celestial .
Equator
Venus has returned to the evening sky, setting after the Sun. With careful observing, its brightness is detectable in the bright twilight, near the western horizon. An experienced observer can also see Mercury with the aid of binoculars. At the same time Jupiter is much more noticable, brightly shining above the southern horizon. Saturn is too near the Sun to be seen.
dec. -10°
declination
0°
dec. +20°
LEO
Venus
Mercury
Saturn
Regulus
Vernal (Spring)Equinox March 20, 2009
8:44ADT
11:44 UT
Autumn Equinox
Sept 22 2008
12:45ADT, 15:45 UT
dec
+10°
