Do you know exactly what happens in your part of the planet during the summer and winter solstices? During the spring and autumnal equinoxes?
I was at the beach to watch this weekend's summer solstice sunset; and while sipping some effete liberal chardonnay, I realized I didn't know the exact details of these yearly phenomena.
This website explains it beautifully for those of you who delight in such things.
Here is a photo of the gorgeous sunset at the beach from Saturday, June 21, 2014.
"Astronomy has been important to people for thousands of years. The ancient construction known as Stonehenge in England may have been designed, among other purposes, to pay special honor to the solstices and equinoxes. These are the times and locations during Earth's journey around the Sun that we humans have long used to mark our seasons.
But what is the solstice exactly?"
More here from the Old Farmer's Almanac.
6 comments:
well I sure know what happens here during the summer solstice.....you can stay outside and drink beer on the patio late into the evening....if the mosquitos are not too bad.
During the winter solstice....you have to drink indoors....and wait for the summer solstice.
The concept of time, which seems
to disturb mathematical physicists
(is it a dimension, does it have a negative attribute?) was first observed in the periodicity of the sun and moon; which seems to define it to this day. Except in
peculiar cases where time is relative ?!
As someone well known once said,
"Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once."
Beer in the summer, red wine in the winter, and brandy, preferably Portuguese, year around in the evening after supper.
All while we contemplate the wonders of the universe and the absurdity of politics.
Arcturus his other name,—
I ’d rather call him star!
It ’s so unkind of science
To go and interfere!
I pull a flower from the woods,—
A monster with a glass
Computes the stamens in a breath,
And has her in a class.
Whereas I took the butterfly
Aforetime in my hat,
He sits erect in cabinets,
The clover-bells forgot.
What once was heaven, is zenith now.
Where I proposed to go
When time’s brief masquerade was done,
Is mapped, and charted too!
What if the poles should frisk about
And stand upon their heads!
I hope I’m ready for the worst,
Whatever prank betides!
Perhaps the kingdom of Heaven’s changed!
I hope the children there
Won’t be new-fashioned when I come,
And laugh at me, and stare!
I hope the father in the skies
Will lift his little girl,—
Old-fashioned, naughty, everything,—
Over the stile of pearl!
~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
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