Weird observation: Even though the days are getting longer, sunrise is actually still getting later for a few days. It's just that sunset is getting later faster.
I don't know about the solstices, but the vernal equinox is a definition (it's a location on the sky) that has nothing to do with the season of the location you happen to be in. Sorry about the discrimination, you southerners should have invented astronomy and then you could have made the definitions! ;-)
Actually, it's kind of ironic (at least for us in the Northern Hemisphere) to say Happy Solstice, since general depression can be linked to the lack of sunlight in the winter months.
Oh but we are happy that the sunlight is now returning. When I lived in Sweden, it was always the loss of daylight that depressed me. Once you get to the solstice, you know it's getting better!
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What's awesome is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newgrange
Built between 3100 and 2900 BC: at the winter solstice the chamber inside is illuminated by the sun.
Weird observation: Even though the days are getting longer, sunrise is actually still getting later for a few days. It's just that sunset is getting later faster.
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/sunrise.html
I think the instant of the Solstice this year is 17:47 UTC
In Los Angeles: 09:47
In New York: 12:47
In Melbourne: 04:47 on the 22nd
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analemma
Edit: I've always wanted to take a picture of it, but I've never had a spare camera I can bolt down for a year...
Don't forget the reason for the season.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic
Summer Solstice for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere :)
Sorry about the Northern-hemispherism, I edited the title. ;)
I don't know about the solstices, but the vernal equinox is a definition (it's a location on the sky) that has nothing to do with the season of the location you happen to be in. Sorry about the discrimination, you southerners should have invented astronomy and then you could have made the definitions! ;-)
It's nice to realize that there's more daylight ahead.
It feels like something real to celebrate; also that the Solstice is the true root of the Western "holiday season."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalda
Actually, it's kind of ironic (at least for us in the Northern Hemisphere) to say Happy Solstice, since general depression can be linked to the lack of sunlight in the winter months.
Oh but we are happy that the sunlight is now returning. When I lived in Sweden, it was always the loss of daylight that depressed me. Once you get to the solstice, you know it's getting better!
Get's worse after the holidays.
Once again the light has won the battle against the dark.
Useful image of the sun and sunshine on the Earth:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/sunearth.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midvinterblot_%28disambiguation...
And it's my birthday! Shortest day of the year :)
Happy Saturnalia! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia
But its my birthday!