June 20 Summer Solstice Sunset Watch – 2015
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It’s time for the 25th seasonal sunset watch! Wow. That’s a lot. We should probably have some kind quadrans-quarter-ennial, or icosipenta-seasonal-versary, or quasqui-quadmensiversary celebration, don’t you think?
- When: Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 9:00pm (so come at 8:45pm)
- Actual sunset is supposed to be at 9:11pm, but we have noticed that the Sun sets about 10 minutes earlier than the USNO says, because of the horizon altitude.
- The equinox moment is at Sunday, June 21, 2015 at 9:38 AM … but we’re watching the sunset the night before not the sunrise because of how the park lines up.
- Where: Solstice Park – all the way up the hill from the tennis courts (or, if you’re not in Seattle, wherever you have a view of the western horizon!)
- Who: Everyone welcome, as usual.
Parent and Child at Sunset by Kazuhiko Teramoto, skyseeker
Come watch the sunset at Solstice Park in West Seattle. The stone markers have been removed for upkeep, so if they aren’t back yet, we’ll mark the location of the sunset ourselves. The earthworks are still in place, so we can definitely still see the alignment. I’ll be there even if it is cloudy because sometimes the Sun peeks through just as it begins to set, but if it is driving rain or sleet I’m staying home with some hot tea!
If you’re interested – here’s the timing of various celestial events from Seattle, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department:
Sun and Moon Data for One Day
Sun and Moon Data for One Day
Seattle, King County, WA (Longitude W122° 20′, Latitude N47° 38′)
June 20, 2015 Pacific Daylight Time
SUN
Begin civil twilight 4:30 a.m.
Sunrise 5:11 a.m.
Sun transit 1:11 p.m.
Sunset 9:11 p.m.
End civil twilight 9:51 p.m.MOON
Moonrise 9:38 a.m.
Moon transit 4:44 p.m.
Moonset 11:41 p.m.Closest Primary Moon Phase: First Quarter on June 24, 2015 at 4:02 a.m. (local daylight time)
Phase of the Moon on June 20, 2015: Waxing Crescent with 18% of the Moon’s visible disk illuminated.
This event is my part of the NASA’s Solar System Ambassador program, and thanks to West Seattle Blog for publicizing all of them!
Everyone is welcome, see you there!
~ A l i c e !
So thrilled to find you and your site when I was homesick, in hospital in Hyannis, MA but live in West Seattle . Never missed Solstice before so much thanks for bringing it to me
I’m thrilled to bring you a little bit of home. If you want to see more photos and sky news from West Seattle you can search West Seattle Blog for my name and it’ll turn up my articles as well as coverage of the solstice/equinox and sky events.
Be well.