It’s time for the 27th seasonal sunset watch!

• When: Monday, December 21st at 4:05pm (so come at 3:45pm)
  • Actual sunset is supposed to be at 7:05pm, 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 Monday, December 21st at 8:40pm
• 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. 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

Solstice Moment: Monday, December 21, 2015 at 8:40:00 PM
Universal Time: Dec 22 04 48

Seattle, King County, WA (Longitude W122° 20′, Latitude N47° 38′)

December 21, 2015 Pacific Standard Time
Sun
Begin civil twilight 7:19 a.m.
Sunrise 7:55 a.m.
Sun transit 12:07 p.m.
Sunset 4:20 p.m.
End civil twilight 4:56 p.m.

Moon
Moonset 3:19 a.m.
Moonrise 2:01 p.m.
Moon transit 9:11 p.m.
Moonset 4:31 a.m. on following day
Closest Primary Moon Phase: First Quarter on December 18, 2015 at 7:14 a.m. (local standard time)

Phase of the Moon on December 21, 2015: Waxing Gibbous with 84% 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 !

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