It’s time for the 31st seasonal sunset watch!
- When: Wednesday, December 21 at 4:05 (so come at 3:45pm)
- Actual sunset is supposed to be at 4:20pm, but we have noticed that the Sun sets about 10 minutes earlier than the USNO [1] says, because of the horizon altitude.
- The equinox moment is Wednesday, December 21st at 2:44am
- Where: Solstice Park [2] – 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. (Please do leash your dogs as we usually have a good number of people, kids, and other dogs around.)
[3]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 a thunderstorm I’m staying home with some 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: [1]
Sun and Moon Data for One Day
Equinox Moment: Wednesday, December 21 2:44am
Universal Time: Dec 21 10 44Sun and Moon Data for One Day
Wednesday, December 21, 2016 Pacific Standard Time
Sun
Begin civil twilight 7:19 a.m.
Sunrise 7:55 a.m.
Sun transit 12:08 p.m.
Sunset 4:20 p.m.
End civil twilight 4:57 p.m.
Moon
Moonrise 12:19 a.m.
Moon transit 6:33 a.m.
Moonset 12:39 p.m.
This event is my part of the NASA’s Solar System Ambassador program, and thanks to West Seattle Blog [4] for publicizing all of them!
Everyone is welcome, see you there!
~ A l i c e !