It’s time for the 28th seasonal sunset watch!

• When: Saturday, March 19th at 7:10pm (so come at 6:45pm)
  • Actual sunset is supposed to be at 7:22pm, 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 Saturday, March 19th at 9:30pm
• 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.
• Bring (optional): Your smartphone or tablet with a stargazing app. If you do, I’ll spend a few minutes showing you how to use the app. Well, I’ll try anyway, this part of the evening is in beta testing. ;)

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: Saturday, March 19th at 9:30:00 PM
Universal Time: Mar 20 04 30

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

Saturday, March 19, 2016 Pacific Daylight Time

Sun
Begin civil twilight 6:42 a.m.
Sunrise 7:13 a.m.
Sun transit 1:17 p.m.
Sunset 7:22 p.m.
End civil twilight 7:52 p.m.

Moon
Moonset 5:25 a.m.
Moonrise 3:52 p.m.
Moon transit 10:59 p.m.
Moonset 5:57 a.m. on following day
Closest Primary Moon Phase: Full Moon on March 23, 2016 at 5:01 a.m. (local daylight time)

Phase of the Moon on March 19, 2016: Waxing Gibbous with 88% 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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