Happy Winter Solstice Everyone!

Yep, today is the shortest day of the year. After today, the days start getting longer. But, we have to get through our coldest period yet, mid-January, when we'll also be at our closest approach to the Sun (Jan 4th).

I'd say the Sun gods were smiling down on Newgrange today when the previous 3 days fog lifted in time to give those lucky enough to be there, the chance to view the most rare of archeological events - the shining of sunlight into its passage tomb on this day each year. They (gods) were just taking the piss until this morning!

Seanie.

Carefull....dont anger the Gods.... I am off for 4 days over Christmas and hope the weather stays like this for that time.

and the neighbours are already looking weird at me doing "weather-dances" in the backgarden ....

Seanie,

Isn't solstice technically tomorrow?

Seanie,

Isn't solstice technically tomorrow?

As I understand it, last night was the longest night of the year - wasn't it? :oops:

Just to confuse things even more, the EARLIEST SUNSET occured a week ago and the LATEST SUNRISE wont occur for another week.

This is because the Declination of the Sun is changing in "real time" and
also the "Equation of Time" is changing. (Because of the non circular orbit of the Earth and the obliquity of the ecliptic.)

It is a moving dynamic system.

Think of an accordian player swaying sideways as he/she pushes the accordian bellows closest together.
Peter.

Forgot to mention.

If you could see the the bottom of the Analemma (the figure 8 "thing" in Anthony's side photo) you would notice that the LOWEST Sun does not coincide with the BOTTOM of the Figure 8.

Work THAT one out !

Peter.