Posted on 08/11/2015 1:27:40 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Meagan Abell recently made a discovery during a thrift store expedition that... contains an interesting astronomical dimension as well. This is an instance where observational astronomy may play a key role in pinning down a date...first discovered the set of four medium format negatives at a thrift store on Hull Street in Richmond, Virginia. Beyond that, they have no provenance.
...Facebook users have pinned down the location as Dockweiler Beach...
One ... image shows a tiny sliver of Moon just to the subject’s upper left.
...The Moon looks to be a 5-6 day old waxing crescent about 30-40% illuminated. Not all waxing crescent Moons are created equal, as the ‘horns of the Moon’ can point in various directions based on the angle of the ecliptic to the local horizon at different times of the year.
The horns of the Moon appear to be oriented about 35 degrees from horizontal. Assuming the subject in the red dress is elevated slightly and about 20 feet from the observer, the Moon would be about 25-30 degrees above the horizon in the shot.
Now, Dockweiler Beach is located at latitude 33 degrees 55’ 20” north, longitude 118 degrees 26’ 3” west. The beach itself faces a perpendicular azimuth of 240 degrees out to sea, or roughly WSW.
Already, we can rule out winter and spring, because of the unfavorable angle of the dusk ecliptic. We want a time of year with A) a shallow southward ecliptic and B) a sunset roughly due west.
The path of the Moon is inclined about five degrees relative to the ecliptic, meaning that the Moon can ride anywhere from declination 28 degrees south, to 28 degrees north. From latitude 34 degrees north, this puts the mid-July ecliptic at about 33 degrees elevation across the meridian at sunset.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
A typical sampling of the orientation of the horns of the waxing crescent Moon throughout the year as seen from latitude 34 degrees north. Image credit: Dave Dickinson
A good fit? A comparison of the Moon in the image (left) with a simulated view in Stellarium from August 19th, 1950 (click to enlarge). Image credit: Dave Dickinson/Meagan Abell
ping
Used to live on Dockweiler Beach. Very sorry I left.
Interesting read. More that I did not know. I will be more observant in the future. Thanks for the post.
I love thrift shopping. Especially in new cities. I’ve found some amazing finds. Found a bunch of paintings by a well known artist that was worth a small fortune. I’ve found original photographs from famous photographers. I have found books with cash stuffed in them (But I think the handlers on on to that one now). Being a machinist I found a toolbox loaded with thousands of dollars of Mititoyu measuring tools. I’m still waiting to find a couple Patek Philippe watches in a grab bag but I guess I’ll have to wait for that find.
Thanks BenLurkin, extra to APoD.
And I count myself lucky to get a North Face jacket for $15!
Geez! Where do you live? Your life sounds more triumphant than that thrift shop song even!
Hey, I’m just here for the wet dress shots.
My best hunts are at the St. Vincent De Paul (Catholic Charity) thrift stores and the Humane Society animal rescue thrift stores. Goodwill is nothing but junk. When I was going to college in Fresno I found an original Ansel Adams photo.
Moonbat much?
Phases of the moon — and declination.
Nothing about bats — just a woman.
Ok.... Sorry, for a moment I thought this was news for Wombats forum.... My bad. Carry on.
>jk<
This is about Caitlin Jenner, isn’t it?
Oh stop it! STOP IT!
;)
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