Posted on 12/21/2020 3:39:19 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: Does the Sun always rise in the same direction? No. As the months change, the direction toward the rising Sun changes, too. The featured image shows the direction of sunrise every month during 2019 as seen from near the city of Amman, Jordan. The camera in the image is always facing due east, with north toward the left and south toward the right. Although the Sun always rises in the east in general, it rises furthest to the south of east on the December solstice, and furthest north of east on the June solstice. Today is the December solstice, the day of least sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere and of most sunlight in the Southern Hemisphere. In many countries, the December Solstice is considered an official change in season: for example the first day of winter in the North. Solar heating and stored energy in the Earth's surface and atmosphere are near their lowest during winter, making the winter months usually the coldest of the year. On the brighter side, in the north, daylight hours will now increase every day from until June.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then zoom by moving the magnifying glass over an area and then clicking. The side bars will move the zoomed area over the photograph.
Jupiter and Saturn at closest conjunction tonight in SW sky just after sunset. Look directly above the horizon at the place the sun set. Saturn now positioned just to the right of Jupiter.
Cats enjoy “solar heating”.
Jupiter and Saturn should be visible for an hour or so after sunset, depending on the view to the SW from your location.
Yes, as does the chihuahua. However, the cat is even more insistent on having the woodstove downstairs going when it is cool outside.
That’s a really neat pic!
We caught a few seconds of it through binoculars.
By the time I dug out the large Celestron, out of sight below the horizon.
Another incredible graphic! Says it all in one shot.
And all because the earth revolves on a tilted axis (23.5 degrees). Otherwise the Sun would always rise due east and always set due west. There would be no seasons. But with the Sun rising ~46 degrees further north in Summer than in Winter it climbs much higher in the sky during the day than its low angle in Winter.
Mountains block the view...
Glad the earth does not rotate like Uranus! (Two meanings)
Took sps and daughter out to view early before it went below the west treeline. It was still light, but you could see both planets.
Neighbors came out too. I called another neighbor over to see and let her husband know and let a lady walking by with a dog about it.
Exceedingly odd this fell on the solstice.
Clouds seem to appear most often on nights with meteor shower.
That’s disgusting. Do you not have any respect for the ladies on this site? I know you think you’re being cute, but FR has long been a family friendly site. Stop it!
Sorry. I didn’t think it was that bad.
Certainly not “disgusting”.
It’s too overcast here, to see the ‘Christmas Star’. If anyone takes pics we’d love to see them.
We use solar gain to cut down on heating costs, in Winter; and it’s not lost on the cats. They always find a sunbeam to lie in.
I zoomed in and could see their positions better - Saturn right of Jupiter ....
Three nights ago, they were like this - Saturn above Jupiter ...
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