Monday, June 20, 2005
THE LONGEST DAY
Today and tomorrow mark the Summer Solstice. At precisely 1:48 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time on June 21 (9:48 p.m. Eastern on June 20), the rays of the sun will be perpendicular to the Tropic of Cancer at 23°30' North latitude.
Thus, the earth's "circle of illumination" will be from the Arctic Circle on the far side of the earth (in relation to the sun) to the Antarctic Circle on the near side of the earth. The equator receives twelve hours of daylight, there's 24 hours of daylight at the North Pole and areas north of 66°30' N, and there's 24 hours of darkness at the South Pole and areas south of 66°30' S.
June 20-21 is start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere but simultaneously the start of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. It's also the longest day of sunlight for places in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day for cities south of the equator.
I copied all this from about.com's writeup on the solstice. I didn't know any of this. And I am not too sure of it now. You will have to go there to get the complete lowdown. We would be in the Los Angeles breakdown. You will be where you are. Like you are now. The same place. Unless you are near here too. Then you can look at LA.
Just to complicate it further, we have shorter days than Los Angeles because we live here next to the mountain. Our sun goes 'down' about two hours earlier than LA. So I guess I shouldn't feel too bad about any of it.
Why is this important? Well, we walk the dog when the sun goes down so we have to keep shifting the second p.m. walk time to get the best advantage with other household activities.
Right now, we are at the period when we walk after dinner. Not ideal. Well it is good for digestion but it is kinda late. I go to bed at 8pm. In the winter we are walking him at 3pm. See?
You really don't want to hear all this do you.
Me neither.
