Friday, September 25, 2009
The autumnal equinox came and went and I didn't even notice.
It’s true. I must be slipping, because I usually notice such things. I shall now try to make up for my inexplicable neglect by referring you to the Wikipedia article on the equinox.
Here is the Wikipedia article on the equinox.
I said I would, didn’t I?
For those of you who are too jaded to bother to expand your horizons by reading an article on a subject you have absolutely no interest in whatsoever, let me tantalize you by revealing that not only does the article contain a table that contains the UTC date and time of every solstice and equinox between the years 2004 and 2017, but it also contains the following irresistible subheadings:
Names
Length of equinoctial day and night
Heliocentric view of the seasons
Geocentric view of the seasons
Day arcs of the Sun
Celestial co-ordinate systems
Cultural aspects of the equinox
Myths, fables, and facts
and the ever-popular References and External Links.
It also contains a photograph of a bas-relief in Persepolis and one of the Chichen Itza pyramid, as well as the astounding fact that boatyard employees and sailboat owners in Annapolis, Maryland, USA, celebrate the spring equinox with the Burning of the Socks festival.
If these few teasers don’t inspire you to take a peek at an article about the equinox, nothing will.
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I think the birds noticed! My bird visitor population has decreased by 50%-75% since this solar event. "I wonder where the birdies went?"
ReplyDeleteIn the article to which you so kindly provided a link, I was intrigued by a reference to "civil twilight" and found another quite interesting Wiki-article on said subject.
Hi, Pat - I have read that the reason birds migrate in the fall has less to do with falling temperatures (I must get me to a warmer place!) and more to do with the decreasing amount of sunlight each day (I must get me to brighter climes!). You wouldn't think that a few minutes less light would make that much difference, but apparently it does to the birds. Some internal trigger goes off and they're gone.
ReplyDeleteright, nothing will
ReplyDeleteI will go forth and try to balance an egg on its point.
ReplyDeleteDecreasing light makes me want to flee.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well with you.
I am enjoying this fall weather of milder days, cooler nights and less watering duties. I will miss the longer days of light though. You are a wealth of information as usual... you force me to learn something new even if I am quite lazy about it.
ReplyDeleteNothing will.
ReplyDelete