Angling the Visage

Some Solstice Links

Organization is the base element of Human behaviour. As people noticed patterns in the movements in the sky, they used them as markers to denote “time passage”.

Breaking out of Mythology and Mysticism, and breaking into Human Consciousness, here is an explanation of some of the first applications of reason, concerning the Solstice and the Change of Seasons:http://www.metrum.org/mapping/winds.htm -robert run-

Here is a link to probably the best, to-the-point site on the Solstice: http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/WinterSolstice.html
Within it, there is another link to a very brief Quicktime movie which illustrates the rotation and tilt of the earth as we move through the seasons, don’t forget to find and check that .mov link!:

This is, I think, my favorite site dedicated to organizing.. “Let’s start with the Science”. Indeed.. let’s.
http://www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html
Figuring out the changing seasons, the tilt of the Earth’s axis, the date of the solstice, etc. is _very_ simple. E.g. look at how the rising (or setting) point of the Sun changes during a year. When the Sun rises or sets the furthest to the south, it is winter solstice. If it’s furthest to the north, it’s summer solstice. Measuring the difference between the maximum altitude of the Sun reached on the days of the solstices gives twice the tilt of the Earth’s equator, and hence the tilt of the Earth’s axis of rotation, and so forth. You don’t need satellites or space travel for that.
Looking at nature with open eyes, observing the motion of the Sun across the sky will reveal these things very quickly. So it’s no surprise at all that this was known very early to humans.
(Candlegrove is cool)

This is yet another nice explanation of the Winter Solstice, but probably the best diagram that I’ve been able to find:http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/the_universe/uts/winter.html&edu=high

Be sure to send me any comments, or any of your favorite Solstice links.
I know I’ll have some writing coming over the course of the next day or two.. So please check back, and thanks for stopping in, friend.

~ by thefrozennorth on December 20, 2006.