And The Sun Stood Still

Today's All About the Sun!

... but the moon showed up for the party too!

I was awake at 6am after about 6.75 hrs sleep. Today is the winter solstice, the beginning of winter, along with the shortest day and longest night of the year. To mark the occasion, I had planned a party for the sun. I hoped it wouldn’t be bashful and hide behind cloud cover. It didn’t and I photographed the occasion. At the party, as you’ll notice, was the Moon, although just half. But unlike the other stars, at least it made an appearance. I went about my morning routine as I would any other workday morning. I did all the usual stuff. Today I was back on my normal run schedule too. Today’s weather promised to be much warmer than the past few days. We were expecting a high of about 28 degrees. I left the house for work around 830am and arrived shortly there after. The sun was out in full force this morning making for a beautiful first day of winter. The morning went without incident and before I knew it, it was time for my run. I would not be wearing extra layers today as it was 25 degrees upon my departure, balmy by comparison. I felt even warmer in the direct uninterrupted sunshine. After my run and subsequent shower, I headed off to my ophthalmologists office to select new frames for my new bifocal lenses. That appointment took about 45 minutes – not too bad. Christie, one of Dr. Julie’s opticians helped me out. She’s been with the practice for seven years. On my way back to the office I remembered that I wanted/needed a new neck strap for my saxophone, so I stopped at Music Go Round in Bethel Center to get one. And for spending $20, I got a free t-shirt for the asking! Back at the office, the afternoon went quickly. No major events to disrupt an otherwise steady afternoon. My after work time would be spent hosting a holiday celebration with my tem of engineer at Barley’s Smokehouse. I did the same last year but with limited participation, but from the sounds of it, more engineers were coming this year. Maybe they like me more ! J I stopped home before heading to Barley’s to first and foremost walk Ykraps, but also to organize myself for the following day. I arrived at Barley’s by 550pm. And slowly but surely, ten of my team members began trickling in. We were seated at a table designed to accommodate a large group the size of ours. There we enjoyed some beverages, some food, and some fun conversation. It was really a lot of fun. Come 8pm everyone began to depart. In the meantime, I noticed my buddies, Bob and Rick, had trickled in and bellied up to the bar, so I found my way to a stool amongst the two of them. I bought each of them a beer as we exchanged a few holiday related stories. We hung out until nearly 9pm. We each had to run. I bidded them a happy Xmas and was off! Once at home I changed into my comfy flannels and readied for Mindy’s arrival. She was on her way from the Easton area. Ashley called just as Mindy arrived. She wanted to discuss, among other things, our time table for Saturday afternoon. She shared some stories about her new job and some of her latest accomplishments. After we hug up I realized that we never nailed down a specific time. Mindy and I spent the next few hours together in front of a cozy fire. It was very relaxing. In fact, it was so relaxing that we fell asleep. She woke just before midnight to head home and relieve her babysitter. I, in turn, went directly to bed. In astronomy, the solstice is either of the two times a year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator, the great circle on the celestial sphere that is on the same plane as the earth's equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn; the summer solstice occurs either June 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Cancer. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter and summer solstices are reversed. Reason for the Seasons The reason for the different seasons at opposite times of the year in the two hemispheres is that while the earth rotates about the sun, it also spins on its axis, which is tilted some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of its rotation. Because of this tilt, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight (creating winter) while the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight (creating summer). As the Earth continues its orbit the hemisphere that is angled closest to the sun changes and the seasons are reversed. Longest Night of the Year The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, "sun" and -stitium, "a stoppage." Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.