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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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March 20 is the vernal (spring) equinox in the northern hemisphere. And to readers south of the equator, Happy Autumnal Equinox!
What is an equinox and why do we have them? You can find out here: Ecliptic and Equinoxes
It's still a bit wintry where I am, but crocuses are coming out.
Last edited by Mona - Astronomy; 03/19/13 01:41 PM.
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Joined: May 2010
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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Here's a picture taken last year on the spring equinox. It shows a crescent Moon with earthshine. Not only is the Sun illuminating it, but we can also see the rest of the Moon because it's dimly lit by earthlight. Earthlight is sunlight reflected off the Earth onto the Moon. The New Moon in the Old Moon's Arms
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Joined: May 2010
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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On the first day of spring 1997 the most popular object in the sky was Comet Hale-Bopp. Did you see it? It was a naked-eye object for eighteen months and was a sensation. I'm afraid that Comet Panstarrs - currently visible in some places - is fairly ordinary by comparison. Here is an image taken by A. Dimai and D. Ghirardo a few days before the spring equinox in 1997. It shows the comet's spectacular two tails. Comet Hale-Bopp
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Joined: May 2010
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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In Loughcrew in Ireland there is a megalithic mound about 5000 years old. It's dark interior has a decorated back wall which is illuminated by the Sun only at the equinoxes: Illuminated carvings, Loughcrew
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Joined: May 2010
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,963 Likes: 30 |
O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
— Percy Bysshe Shelley
Nice poetry, but YES, it can be. Still plenty of wind, but not very springlike here. How about where you are?
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Joined: Mar 2013
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Newbie
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Newbie
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I find this stuff very very interesting, I wish to learn more
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,963 Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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Hi AmyR! Thanks for dropping into the forum. Here are three links which give more information about the seasons. Why Planets Have Seasons explains why we have seaons and that Earth isn't the only planet with seasons. An explanation of an equinox, such as the first day of spring, is in Ecliptic and Equinoxes. And here are some pictures related to the different seasons which I hope you'll enjoy Seasons. Bye for now. Hope you'll join us again sometime.
Last edited by Mona - Astronomy; 03/25/13 11:31 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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BellaOnline Editor Chipmunk
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BellaOnline Editor Chipmunk
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So informative Mona.
For me the gyroscope animation helped put things in perspective and explains so much (why the seasons seem to be changing in different areas and what the Mayans were referring to for December 21, 2012). Thanks bunch.
Also, I love, love, love your Pinterest page. Will be sharing with my kids.
Thanks again.
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Newbie
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Newbie
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Thank you, I will be sure to check them all out :-)
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