The
Autumn Equinox
The 2008 autumn equinox in the northern hemisphere occurs Monday, September 22, at 8:45am PDT; 15:45 UT, when the Sun enters Libra. It is one of the two days of the year that the Sun moves across the celestial equator, the imaginary line among the stars that lies directly above the Earth's equator circling from east to west. The Sun's crossing of the celestial equator occurs one other time on the spring equinox. Both times this crossing occurs, the Sun rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west!
Image: TheSky Astronomy Software
The
Sun crosses the celestial equator at both equinoxes.
The Sun is ascending "springing" in March,
and descending "falling" in September.
Equinox, which means "equal night" refers to a time when the length of day and night are equal. As the Sun crosses the celestial equator, the axis of the Earth points neither toward nor away from the Sun resulting in in 12 hours of darkness and light over the planet.
... Since the Earth's tilt relative to the Sun is constantly changing, the 12-hour symmetry can be only approximately true anywhere. However, if you look at the sunrise sunset times for your location, you find that it is several minutes off on this date. Why? It's because the refracting or bending effects of the Earth's atmosphere alters the observed time of sunrise and sunset. The Sun rises a little earlier and sets a little later due to this effect, causing the observed equinox to precede the true equinox by a few days in spring. In the fall it follows by a few days. Larry Sessions at Space.com
Seasons and the Celestial Sphere
The path of the Sun in the sky intersects the celestial sphere and marks the seasons. At the spring and autumn equinoxes, when the Sun intersects the celestial equator it rises due east and sets due west. At the summer solstice, when the Sun reaches its highest point north of the celestial equator it rises as far northeast as it can and sets as far northwest as it can. At the winter solstice, when the Sun reaches its lowest point south of the celestial equator it rises as far southeast as it can and sets as far southwest as it can.
... on the week before and after the equinox the Sun changes its rising and setting position on the horizon each day by a full Sun's width, which is over half a degree. (moving from north to south) Of course you have to be careful not to stare at the Sun as it rises or sets. On the equinox it will rise due east and set due west, but then the following week watch it again dramatically change ... as it moves from due east toward the south and you'll be absolutely amazed! Star Gazer
The
autumn equinox occurs at the exact moment in time
when the Sun, heading from the north to the south,
appears in the sky at the point
where
the ecliptic crosses
the celestial
equator.
Image: HyperPhysics
Here's a list of autumn equinox facts from The Astronomy Club of Tulsa:
The direct rays (of the Sun) are at the equator
Six months of darkness begins at the North Pole
Six months of light begins at the South Pole
Twelve hours of darkness and twelve hours of light all over the earth
It is the longest day of the year on the equator, again (spring equinox is the longest day, previous)
The sun rises due east and sets due west
Autumn begins in the Northern Hemisphere
Spring begins in the Southern Hemisphere
Hmmm ... check out the Spring Equinox page for more equinox facts and surprise your friends with them.
Aurora
Season Begins!
Geomagnetic storms tend to be most intense
during the weeks around the September equinox.
Meditative insights for the Autumn Equinox
Global Meditations ~ Autumn Equinox
Global
Equinox Sunrise Meditation
Monday,
September 22, 2008
Participants
in this World Unity Celebration
visualize a world of peace unified
through unconditional love.
Solar
Wave 2008 ~ Phase Two
Monday,
September 22, 2008
1:00pm-3:00pm Your Time
The
14th Annual Solar Wave is a Joyful Invitation
to the Awakening Masses of Gaia to come together
in ONE UNIFIED HEART to Activate our
Planet as a LIVING GAIA PRAYER WHEEL.
All like-minded, heart-centered souls
are invited to join together to create an
Unstoppable Tidal Solar Wave of Light and
Positive Mass Awareness, to harmonize
all discordant energy on Gaia,
and to initiate a spontaneous
Awakening of Humanity.
Healing
Our Oceans ~
Marine Meditation
Autumn Equinox
Monday,
September 22, 2008
8:00pm your time
This "Wave" meditation
directs healing and loving
energies to the oceans of the world and will circle
the planet during this 24-hour period.
Gather for "Healing the Oceans of the World"
at a body of water or a sacred site.
The
following link is related ...
Golden
Water Activation Meditation
Merge with dolphin and whale consciousness.
Worldwide
Didgeridoo Meditation
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sunset your time
This meditation is a worldwide link-up of people
supporting environmental and personal awareness.
It is held on the equinoxes and solstices.
Starting at sunset, participants are asked to play or
listen to meditative music (preferably didgeridoos)
for 45 minutes and then to sit silently for 15 minutes.
Current and Ongoing Global Meditations
Have an Awesome Autumn!
I'd
like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky and
if you'd like reminders to Look Up! ...
send me an email.
May your Night Sky traveling always be filled
with Celestial Delights and Treats!
Susan Sun
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