NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Equinox, eggs and other questions
From: Rob Gendreau
Date: 2002 Mar 16, 08:05 -0800
From: Rob Gendreau
Date: 2002 Mar 16, 08:05 -0800
I always assumed the equinox was when the sun crossed the equator, but since taking a Cel Nav class I realize my naivete, and now assume that it must be more complicated than that ;) For instance, is it when the center of the sun crosses, or the lower limb, or what? A quick glance through my Nautical Almanac didn't reveal an answer. I figure the equinox will be between 19-00 and 20-00 UT (about 19-30 it looks like) since that's when the sun's declination hits zero. If I just fiddle with the increment tables to get a 0 deg dec, that's the equinox? Oh, eggs. In Iran the new year begins on the equinox (helluv practical, those ancient Persians). Tradition has it that at the moment of the equinox you can stand an egg on end. Not to raise the specter of scientific rationalism vs. folklore, but big bets are riding on this in my office. Video evidence is being demanded. So an accurate time for the equinox is essential. And Happy New Year to all the Iranians out there!! Rob