Happy Solstice

Winter Solstice 2005 - click for big

The technical Winter Solstice will 'happen' at about half past noon today, Central time. Compare the GeoClock image above to this Fall's Equinox here. What it really means is that we have just been through the longest night of the year. Today will be the shortest day. The Solstice and the Equinox were among the first important aspects of astronomy to be noted by our ancestors. They generally tracked the phenomena using rocks and their shadows, as at Stonehenge. The old feeder uses push-pins on the wall opposite an East-facing window to mark the rising sun. Before you call me a pagan, just remember that Christians observe the Winter Solstice as the symbolic birthday of Jesus. Here is a picture of this morning's sunrise at the Feedlot showing how I mark the seasons besides using GeoClock.