Autumnal Equinox
Di Sathairne, 23 An t-Sultain 2006
The northern autumnal equinox occurred in the early hours of this morning (UK time). The sun is now on its way southwards and our days are now shorter than the nights. The long winter period is under way.
The sun’s position on the analemma:
Double Month Change
1 Wintering 1562
1 Hunter’s/Cadal, Year 7
This month, the beginning of the new solar and lunar months line up, an occurrence that occurs every 2-3 years or so. In fact, the new months of Wintering (solar) and Hunter’s Moon (lunar) cover exactly the same period, from 23rd September until 22nd October.
Solar Calendar
The month of Wintering refers ostensibly to the oncoming winter half of the year following the autumnal equinox which occurs in the early hours of 23rd September this year. The name comes from Winterfylleð, meaning “Winter fills” or “Winter is coming”. An alternative view is that this name in Old …
County Watch
Di Ardaoin, 7 An t-Sultain 2006
16 Holimonth 1562
15 Harvest/Aodhrain, Year 7
I came across the website for County Watch today. I had not heard of this organisation before, and was very interested in its message. Basically, they are campaigning for the resiting of erroneously placed road signs proclaiming the boundaries of counties that have changed since local government reorganisation in England in 1974. This is an interesting campaign, and one which I support. Their campaign highlights some glaring illogicalities that have occurred due to reorganisations in 1974 and subsequent years.
Some of the stupidest and most illogical cases have been caused by the …
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Di Màirt, 5 An t-Sultain 2006
14 Holimonth 1562
13 Harvest/Aodhrain, Year 7
On Thursday there will be a partial lunar eclipse visible in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. In Europe and Africa the moon will rise during the eclipse and the darkened portion of the moon will rise first. At maximum eclipse around 18% of the moon’s disc will be in shadow.
The important times are as follows (all times are UT):
1st Contact: 16:47
2nd Contact: 18:10
Greatest eclipse: 18:51
3rd Contact: 19:34
4th Contact: 20:57
Moonrise: 18:35 (London); 18:48 (Cardiff); 18:58 (Glasgow); 19:02 (Dublin).
P.S. I had a lovely view of this eclipse as I drove up the road from …