Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Живописный закат в день равноденствия http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1358793/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Roland Christen
Explanation:
What's that at the end of the road?
The Sun.
Many towns have roads that run east - west, and on two days each year, the Sun rises
and sets
right down the middle.
Today is one of those days: an
equinox.
Not only is today a day of equal night (("aequus"-"nox") and day time, but also a day when the
sun rises precisely to the east and sets due west.
Featured here is a picturesque road in northwest
Illinois, USA that runs approximately
east -west.
The image was taken one year ago today, during the
March Equinox
of 2015, and shows the Sun down the road at sunset.
In many cultures, this
March equinox
is taken to be the first day of a season, typically spring in Earth's
northern hemisphere,
and autumn in the
south.
Does your favorite street run east - west?
Tonight at sunset, with a quick glance, you can
actually
find out.
Quiz (really hard):
What road is pictured?
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.