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Science Section => Science General Discussion => Physics & Cosmology => Topic started by: josephpalazzo on December 20, 2013, 04:48:05 PM

Title: Winter Solstice
Post by: josephpalazzo on December 20, 2013, 04:48:05 PM
Come Dec. 21st (tomorrow), we will witness another winter solstice. Nothing to get excited over. However do you know that this solstice is happening at very near perihelion? It is slowly changing and takes 21,000 years to come full circle. Here's a diagram of its position every 5,000 years.


(//http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff277/josephpalazzo/precession_and_seasons.jpg) (//http://s243.photobucket.com/user/josephpalazzo/media/precession_and_seasons.jpg.html)

So, enjoy this Saturday's winter solstice as it will be the closest one to the Sun you'll ever experience.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: sophia on December 20, 2013, 04:50:15 PM
To bad tomorow is going to be a rainy day in the Netherlands :-|
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: josephpalazzo on December 20, 2013, 04:59:54 PM
Well, you could always catch a flight with KLM!  :P
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: sophia on December 20, 2013, 05:07:23 PM
Quote from: "josephpalazzo"Well, you could always catch a flight with KLM!  :P
Well I didnt play any flights for tomorow
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: josephpalazzo on December 22, 2013, 08:13:46 AM
That crazy winter storm really spoiled witnessing the sun reversing course from north to south. Oh well, next year...
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: sophia on December 23, 2013, 10:06:06 AM
Quote from: "josephpalazzo"That crazy winter storm really spoiled witnessing the sun reversing course from north to south. Oh well, next year...
True.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: SGOS on December 23, 2013, 10:40:43 AM
Quote from: "josephpalazzo"So, enjoy this Saturday's winter solstice as it will be the closest one to the Sun you'll ever experience.
Finally an explanation for global warming that makes sense and doesn't blame human environmental abuses.  So there's really nothing to worry about.  Keep buying them SUVs and cutting down the rainforests.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: josephpalazzo on December 23, 2013, 11:42:33 AM
Quote from: "SGOS"
Quote from: "josephpalazzo"So, enjoy this Saturday's winter solstice as it will be the closest one to the Sun you'll ever experience.
Finally an explanation for global warming that makes sense and doesn't blame human environmental abuses.  So there's really nothing to worry about.  Keep buying them SUVs and cutting down the rainforests.
Ha, we will not  reach aphelion until another 5000 years, plenty of time for us to screw up our dear planet.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: FrankDK on December 23, 2013, 04:46:20 PM
So does that mean in 5000 years, the winter solstice will occur in the spring?  What will happen with spring break?  Will we spring backward?  And what if it turns out that doing the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?

Frank
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: sophia on December 23, 2013, 04:54:08 PM
Quote from: "FrankDK"So does that mean in 5000 years, the winter solstice will occur in the spring?  What will happen with spring break?  Will we spring backward?  And what if it turns out that doing the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?

Frank
What is the Hokey Pokey?
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: FrankDK on December 23, 2013, 05:12:52 PM
?What is the Hokey Pokey?

A dance mentioned in a popular song of the same name.

"You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out;
You put your right foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!"

Frank
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: sophia on December 23, 2013, 05:17:11 PM
Quote from: "FrankDK"?What is the Hokey Pokey?

A dance mentioned in a popular song of the same name.

"You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out;
You put your right foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!"

Frank
Now I know it. But why did you mention this song. What has the song to do with winter solstice?
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: FrankDK on December 23, 2013, 05:41:46 PM
>  But why did you mention this song. What has the song to do with winter solstice?

Nothing, really.  Deep subjects like the precession of the equinoxes make me think about the purpose of life, and I just wondered, what if doing the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?

Frank
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: sophia on December 23, 2013, 05:43:59 PM
Quote from: "FrankDK">  But why did you mention this song. What has the song to do with winter solstice?

Nothing, really.  Deep subjects like the precession of the equinoxes make me think about the purpose of life, and I just wondered, what if doing the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?

Frank
thats indeed deep
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: SGOS on December 23, 2013, 09:04:34 PM
Quote from: "sophia"
Quote from: "FrankDK">  But why did you mention this song. What has the song to do with winter solstice?

Nothing, really.  Deep subjects like the precession of the equinoxes make me think about the purpose of life, and I just wondered, what if doing the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?

Frank
thats indeed deep
Makes sense to me.  I think we should all do the Hokey Pokey during the solstice.  It could be like a pagan thing.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: sophia on December 24, 2013, 03:34:28 AM
and it would look funny