FOGS Solstitial phenomena - December 21/22 1999 - last solstice/lunar fix of the century

Solstitial phenomena - December 21/22 1999 - last solstice/lunar fix of the century

Sun enters Capricorn at 07:44 on December 22, 1999 - the actual point of solstice, commonly known as the

first day of winter. Full Moon occurs at 17:31 on December 22 - Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

This year's Full Moon is the first to occur on the Winter Solstice, December 22, for 133 years.

Since the Full Moon on the Winter Solstice occurs in conjunction with a lunar perigée (point in the Moon's

orbit closest to the Earth), the Moon appears about 14% larger than it does at apogée (the point in its orbit

farthest from the Earth - during summer). This makes it appear brighter.

The Earth is also several million miles closer to the sun at present - during the Winter Solstice - than it is at

Summer Solstice (June 22). Mean distance from the Sun is 93million miles - variable. Sunlight striking the

Moon at this perihelion (closest point to the sun) is therefore about 7% stronger at this time, making the Moon

appear still brighter.

This is also the closest perigée of the Moon all year. (The moon's elliptical orbit is constantly shifting, forming &

deforming because of variation in the Earth's gravitational field.) That, combined with the Earth's perihelion,

makes for an unbeatably bright orb in the winter sky.

If the skies are clear (they are tonight - one night before full - December 21st -), then it is possible to drive on

a hill road without headlights and see quite clearly. [We don't recommend you try it on the motorway].

This phenomenon has not occurred for 133 years - the last time it did occur was on December 21st, 1866. It

is told that on that night the Lakota Sioux took advantage of the combination of date & lunar condition to

ambush soldiers in Wyoming Territory. Their medicine men had foretold the lunar-solar event.

As darkness falls about 4p.m. in Northeast Scotland on the winter solstice, the full moon will be rising

[declination varies with altitude - see your own horizon]. At point of complete night, about an hour later, the

moon will become full and its luminescence brighter than any it has shone for the last 133 years. It will not

happen again for approximately another 100 years.

Perhaps just one more phenomenon to add to this year's events: total solar eclipse, Grand Cross; solstitial full

moon.

No wonder our ancestors built fires to celebrate such celestial occurrences: this one is remarkable.

Happy Solstice

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