The Day of the Sun's Return, The Winter Solstice
The winter solstice,
the
dreariest day with the shortest day light and longest night
of the year, our ancestors celebrated the beginning of the return of
the
Sun to the higher heavens. The planetarium show will explore the
astronomical
events associated with the first day of winter and will demonstrate how
the
position of the solstice with respect to the fixed stars has changed
over
the millennium. The patch of the sky in which the modern solstice
occurs
contains the galactic center and the delightfully beautiful Triffid
nebulae.
These places and objects are visible to modern stargazers through long
exposure
photography with large telescopes. The planetarium celebration of the
winter
solstice will include the presentation of spectacular slides of the
region. If any one asks about the Star
of
Bethlehem
I will answer the question. I am a Christian, and a Baptist, and
a current Sunday School Teacher of adults; and I have been a
deacon in two different Baptist churches including the First Baptist Church of Silver
Spring
where my wife is web manager.
Some interesting solstice Links:
Montgomery
College's
Planetarium home page
Web page by Dr. Harold Alden Williams.
Last changed 11:48AM December 15, 2009.