Volume 14 Issue 6 June 2008
Sun Watch -- Along the Ecliptic
Along the ecliptic with the Sun during June

Along the ecliptic with the Earth during June

View From Earth: This month the Sun, (top image), appears to move eastward across Taurus the Bull and into the boundaries of the Gemini Twins.
View From Sun: While during the same time the Earth, moving along its orbit, would be 'traveling' across the constellation of Scorpius the Scorpion and Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer into the boundaries of Sagittarius, the Archer.

the sun's surface -- photosphere Sun Stats:

Mid-Day 20 June

Distance: 1.016169 A.U.
Apparent Angular Size: 31'
Right Ascension: 5 h 57 m
Declination: 23.3o

The Sun From 40oNorth
Mid-Day Altitude: 73.5o

20 April mid-day sun from 40 degrees nort
  On 21 June the Sun, in its apparent eastward motion along the ecliptic enters the boundaries of the constellation Gemini. This represents the Sun's Astronomical or actual position with respect to the zodiacal constellations in the background.
  The day before, the 20th, at 1859 CDT, the Sun reached the astronomical coordinates of 23.5 degrees north, 6 hours. This is the June Solstice.
  On 21 June, the Sun enters the Astrological sign of Cancer.

  These animated .gif images have been set to 5-day intervals and are being used to illustrate both the apparent motion of the Sun along the ecliptic - as seen from Earth, and the real motion of the Earth along the ecliptic (its orbit)- as if seen from the Sun.

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