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A modern-day Eratosthenes, that's me!
Feb. 3rd, 2020 05:07 pmIt was 31°F when I got to work this morning, while helps to explain the 1,146 steps I took between 0730 and 0745. Move or die! But I was able to get scientific confirmation that spring is coming! I did this by noting the angle of the sun during my shift.
There are two very tall pine trees on the grounds of Scott Lane School that stand about due South East of my post at Scott and Cabrillo. For much of the late fall and winter, those pines have been blocking the rising sun. As any sun on a cold morning can help, I stared at these trees with dark thoughts of chainsaws and wild attack beavers in my mind. For a week or so, the sun was rising almost directly between the trees, as seen from my point, creating a narrow sliver of early light I could bask in by standing in just the right spot on the sidewalk. I'm sure that shaft of light hitting my hi-vis safety vest dazzled a few drivers, but I didn't care. As I'm not allowed to cut down one of the trees near me for a bonfire, I'll take my heat any wat I can get it.
I never even got to the point where I explained the importance of dancing naked around the fire. No burning trees! So intolerant. I'd have kept the safety vest on!
But anyway, this morning was the first really clear morning we've had in a few weeks, and I was pleased to see that the sun is now rising a bit to the north of these trees, and letting me get sunlight right on my corner. Bang, there you go: observational proof of the Earth's Axial tilt taken over a period of many weeks by yours truly.
For my next trick, I'll discover a means of accurately measuring longitude while at sea.
There are two very tall pine trees on the grounds of Scott Lane School that stand about due South East of my post at Scott and Cabrillo. For much of the late fall and winter, those pines have been blocking the rising sun. As any sun on a cold morning can help, I stared at these trees with dark thoughts of chainsaws and wild attack beavers in my mind. For a week or so, the sun was rising almost directly between the trees, as seen from my point, creating a narrow sliver of early light I could bask in by standing in just the right spot on the sidewalk. I'm sure that shaft of light hitting my hi-vis safety vest dazzled a few drivers, but I didn't care. As I'm not allowed to cut down one of the trees near me for a bonfire, I'll take my heat any wat I can get it.
I never even got to the point where I explained the importance of dancing naked around the fire. No burning trees! So intolerant. I'd have kept the safety vest on!
But anyway, this morning was the first really clear morning we've had in a few weeks, and I was pleased to see that the sun is now rising a bit to the north of these trees, and letting me get sunlight right on my corner. Bang, there you go: observational proof of the Earth's Axial tilt taken over a period of many weeks by yours truly.
For my next trick, I'll discover a means of accurately measuring longitude while at sea.
