ZetaTalk: Solstice
written July 1, 2006 on the live GodlikeProduction Radio show.

Nancy has asked for an update on simulating the seasons since the clues have changed somewhat. While the Earth is still in somewhere in the October position, to simulate the seasons as we move past the Summer Solstice, the Earth is still being skewed off axis, with the N Pole pulled more toward the Sun. For those who would be confused, thinking we are speaking here of the normal tilt of the Earth during the Summer Solstice, where the N Pole is 23° closer to the Sun than the S Pole, we are speaking here of a sideways tilt from the Fall position where both Poles would be equally exposed to sunlight. To effect more daylight, as June 21 is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, we continued to pull Earth off its axis as we did in May but also dropped the Earth below the Ecliptic. Thus, as with the polar regions which find their skies lit 24 hours a day during their Summer seasons, even when not seeing the sunball, those areas close to the polar circle are seeing their civil twilight extended, earlier and later, by a considerable period.

Signs of the Times #1616

I bought my house last spring and worked on it all summer. All summer long the sun beat down directly into our greenhouse - on the south side of the house. This year, the sun doesn't even hit the greenhouse. [and from another] I live in north east Texas ,about 30 degrees north latitude. As I understand basic astronomy , the Sun should never be north of my position at noon since I live north of the tropics. My house is oriented east to west precisely, so it is easy for me to see the sunlight shining in the northern facing flower beds [Jun 29], which are under an 18" eve. This translates in my mind to the Sun "tracking" too far north, since the tropic of cancer and capricorn no longer apply. [and from another] London [Jun 26] For the record Civil Twilight was supposed to begin at 3.57 AM on June 23rd in London. I observed it with my own eyes at 3.03 AM. [and from another] Romania June 26 'Around here, in summer days, we used to have the twilight ending 9:00-9.30 pm and up again at about 4.30-4:45. Now that changed. This year, we have the twilight until 10.30-11 pm, and already up again at 3.30-3.45 am. [and from another] In Wisconsin on June 11 sunrise was 12° too far North, on June 30 it was 11° too far North, per Skymap. [and from another] Sweden [Jun 10] I use a sundial. The 3:15 mark is 20 minutes early.