Our website would like to use cookies to store information on your computer. You may delete and block all cookies from this site, but parts of the site will not work as a result. Find out more about how we use cookies.

Login or Register

Powered by
Powered by Novacaster
 
Re: The Great Year is nearly halfway through
by Simon at 16:03 09/10/08 (Blogs::Simon)
Further notes:

When determining the maximum culmination that a star has in a cycle that correlates with a Summer Solstice, the star must have the same Right Ascension as the summer solstitial point - ie 6h 0m 0s in that epoch.

By definition, in any epoch, the summer solstice RA is 6h, winter solstice 18h and the vernal and autumnal equinoxes are 0h and 12h respectively.

The 2080AD date arises directly from having chosen Betelgeuse as the star whose maximum altitude at the summer solstice we are seeking.

Had Rigel been chosen, a different date would be found instead (2938AD)

As to which star to choose, that is where the argument as to determining the exact date of the halfway point starts.

Splitting the difference, and using Alnilam (the middle star of Orion's belt stars) as the reference gives a date for the Great Year midpoint of 2468AD.

There may be some justification in picking Alnilam over Betelgeuse in that it has a supposed association with the Giza equinotial marker pyramid (Khafre) and monument (Sphinx).

Summer Solstice 2468AD also happens to be the day of new moon, but that is not an unreasonable coincidence given that a new moon on any particular date repeats every 19(ish) years.
--
simon

<< One for Bruce Solar Mythology - an essay abo... >>
View Comments (Flat Mode) Printer Version
The Great Year is nearly halfw... Simon - 6/10
    Re: The Great Year is nearly h... Simon - 9/10
       Re: The Great Year is nearly h... Simon - 23/01