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The Sun of the Winter Solstice

Observing by digital photography the slow movement of the Sun along the horizon at Sunrise and S

my vantage point in the SMDC Sun Residences Condominium towering above Welcome Rotonda Q

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It was my great luck to rent an end studio unit located in the higher floors of the Tower 1 of the SMDC Sun Residences. A

wonderful place because as a corner room it has 2 windows unlike the inner studio units with only one window that faces

you enter. My 2 large windows are positioned directly in front of me and to my left which gives me a truly grand panoram

mention very windy, of the southern and western sectors of Metro Manila. It really seems like I am sitting on Top of the W

the high rise SMDC Sun Residences stands proudly atop Welcome Rotonda, which is already a very elevated place known f

residents of the neighboring locales. My southern view opens up to the left with a nice view of the Tower 2 of the Sun Res

Sta. Mesa area with the SMDC Mezza Buildings and SM Centerpoint in front and Makati and Pasay City to the far right. Thvividly shown by the succession of photos below.

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While my western window provides a tantalizing view of the Ermita area from the left, to the Sampaloc area and UST direc

farther on to the horizon is Manila Bay with all its big ships and Caloocan City to the far right. In addition, my western wind

Espana Tower to the left and the PLDT Communication Tower to the right. Again the succession of photos clearly sho

enumerated.

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I can simply stare all day long at my surroundings with the busy cities of tall buildings and traffic set against an azure or gray

the sun in an ever changing hues and tones of living colors. My knowledge of the winter and summer solstices, and the ve

autumnal equinoxes go all the way back to my high school days when I and my classmates took up a course in basic amat

conducted by the late Mr. Hans Arber and the Philippine Astronomical Society (PAS) which was headed then by the late Fr. Vi

In one of the exercises, we were required to select a spot along Roxas Blvd on which to draw the position of the setting sun

nearby landmarks. After every 3 or 4 days, we were required to return to the same spot on the same time and made d

position of the setting sun. Once we completed about 2 weeks of observation, we made our conclusion as to which direction

is moving into. Is the sun migrating to our right meaning to the north or to our left to the south? Of course, we can also obser

that would mean extra efforts of waking up very early in the morning. The winter and summer solstices and the vern

important annual events because they determine and mark the dates of special religious events like Easter Sunday and the

Year that are both based on lunar cycles. In the Philippines, the winter solstice which took place yesterday December 2

PAGASA marks the most southerly point of sunrise or sunset for the sun. In the northern hemisphere, it is also known as th

shortest length of daytime and the longest length of nighttime. After December 22, the sun starts moving in the opposite dire

northwards until the day of the Summer Solstice. The summer solstice which occurs on June 21 or 22 marks the most norther

the sun which is felt in the northern hemisphere as the longest day and the shortest night. When I was in Germany in August

experienced it first hand as the sun was up at a very early 5:00 AM and went down at 9:00 PM. The Vernal Equinox marks th

spring in the temperate northern hemisphere which falls on March 21. The length of day and night is equal during the vernal/

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21) equinox and during the autumnal (September 21) equinox. It also determines the date of Easter Sunday, the most signif

religious event of the year. The Catholic Church established the rule in determining Easter which is based on the Paschal Full

full moon after the vernal/spring equinox (March 21) and the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon is to be Easter Sunday.

this year the Paschal Full Moon fell on 15 April (Tuesday), the first full moon after March 21 and so Easter was celebrated o

2015, the first full moon (Paschal Full Moon) after March 21 will fall on 4 April (Saturday) and so the following day which is a

is Easter. For trivia on Easter, Wikipedia cited that in 1818 a paschal full moon fell on Saturday March 21 (the vernal/spring

Easter was therefore declared on the following day - Sunday March 22. It is the earliest date possible for Easter and it will no

until 2285. In addition, in the year 1943 a full moon fell on Saturday March 20. As this was before the Equinox the paschal fu

fell on Sunday April 18, determined the date of Easter which was the following Sunday, April 25. It will not fall on this date ag

a time length of 95 years. However, for the Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year is celebrated on the date of the second n

the winter solstice (Dec 21 or 22). So for next year 2015, the first new moon after Dec 22, 2014 fell on 27 January 2015 and th

moon which is the Chinese New Year will fall on 19 February 2015. For this year, the first new moon after the winter so

January 2014 and the second new moon which was the Chinese New Year was celebrated on 31 January 2014.

Now, its time for me toshare my observations in digital photography of the movement of the sun at sunrise and sunset from

to December of this year. I used my SONY Xperia Ultra T2 and Iphone 5S in taking the photographs. Again, I will point out

sunrise and sunset in relation to nearby landmarks like tall buildings located close to the horizon.

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Last 27 September at 5:16 PM, the Sun is close to the PLDT Tower (right) and was due to set on the open sea of Manila Bay (R

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By 25 October 2014 at 5:24 PM, the sun has moved to the left (southwards) and is seemingly due to set atop the first buildin

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By 3 November 2014 at 5:21 PM, the sun has moved farther to the left to the second smaller building from the first taller an

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By 15 November 2014 at 5:21 PM, the setting sun has migrated farther to the left (southwards) close to a group of 3 buildi

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By 17 November 2014 at 5:17 PM, the sun is directly on top of the group of 3 closely adjacent buildings farther to the left from

at the start of the observation

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By 23 November 2014, the sun has moved farther to the left atop the 4th

single building next to the group of 3 build

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By 4 December at 5:14 PM, the sun has bypassed the 5th

building and has almost moved on to the 6th

well isolated building

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By 11 December 2014, the sun moved farther left between the 6th

and 7th

building forming what looks a slit like the Evil Ey

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By 15 December 2014 at 5:25 PM, not much has changed the Eye of Sauron can still be seen. The sun is between the 6th

an

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By 20 December 2014 at 5:10 PM, two days short of the Winter Solstice the sun has moved passed the 7th

building. On 23 De

the sun will begin to move due north (to the right) until its farthest point north on June 21 (Summer Solstice). There were noand 22 December due to the heavy overcast dusk skies.

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Next are the photos for sunrises as seen through my southern window. Conspicuous landmarks are the tall condo residence

Mezza as well as Sorrel farther to the south (to the right).

11 September 2014 at 6:32 AM, was a foggy morning but the rising sun cannot be seen because it rose behind Tower 2. To th

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On 26 September 2014 at 7:09 AM, the rising sun was still behind Tower 2. The 4 SMDC Mezza buildings standing conspicuou

the single smaller Sorrel Condo of DMCI farther to the south (right) as well as another DMCI condo located farther besides Lo

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By 25 October 2014 at 6:55 AM, the southerly (moving to the right) rising sun finally came out from behind Tower 2 and has f

itself in shining splendor against a gray sky.

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By 27 November 2014 at 6:22 AM, the sun rose on a partially cloudy dawn sky inching ever so closely to the right to the SM Residences Buildings

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By 30 November 2014 at 6:25 AM, the sun rose farther left/south towards the SMDC Mezza Residences Condo Build

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By 3 December 2014 at 6:26 AM, the sun is a brightly shining golden orb rising on the southeastern horizon

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The rising sun moving ever closer to the SMDC Mezza Buildings on 20 December 2014 at 6:29 AM two days short of the win

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Sunrise on 21 December 2014, a day before the PAGASA declared date for the winter solstice in the Philippines

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Finally on 22 December 2014 at 6:44 AM (Winter Solstice), the rising sun peered briefly through the thick dawn clouds short o

first building of the SMDC Mezza Residences. After this date, the sun will be moving in the opposite direction - northward (t

once again hide behind Tower 2 until it reaches itsmost northerly migration on June 21 (Summer Solstice).

Photographs of other beautiful views of the southern and western sections of Metro Manila as seen from high in the SMDC S

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Photographs of other beautiful views of the southern and western sections of Metro Manila as seen from high in the SMDC S

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