Sunset in the channel 2002
More than 100 members and guests, perhaps as many as 150, gathered at the PYC on August 6 to watch the sun set down the center of the channel. The weather was perfect.
Picture taken from the south docks.
Some thought that the sun set toward the north end of the channel, but this depended on the vantage point.
Picture taken from the main dock.
On the map below, note that the center of the channel is aligned with the SW corner of the PYC property. Since the sun is so distant, its rays are essentially parallel. If you were looking straight down either the north or south channel wall, the sun would have set at the end of that wall. For you to have seen the sun set in the in the middle of the channel, you needed to be aligned with the middle.
Map of channel and PYC.
The evening was enlightened by a discussion of some astronomy issues. This was suggested by Dick Ouweneel, and was done by Dick's friend Bill Brandenburg, using the elaborate model shown in the photo. Bill Bluhm added discussion about Flatland (this link supplied by Bill Brandenburg) and the Green Flash (which he has see five times), and there was discussion about the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, the Artic and Antartic circles, and sundials.
Sue Bainton suggested this picture of Ensign shadows on the Chesney boathouse.
Picture from Linda Rae Norris
Picture from Linda Rae Norris
Picture by Marv Way
Picture by Marv Way
David Roseman
August 7, 2002