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Ancient Observatories Timeless Knowledge

Sun-Earth Day Presents: Ancient Observatories, Timeless Knowledge

Astronomer
ACTIVITY II

ACTIVITY II:
Track the motion of the Sun (analemma) over the course of a year.

The analemma is the path in the sky the sun makes when viewed over the course of the year from the same location on Earth at the same time of day. This path of the sun makes a figure-8 over the course of the year with the oriention and size of each lobe determined by the Earth's axial tilt and orbital eccentricity. You can record this movement in a number of ways.To find out more about methods for understanding, observing and displaying the analemma, check out these web sites:
Analemma
Analemma Sundial Applet
The Analemma
Pages From a Dialist's Notebook - An Indoor Analemma
Analemma

 

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