Volume 15 Issue 4 April 2009
Sun Watch -- Along the Ecliptic
Along the ecliptic with the Sun during April

Along the ecliptic with the Earth during April

View From Earth: This month the Sun, (top image), appears to move eastward across Pisces the Fishes and into the boundaries of Aries the Ram.
View From Sun: While during the same time the Earth, moving along its orbit, would be 'traveling' across the constellation of Virgo the Harvest Maiden and into the boundaries of Libra the Scales.

the sun's surface -- photosphere Sun Stats:

Mid-Day 20 April

Distance: 1.0048 A.U.
Apparent Angular Size: 32'
Right Ascension: 1 h 54 m
Declination: 11.8o

The Sun From 40oNorth
Mid-Day Altitude: 62.55o

20 April mid-day sun from 40 degrees nort
On 18 April the sun, in its apparent eastward motion along the ecliptic enters the boundaries of the constellation Aries. This represents the sun's Astronomical or actual position with respect to the zodiacal constellations in the background.
While on 19 April the sun enters the Astrological sign of Taurus.

These animated .gif images have been set to 5-day intervals and are being used to illustrate both the apparent motion of the sun along the ecliptic - as seen from Earth, and the real motion of the Earth along the ecliptic (its orbit)- as if seen from the sun.

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