Volume 16 Issue 5 May 2010
Sun Watch -- Along the Ecliptic
Along the ecliptic with the Sun during May

Along the ecliptic with the Earth during May

View From Earth: This month the Sun, (top image), appears to move eastward across Aries the Ram and into the boundaries of Taurus the Bull.
View From Sun: While during the same time the Earth, moving along its orbit, would be 'traveling' across the constellation of Libra the Scales and across the boundaries of Scorpius the Scorpion into the boundaries of Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer.

the sun's surface -- photosphere Sun Stats:

Mid-Day 20 May

Distance: 1.0121 A.U.
Apparent Angular Size: 32'
Right Ascension: 3 h 51 m
Declination: 20.9o

The Sun From 40oNorth
Mid-Day Altitude: 71.2o

20 May mid-day sun from 40 degrees nort
On 14 May the sun, in its apparent eastward motion along the ecliptic enters the boundaries of the constellation Taurus. This represents the sun's Astronomical or actual position with respect to the zodiacal constellations in the background.
While on 21 May the sun enters the Astrological sign of Gemini.

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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