Comments on: The Longest Day http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:23:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: steve garrett http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16351 steve garrett Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:58:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16351 deja vu. if i spelled it right. what do you think. when i was five i had a dream of a house . it had two stories, a bird bath , and crayons in one room upstairs. i even asked my mom about it arround the time because i thought dreams where real. 14 years later in mount pleasent tx ,with my best friend jeremy, i saw the house in the dream . every detail was correct. i had never been in that town before and seen that house . well beside the dream i had at the age of 5. i believe the future exsists already and i my have an experiment that may trigger deja vu. i know it will but to what degree i dont know. even if it works we can not change what i would see or it would no longer be an accurate future. what do you think? how can you see the future if it doesnt already exsist? deja vu. if i spelled it right. what do you think. when i was five i had a dream of a house . it had two stories, a bird bath , and crayons in one room upstairs. i even asked my mom about it arround the time because i thought dreams where real. 14 years later in mount pleasent tx ,with my best friend jeremy, i saw the house in the dream . every detail was correct. i had never been in that town before and seen that house . well beside the dream i had at the age of 5. i believe the future exsists already and i my have an experiment that may trigger deja vu. i know it will but to what degree i dont know. even if it works we can not change what i would see or it would no longer be an accurate future. what do you think? how can you see the future if it doesnt already exsist?

]]> By: Kaptain K http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16350 Kaptain K Sun, 25 Jun 2006 04:44:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16350 It must be nice to have regular, definable seasons! ;) Here in central Texas, we have: 1) Early summer, mid summer, late summer and next summer. 2) Mild drought, severe drought, extreme drought and flood. 3) Nine months of summer and three months of rough swimming! 0) Take your pick. It must be nice to have regular, definable seasons! ;)
Here in central Texas, we have:
1) Early summer, mid summer, late summer and next summer.
2) Mild drought, severe drought, extreme drought and flood.
3) Nine months of summer and three months of rough swimming! 0)

Take your pick.

]]> By: Mark Schindler http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16349 Mark Schindler Sat, 24 Jun 2006 01:38:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16349 <blockquote cite="It [the summer solstice] means that at local noon (literally, halfway between sunrise and sunset), the Sun will be higher in the sky than it will be for the rest of the year..."> Actually, that is <b>not</b> true for those of us here in the Hawaiian Islands, or elsewhere in the tropics. Twice a year, the Sun is directly overhead at local noon. This year, the dates are May 27 and July 16. Locally, this is called “Lahaina Noon”. In Hawaiian, <i>Lahaina </i>means “Cruel Sun”.</blockquote>

Actually, that is not true for those of us here in the Hawaiian Islands, or elsewhere in the tropics. Twice a year, the Sun is directly overhead at local noon. This year, the dates are May 27 and July 16. Locally, this is called “Lahaina Noon”. In Hawaiian, Lahaina means “Cruel Sun”.

]]> By: Maurice Dixon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16348 Maurice Dixon Fri, 23 Jun 2006 14:03:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16348 The firsr FULL day of Summer is June 22, and it is also my birthday. I have been telling people this for years. Any arguments? The firsr FULL day of Summer is June 22, and it is also my birthday. I have been telling people this for years.
Any arguments?

]]> By: icemith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16347 icemith Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:22:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16347 No one mentioned 'ZULU'. That is also another name for GMT. Ivan. No one mentioned ‘ZULU’. That is also another name for GMT.

Ivan.

]]> By: Jeff Corey http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16346 Jeff Corey Thu, 22 Jun 2006 15:00:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16346 The evil bastard is John Edward, not Edwards, even though Edwards is a lawyer, politicial and Democrat. The evil bastard is John Edward, not Edwards, even though Edwards is a lawyer, politicial and Democrat.

]]> By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16345 Nigel Depledge Thu, 22 Jun 2006 10:19:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16345 Oh, Phil, what a clanger! "High thee to the United States Naval Observatory astronomical almanac" Do what? Perhaps you meant "hie", as in "I must hie me thither!" :) Oh, Phil, what a clanger!

“High thee to the United States Naval Observatory astronomical almanac”

Do what? Perhaps you meant “hie”, as in “I must hie me thither!”
:)

]]> By: Stuart http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16344 Stuart Thu, 22 Jun 2006 09:46:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16344 PK: That made me laugh, sorry but we did have a particularly bad winter here this year. At the end of March the snow was about 4 feet deep, and I'd love to see the snow drop that could get through that. Joking aside the snow drops did start popping up in time for Easter. Even when we have little or no snow the frozen ground prevents them from coming in earlier. PK: That made me laugh, sorry but we did have a particularly bad winter here this year. At the end of March the snow was about 4 feet deep, and I’d love to see the snow drop that could get through that.

Joking aside the snow drops did start popping up in time for Easter. Even when we have little or no snow the frozen ground prevents them from coming in earlier.

]]> By: PK http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16343 PK Thu, 22 Jun 2006 09:34:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16343 Evolving Squid: do you have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowdrop" rel="nofollow">Snowdrops</a> where you live? Then you can redefine the start of spring when they peek through the snow (February/March). Evolving Squid: do you have Snowdrops where you live? Then you can redefine the start of spring when they peek through the snow (February/March).

]]> By: Stuart http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16342 Stuart Thu, 22 Jun 2006 09:33:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16342 I'm in the same position as Evolving Squid, Summer is the dry hot months of May, June and July, autumn is the wet months of August and September, winter is from first snowfall (mid-october) to last snow melt (mid-April) and spring is the few days in between. Typically we go from ski-ing (at -10C) to beach (+25C) in less then two weeks. Still its better than the UK where the summer is marked by warmer rain. I’m in the same position as Evolving Squid, Summer is the dry hot months of May, June and July, autumn is the wet months of August and September, winter is from first snowfall (mid-october) to last snow melt (mid-April) and spring is the few days in between.

Typically we go from ski-ing (at -10C) to beach (+25C) in less then two weeks. Still its better than the UK where the summer is marked by warmer rain.

]]> By: Miral http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16341 Miral Thu, 22 Jun 2006 06:39:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16341 Sounds like you've got a very short Spring then... Sounds like you’ve got a very short Spring then…

]]> By: Evolving Squid http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16340 Evolving Squid Thu, 22 Jun 2006 03:55:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16340 IMO: Spring starts when the last snow is gone from my front yard. This is typically late April where I live. Summer begins when my wife starts getting on about the lawn needing to be mowed. This is typically late May / early June where I live. Autumn begins when my wife gets on about the leaves needing to be cleaned up. This is usually sometime in October. Winter begins when I put snow tires on the car. This is usually mid-November. IMO:

Spring starts when the last snow is gone from my front yard. This is typically late April where I live.

Summer begins when my wife starts getting on about the lawn needing to be mowed. This is typically late May / early June where I live.

Autumn begins when my wife gets on about the leaves needing to be cleaned up. This is usually sometime in October.

Winter begins when I put snow tires on the car. This is usually mid-November.

]]> By: hale_bopp http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16339 hale_bopp Thu, 22 Jun 2006 02:51:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16339 Meteorologists define winter as the three coldest months of the year and summer as the three hottest months. Spring and fall are in between, three month blocks each. Meteorological seasons start on the first of the month. Most places in the northern hemisphere, summer is June, July and August. You can work out the rest as I am feeling lazy about typing right now :) Rob Meteorologists define winter as the three coldest months of the year and summer as the three hottest months. Spring and fall are in between, three month blocks each.

Meteorological seasons start on the first of the month. Most places in the northern hemisphere, summer is June, July and August. You can work out the rest as I am feeling lazy about typing right now :)

Rob

]]> By: Rumour Mongerer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16338 Rumour Mongerer Thu, 22 Jun 2006 01:18:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16338 Head on over to http://www.spaceweather.com for a picture of the sun as it moves throughout the year (in a pattern called the "analemma"). Really neat looking. Head on over to http://www.spaceweather.com for a picture of the sun as it moves throughout the year (in a pattern called the “analemma”). Really neat looking.

]]> By: John B. Sandlin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16337 John B. Sandlin Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:31:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16337 Maybe they wanted a name for the zeroeth time zone that was more <b>universal</b>ly acceptable to professionals across the planet - beyond just the English speaking bits. Greenwich Mean Time might also be Hiersac Mean Time, or Sanous Mean Time, or Yendi Mean Time, or Tema Mean Time (Tema sits closest to the Equator at nearly 0 Long. (31" away). Better yet they could have defined the Prime Meridian at Entebbe, Uganda (on Lake Victoria) and gotten a spot practically on the Equator! Better yet! Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island in the Galápagos Islands. Just define 0 longitude since it straddles the equator. On the otherhand, maybe I'll stick with Coordinated Universal Time. jbs Maybe they wanted a name for the zeroeth time zone that was more universally acceptable to professionals across the planet – beyond just the English speaking bits. Greenwich Mean Time might also be Hiersac Mean Time, or Sanous Mean Time, or Yendi Mean Time, or Tema Mean Time (Tema sits closest to the Equator at nearly 0 Long. (31″ away). Better yet they could have defined the Prime Meridian at Entebbe, Uganda (on Lake Victoria) and gotten a spot practically on the Equator!

Better yet! Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island in the Galápagos Islands. Just define 0 longitude since it straddles the equator.

On the otherhand, maybe I’ll stick with Coordinated Universal Time.

jbs

]]> By: Karen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16336 Karen Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:47:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16336 That bizarre error message has been cropping up on this blog for quite a while now ... I posted three duplicate comments before I realized the comments were getting through... That bizarre error message has been cropping up on this blog for quite a while now … I posted three duplicate comments before I realized the comments were getting through…

]]> By: Sticks http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16335 Sticks Wed, 21 Jun 2006 21:02:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16335 Now we have past the solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter nights are now drawing in and soon we will see the shops stocking up for the holliday season. Ho ho ho Now we have past the solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter nights are now drawing in and soon we will see the shops stocking up for the holliday season.

Ho ho ho

]]> By: Melusine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16334 Melusine Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:35:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16334 Speaking of clocks and time: It's also <a href="http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/3987039.html" rel="nofollow">Slow Motion Day</a>. <blockquote> Gourd sees Slow Motion Day as part of a "slow movement" that says people ought to make the moment last, re-examine priorities and stop fighting the clock. The movement even has a book, In Praise of Slowness. It's been described as a "fast read."</blockquote> Speaking of clocks and time: It’s also Slow Motion Day.

Gourd sees Slow Motion Day as part of a “slow movement” that says people ought to make the moment last, re-examine priorities and stop fighting the clock. The movement even has a book, In Praise of Slowness. It’s been described as a “fast read.”

]]> By: J. D. Mack http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16333 J. D. Mack Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:24:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16333 BA wrote <i>Just reverse what I said above, or stand on your head if that helps.</i> There, you see? Now it's morning! Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over! J. D. BA wrote Just reverse what I said above, or stand on your head if that helps.

There, you see? Now it’s morning!

Aw, he’s no fun, he fell right over!

J. D.

]]> By: Prowler67 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16332 Prowler67 Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:23:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16332 Don't forget VMT (Verizon Mountain Time), that is what I use. Don’t forget VMT (Verizon Mountain Time), that is what I use.

]]> By: Dude http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16331 Dude Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:51:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16331 Did something go wrong here. After I submitted my last comment, I got this message -------------------------------------------------------- Regex ID: 3961 (crystalman23@earthlink.net) appears to be an invalid regex string! Please fix it in the Blacklist control panel. Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/badastro/domains/badastronomy.com/public_html/bablog/wp-content/plugins/SK2-/sk2_util_class.php:208) in /home/badastro/domains/badastronomy.com/public_html/bablog/wp-comments-post.php on line 55 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/badastro/domains/badastronomy.com/public_html/bablog/wp-content/plugins/SK2-/sk2_util_class.php:208) in /home/badastro/domains/badastronomy.com/public_html/bablog/wp-comments-post.php on line 56 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/badastro/domains/badastronomy.com/public_html/bablog/wp-content/plugins/SK2-/sk2_util_class.php:208) in /home/badastro/domains/badastronomy.com/public_html/bablog/wp-comments-post.php on line 57 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/badastro/domains/badastronomy.com/public_html/bablog/wp-content/plugins/SK2-/sk2_util_class.php:208) in /home/badastro/domains/badastronomy.com/public_html/bablog/wp-includes/pluggable-functions.php on line 247 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can you explain this, BA? Did something go wrong here. After I submitted my last
comment, I got this message
——————————————————–

Regex ID: 3961 (crystalman23@earthlink.net) appears to be an invalid regex string! Please fix it in the Blacklist control panel.

Warning: Cannot modify header information – headers already sent by (output started at /home/badastro/domains/badastronomy.com/public_html/bablog/wp-content/plugins/SK2-/sk2_util_class.php:208) in /home/badastro/domains/badastronomy.com/public_html/bablog/wp-comments-post.php on line 55

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———————————————————————————————————

Can you explain this, BA?

]]> By: Dude http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16330 Dude Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:49:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16330 Rats! That is today? I was planning on waking up for the sunrise. Oh well, I will have to try again next year. Rats! That is today? I was planning on waking up for the sunrise. Oh well, I will have to try again next year.

]]> By: Melusine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16329 Melusine Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:48:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16329 I seemed to have lost a "here." The "and" and the "here" are both two separate links that work. I hate typos. #-8~ I seemed to have lost a “here.” The “and” and the “here” are both two separate links that work. I hate typos. #-8~

]]> By: Melusine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16314 Melusine Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:29:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16314 PK,<a href="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/sun-solar-prom-close.gif" rel="nofollow">this one</a> compares to about 35 earths, so they say. <a href="http://www.sungazer.net/061606.html" rel="nofollow">These shorter prominences</a> aren't so gargantuan (at least on the gargantuan-scale.) Either way, we're all just tiny, tiny critters in the universe. For the 8-addicts, Spaceweather has a useful bit about analemmas today <a href="http://spaceweather.com/index.cgi" rel="nofollow"> and </a><a href="http://www.analemma.com/Pages/framesPage.html" rel="nofollow">here.</a> I like saying Greenwich Mean Time, myself, rather than atomic or UT time, but I think for historical reasons. In Houston, Summer Solstice means that we can start scrambling eggs on our cars with regularity. PK,this one compares to about 35 earths, so they say. These shorter prominences aren’t so gargantuan (at least on the gargantuan-scale.) Either way, we’re all just tiny, tiny critters in the universe.

For the 8-addicts, Spaceweather has a useful bit about analemmas today and here.

I like saying Greenwich Mean Time, myself, rather than atomic or UT time, but I think for historical reasons.

In Houston, Summer Solstice means that we can start scrambling eggs on our cars with regularity.

]]> By: ZorkFox http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/comment-page-1/#comment-16328 ZorkFox Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:16:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/06/20/the-longest-day/#comment-16328 Sigh. Not all <strike>Yankees</strike> <strike>Americans</strike> people from the United States are complete morons, y'all. Thanks for remembering that. :) As for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time" title="Coordinated Universal Time" rel="nofollow">Coordinated Universal Time</a> (UTC), here is a reasonably simple explanation, suitable for persons of (almost) all nationalities (by way of the links to articles in different languages over on the left sidebar). (Of course, if you can't read English, my posting this won't help.) :) Sigh.

Not all Yankees Americans people from the United States are complete morons, y’all. Thanks for remembering that. :)

As for Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), here is a reasonably simple explanation, suitable for persons of (almost) all nationalities (by way of the links to articles in different languages over on the left sidebar). (Of course, if you can’t read English, my posting this won’t help.) :)

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