The Day of the Sun's Return, The Winter Solstice
The winter
solstice, the dreariest day with the shortest day light and longest night
of the year, our ancestors celebrated the beginning of the return of the
Sun to the higher heavens. The planetarium show will explore the astronomical
events associated with the first day of winter and will demonstrate how the
position of the solstice with respect to the fixed stars has changed over
the millennium. The patch of the sky in which the modern solstice occurs
contains the galactic center and the delightfully beautiful Trifid nebulae.
These places and objects are visible to modern stargazers through long exposure
photography with large telescopes. The planetarium celebration of the winter
solstice will include the presentation of spectacular slides of the region. If any one asks about the Star of Bethlehem
I will answer the question. I am a Christian, and a Baptist, and
a current Sunday School Teacher of adults; and I have been a
deacon in two differnt Baptist churchs including the First Baptist Church of Silver Spring where my wife is web manager.
Some interesting solstice Links:
Montgomery
College's Planetarium home page
Web page by Dr. Harold Alden Williams.
Last changed 7:55PM December 13, 2005.