when I started this blog five years ago, I was a pet sitter and the name animal-crackers made sense. now I'm a stay-at-home-dad and freelance writer, but rather than confuse everyone by getting a different blog, it's just easier to keep posting things here.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
astronomical weirdness
Josh was insistent this morning that TODAY, March 19, was the first day of spring. His teacher told him so.
"She googled it," he said.
Well, I googled it and found nearly every source pointing to March 20. Only one source told the truth. The vernal equinox occurs at 5:48 GMT, March 20.
So here's the weirdness. For Central Standard Time, that means the equinox comes at 11:48 pm, March 19. But we're not on standard time. We're on Central Daylight Saving Time. So the equinox will be at 12:48 am, March 20.
Wtf?
Are we supposed to celebrate the pagan holiday or not?
"She googled it," he said.
Well, I googled it and found nearly every source pointing to March 20. Only one source told the truth. The vernal equinox occurs at 5:48 GMT, March 20.
So here's the weirdness. For Central Standard Time, that means the equinox comes at 11:48 pm, March 19. But we're not on standard time. We're on Central Daylight Saving Time. So the equinox will be at 12:48 am, March 20.
Wtf?
Are we supposed to celebrate the pagan holiday or not?
