Panorama of sunset and sunrise on solstices and equinoxes at Deer Lake State Park

CarolingBeach FanaticEastern Lake, Seagrove Beach273 postsJoined Jun 15, '05View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Jan 1, '11 · 9:45 PM5,0201

This panorama isn't about THE most stunning views. It is about where the sun is around here (specifically Deer Lake beach) at four times a year: winter, spring, summer, and fall. I did each one separately then put them together in one spin around. Plus there are the full moons of September and December. Here are photos of the sunrises and sunsets and a link to the panorama.

Best Of 2010 - 4 Seasons: Sun/Moon Rises/Sets of 2010 - Caroling Geary - 48/153 - World Wide Panorama

In 2010 I decided to record sunrises and sets at the start of each season: two equinoxes and two solstices. I did it in March and June, also getting full moon rises and sets in September and December. I chose the Deer Lake State Park ramp over the dunes between the beach and forest as the best local location, with a relatively good view of the horizon. My goal was to have a composite panorama showing the risings and settings together to see the distance between them and how they relate to the whole scene.

To get there takes about 45 minutes. I drive my car a mile to a beach access, park, and walk another mile along the Gulf of Mexico to the stairs up to the overview platform on the ramp. I get there 30 minutes before the sunrise or sunset to set up and catch several rounds of photos for the best results. "Best" is highly subjective and changes according to the weather, my attention to technical details, and feeling. So the views are similarly (not identically) centered, exposed, focused, or processed.

Here is a map collage of all the solstice sunrisings and sets plus sunrise for March equinox and sunset for September equinox. Since the sun rises and sets about in the same place for each equinox, I could have subdivided each sun, but chose to give each a full arc of the horizon. The two full moons of September and December never appeared right on the horizon. I pasted them in where they did appear and let the viewer interpolate rising and setting positions.

Having full moons on the September equinox and December solstice helped define the Moon's paths during the year. It is near the Sun's path on an equinox, but opposite on a solstice. If I did spherical panos, I could have added a final touch, the total eclipse of the full moon on the final solstice, December 21. I can report an awesome experience about 2 a.m. on a very cold night, looking almost straight up. Ahead the star Sirius glittered and the Milky Way starlight arced across the sky from SE to NW.

Replies

Lake View Too Lake View Too avatar

Lake View TooSoWal InsiderEastern Lake7,000 postsJoined Nov 16, '08View profile MessageSoWal Insider

Jan 2, '11 · 7:01 AM#2

Great shots/panoramas. I have always thought it was so interesting and unique to be able to track the seasons by observing the positions of the sunsets and sunrises. If you think about it, our particular area might be one of the very few places in the country to be able to see sunsets and asunrise over land and sea. Cool.

Kurt

KurtAdminSoWal2,470 postsJoined Oct 15, '04View profile MessageAdmin

Jan 2, '11 · 7:17 AM#3

Great work Caroling. I always love watching the axial tilt at work when I go to the beach throughout the year. One of the wonders of SoWal - always changing and always beautiful.

Your photos make me think also about the sun's path through the sky on different days and the repeating patterns of the arc through billions of of years. Thinking also of the paths of the moon, planets, stars, and galaxies multiplied by billions of years and you start to get a sense of the relative motion of our journey through the universe.

Funny to think it seems like we're standing in one place.

Caroling

CarolingBeach FanaticEastern Lake, Seagrove Beach273 postsJoined Jun 15, '05View profile MessageBeach FanaticAuthor

Jan 2, '11 · 8:41 AM#4

Great shots/panoramas. I have always thought it was so interesting and unique to be able to track the seasons by observing the positions of the sunsets and sunrises. If you think about it, our particular area might be one of the very few places in the country to be able to see sunsets and asunrise over land and sea. Cool.

I always get a laugh and agreement when I read your signature. But the wandering mind tracking the seasons seems to be gaining strength.

Caroling

CarolingBeach FanaticEastern Lake, Seagrove Beach273 postsJoined Jun 15, '05View profile MessageBeach FanaticAuthor

Jan 2, '11 · 8:46 AM#5

I always love watching the axial tilt at work when I go to the beach throughout the year.

Your photos make me think also about the sun's path through the sky on different days and the repeating patterns of the arc through billions of of years. Thinking also of the paths of the moon, planets, stars, and galaxies multiplied by billions of years and you start to get a sense of the relative motion of our journey through the universe.

Funny to think it seems like we're standing in one place.

We could do more with the tilt and celestial sphere, with our great SoWal views of the sky. I like imagining the "repeating patterns of the arc". Thinking of all the multiples stretches the senses for sure. Good workout.

Lake View Too Lake View Too avatar

Lake View TooSoWal InsiderEastern Lake7,000 postsJoined Nov 16, '08View profile MessageSoWal Insider

Jan 2, '11 · 1:06 PM#6

Great work Caroling. I always love watching the axial tilt at work when I go to the beach throughout the year. One of the wonders of SoWal - always changing and always beautiful.

Your photos make me think also about the sun's path through the sky on different days and the repeating patterns of the arc through billions of of years. Thinking also of the paths of the moon, planets, stars, and galaxies multiplied by billions of years and you start to get a sense of the relative motion of our journey through the universe.

Funny to think it seems like we're standing in one place.

Huh? The earth isn't flat?? :blink:

Lake View Too Lake View Too avatar

Lake View TooSoWal InsiderEastern Lake7,000 postsJoined Nov 16, '08View profile MessageSoWal Insider

Jan 2, '11 · 1:18 PM#7

I always get a laugh and agreement when I read your signature. But the wandering mind tracking the seasons seems to be gaining strength.

I got that signature line from "Frank and Earnest" (the comic strip). For a few years, I was so enamored by the wisdom I was getting from their one liners, I was cutting them out and saving them. I can't face the day without reading my funnies on line in the morning.

DuneAHH

DuneAHHBeach FanaticPt Washington - west ;)3,072 postsJoined Mar 1, '06View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Jan 2, '11 · 1:45 PM#8

Truly beautiful and inspirational :clap:

scooterbug44 scooterbug44 avatar

scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined May 8, '07View profile MessageSoWal Expert

Jan 3, '11 · 2:34 PM#9

I rarely see dawn (only if I don't go to sleep), so thanks for taking pics! 😀

Stars were so gorgeous last night I want to do more stargazing in 2011.

Caroling

CarolingBeach FanaticEastern Lake, Seagrove Beach273 postsJoined Jun 15, '05View profile MessageBeach FanaticAuthor

Jan 3, '11 · 2:54 PM#10

I rarely see dawn (only if I don't go to sleep), so thanks for taking pics! 😀

Stars were so gorgeous last night I want to do more stargazing in 2011.

Have to get up over an hour before sunrise to get to the ramp and set up. The best pre-dawn walk was in March when the whole surf was phosphorescent, glowing and sparkling eerie greenies. So it is worth it and you are welcome. I loved the stars last night and at the eclipse too. We have a great skyview on our beaches. Can't we come up with another event? What's the treasure map?

Beach Runner Beach Runner avatar

Beach Runnerbeats on hoodNear the ATL and in SoWal as often as possible15,269 postsJoined Jul 9, '05View profile Messagebeats on hood

Jan 3, '11 · 2:58 PM#11

I too am fascinated by the sunsets in SoWal. From our home we see the sunsets over the Gulf in the cooler months and the sunsets from over rooftops in the warmer months. The earliest I've seen the sun totally disappear while watching from our home is 4:44 PM CST.

Sunsets have a special meaning for me because my birthday is on the first full day of winter. The winter solstice makes me happy because the days start getting longer -- out of darkness and into the light on my birthday.

My Daddy was a sunrise person. I was Daddy's girl. I've never been a morning person, but when I'd hear him get up early, I knew he was watching a beautiful sunrise. So I'd get up and watch it with him. He loved going to the beach just to watch sunrise over the water.

Thanks, Caroling, for sharing your beautiful documentation with us.

scooterbug44 scooterbug44 avatar

scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined May 8, '07View profile MessageSoWal Expert

Jan 3, '11 · 3:28 PM#12

Have to get up over an hour before sunrise to get to the ramp and set up. The best pre-dawn walk was in March when the whole surf was phosphorescent, glowing and sparkling eerie greenies. So it is worth it and you are welcome. I loved the stars last night and at the eclipse too. We have a great skyview on our beaches. Can't we come up with another event? What's the treasure map?

I think you should alert us to any celestial events so we can arrange more - though as we discussed last night, it is like herding cats made of jello to coordinate this group. ;-)

Lake View Too Lake View Too avatar

Lake View TooSoWal InsiderEastern Lake7,000 postsJoined Nov 16, '08View profile MessageSoWal Insider

Jan 3, '11 · 5:49 PM#13

I think you should alert us to any celestial events so we can arrange more - though as we discussed last night, it is like herding cats made of jello to coordinate this group. ;-)

...not sure we need much coordination: just go to your nearest beach access, look up, (take photos if necessary) enjoy.

scooterbug44 scooterbug44 avatar

scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined May 8, '07View profile MessageSoWal Expert

Jan 3, '11 · 5:55 PM#14

I don't know much about it, so I like someone there who can actually tell us what we are looking at/for and when.

Otherwise I think planets are slow-moving planes and see multiple "Big Dippers." :blush:

GoodWitch58GoodWitch58Beach Fanatic4,810 postsJoined Oct 10, '05View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Jan 3, '11 · 8:10 PM#15

I think you should alert us to any celestial events so we can arrange more - though as we discussed last night, it is like herding cats made of jello to coordinate this group. ;-)

:lolabove:

GoodWitch58GoodWitch58Beach Fanatic4,810 postsJoined Oct 10, '05View profile MessageBeach Fanatic

Jan 3, '11 · 8:15 PM#16

I don't know much about it, so I like someone there who can actually tell us what we are looking at/for and when.

Otherwise I think planets are slow-moving planes and see multiple "Big Dippers." :blush:

are you familiar with The Great Courses? I just got the sale catalog today and they are offering their class, Our Night Sky, for $19.95. It is usually $199.95. I am ordering it and the one on weather. The Great Courses. Sale ends l-27-11.