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The Golden Light of a Winter Solstice

December 21, 2018 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Astronomy Images and Video

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”
― John Steinbeck

On December 21, 2018 at 22:23 Universal Time, the Sun reaches the December solstice, its most southern point on the ecliptic. This marks the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere and the first day of summer in the southern hemisphere [Read more…] about The Golden Light of a Winter Solstice

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Filed Under: Astronomy Images and Video christmas, solstice, sunset

The Science of the Christmas Star

December 21, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Science

L_Adoration_des_Mages“O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.”

It may be the most famous star in history. But was it real? Mentioned just once in the gospel of Matthew, the “Star of Bethlehem”, or the “Christmas Star”, may have guided three wise men from the East in search of a newborn king. A few words written on a scroll two thousand years ago isn’t much to go on, but astronomers have a few ideas that may explain the apparition of a star near the time of the birth of Jesus.
[Read more…] about The Science of the Christmas Star

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Filed Under: Science christmas, star

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