Sun transiting lower during autumn

Event Date: November 1st

Time: 12:52(.20) PM

Brief

Now that we are past Halloween, we are are quickly approaching the halfway point of the autumn season for the northern hemisphere.  As a result of this, the Sun has already sunk quickly south of the celestial equator by several degrees, and doesn't have much further to go.  Not only is this a reminder of daylight savings ending in 3 days where it happens in the world; it is also a reminder that the official start of winter is only about 7 1/2 weeks away.  

Let's look at the Sun's position, on the ecliptic, relative to the celestial equator, when at transit.

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

At 14º 45' south of the ecliptic, the Sun has less than 9º to go before reaching its furthest southern point.  As a result of it sinking, our length of today at out latitude, (Sunup to Sundown) is only 10 hours, 34 minutes.  Compared to what it was on the September equinox, of aprroximately 12 hours, that is a fast change over just 5 1/2 weeks.  Of course, latitudes further north of us have even less daytime and north of the arctic circle, the Sun is already below the horizon all "day" long.

   As we progress through the rest of autumn, the Sun starts to lose declination more slowly; by early December, the change is even slower and the last week of autumn has it hardly change at all.  The reverse of this holds true through the winter season, and we will monitor the Sun's position then.  Until that time, get ready for some darkness early in the evening because starting November 4th, that will be the case.  The good news??  An earlier Sunrise in the morning, albeit only for awhile.  With the Sun still sinking fast and the point of transit happening slightly later each day now, dark mornings come back and stay for awhile.