Sun nearing solstice/Mayan Calendar nears end

Event Date: December 20th

Time: 12:06(.44) PM

Brief

   The next two journal entries are based entirely on the December solstice, and the end of the Mayan Calendar.  I have gone into detail with extra links included, regarding the calendar and where the Sun is in the sky, in regards to that.  Rather than repeat that, let us take a magnified look at where the Sun is, in relation to the ecliptic grid and galactic equator, which plays a role in the Mayan's calculation.  Of course, the ecliptic is present in the image, since it is the Sun's path year-round.

First, here is a final reminder pre-solstice, of the Sun's position, only about a degree from ecliptic longitude (e-lon) 270º.  The galactic equator and meridian show as well, and I will mention them in more detail followed by image two.  The second image to follow, is a zoom-in of 15º for the field, centered on the Sun.  *The sky is darkened to see the lines more easily, as I have done before.

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

Detailed

   As shown above, I magnified the intersection of the galactic main-lines (no grid shown) , as a reminder how far this crossing is from the Sun each year: about 6º.  Even if the Sun crossed this spot, where a massive black hole was found to be many years ago, that hole is thousands of light years away.  Whereas the Sun at 93 million miles away has a big effect on Earth, regarding its rotation and revolution, the Sun's distance is only 8 light-minutes away.  As we know the number of minutes on an hour, hours in a day, days in a year, we can find out how much further the black hole is from the Sun, and how any gravitational influence on Earth is--if even existing--very minimal, if at all existing for being so far away.

   Also, next to where the Sun will cross e-lon 270º, are a couple of deep-sky wonders.  Without me labeling them, can you recognize what they are??  Nebulae(!)--remnants of dead stars, and they can also be stellar nurserys.  I will show them more magnified in a couple of days when the Sun is between them; the ecliptic cuts through.  Although the Sun's glare washes out the nebulae, it is fun to know what we are missing seeing, and then using a telescope on them 5-7 months later during Summer evenings.