Sun nearing celestial equator/equinox

Event Date: March 9th

Time: 8:21(.13) PM

Brief

   Back on February 18th, I mentioned--and showed--the Sun at (e)cliptic (long)itude 330º, indicating the beginning of the final sector of the astronomical new year.  We are more than halfway between then and the March equinox.  As shown below, and comparing to the image for that entry, the Sun has made very fast progress towards the celestial equator, and it will continue to move a little faster each day in declination.  Take a look here.  Notice the Sun is only about 3.8º south of the equator, while only 11 days to go before the equinox:

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

Detailed

   Since daylight savings time begins tomorrow at 2 AM, we will not only have a shift in Sunrise and Sunset; we will have close to our latest Sun transit as well for the year.  The transit time of the Sun changes, based on the time change of Sunrise and Sunset, in combination with the length of time it is above the horizon.  Since the Sun is not centered in the orbit, the different speeds that the Earth moves relative to how close it is (perihelion) or how far it moves (aphelion) from the Sun.  

   Getting back to today's topic, it relates to the aforementioned transit one, because the Sun is rising more minutes earlier than the Sun is setting for about the next two months-worth of weeks.  As a result, the transit time will be slightly earlier each day until mid-May.  At that time, being a few weeks prior to the earliest Sunrise, the early rise-gaps start to decrease while the set-gaps continues to increase until late June; a few days following the solstice.