Beginning in (2022) my oldest grandson, needed a project to show the movement of the sun over a period of time….if possible an entire year. However, despite living more than 200 plus miles apart, we both made similar “solar devices” to measure the suns shadow, beginning on the Vernal Equinox (March 20th 2022) and beyond.

The following photo:

The yellow tape mark on the right side of the scale shows the sun shadow on the 2022 Spring Equinox. (This was my first measurement)

The white tape was placed on the first day of summer (June 20th 2022) which shows the longest day of the year. Note: the sun is not directly overhead using this method, as the shadow indicates.

The blue mark was placed on the scale, on the shortest day of the year, December 21st 2022, which is the longest shadow of the year for 2022.

A second way to measure the suns shadow, by Tom English.

I thought of a variation that I might try someday:  Put a straight pole into the ground, facing due south, and at an angle of 54 degrees (for you it would be 55 degrees)

Then on the two equinoxes it would cast no shadow at local noon. 

On the June solstice the shadow will cast its greatest extent southward, and on the December solstice the shadow will cast at greatest extent northward of the stick.

Roger Ivester

My latitude is 35º 15′

(90º – 35º) = 55º

Debbie using an angle finder to insure the proper angle is at 55º.

The angle is toward the South at 55º

Point the steel rod toward North, but again the angle is toward the South. So draw a line, with the post, going South to North.

Note the shadow. It will be increasing each day to get shorter, until on September 22nd, there will be no shadow, as the sun will be “pointing down” the rod.

At 1:00 PM EDT, today (September 22nd) a photo was made, and indeed showing no shadow, as the sun was shining directly down the steel rod.

The previous marks (blue and yellow) on the scale indicate the positions of the suns shadow on different days, since August 24th.

The black mark shows the shadow on the first day of winter. The yellow mark was made on the longest day of the year….or the first day of summer.

Deep-sky observing can be enjoyed with a group or solitary, however for me, I much prefer the latter. I always have a planned agenda, with the object or objects that I’m interested in observing.

Deep-Sky observing (galaxies, nebula and star clusters) are very serious business for me, with no time for idle chatter or distractions! There are pencil sketches and notes to make! 🙂

However, I did have one observing partner that was with me on a regular basis for almost 17 years, but she passed away in February 2016. Its been eight years as of 2024, and I still miss and think about her often.  

I can still see CJ, our Persian Cat, waiting anxiously at the back door, ready to go outside, while I’d be setting up my telescope on the deck or in the backyard. 

When the door was finally opened, she would run out, fast as she could and so excited. She would walk around, climb the deck, play like she was catching something….pouncing and clawing the ground. However, after a short while, she’d end up on my lap, either due to being cold or to just feel safe.  

CJ was going to stay with me for only a couple weeks and would then be moving to California, but that two weeks ended up being almost 17 years.  I’m really glad the move didn’t work out.   

Debbie and I held her in our arms from 11:30 AM till 8:15 PM.  I had my hand on her chest when her little heart beat the last time, after 19 years.  It was a very, very sad day.  

CJ had a wonderful life.  We treated her like a Princess.