Astronomical Influences on Earth

  -- Sun / Moon // Tides / Global Currents

Coast Guard Weather Briefer


On this page

Sun - Moon - Here

Solar System - Here

Oceanography (Tides & Currents) - Click

Our Sun & The Moon -- Celetial Bodies affecting our weather

Twilights

Definition

Civil

Civil Twilight
Civil twilight is defined when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon. This is the limit at which twilight illumination is sufficient, under good weather conditions, for terrestrial objects to be clearly distinguished; at the beginning of morning civil twilight, or end of evening civil twilight, the horizon is clearly defined and the brightest stars are visible under good atmospheric conditions in the absence of moonlight or other illumination. In the morning before the beginning of civil twilight and in the evening after the end of civil twilight, artificial illumination is normally required to carry on ordinary outdoor activities.

Nautical

Nautical Twilight
Nautical twilight is defined when the sun is 12 degrees below the horizon. At the beginning or end of nautical twilight, under good atmospheric conditions and in the absence of other illumination, general outlines of ground objects may be distinguishable, but detailed outdoor operations are not possible, and the horizon is indistinct.

Astronomical

Astronomical Twilight
Astronomical twilight is defined when the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon. Before the beginning of astronomical twilight in the morning and after the end of astronomical twilight in the evening the sun does not contribute to sky illumination; for a considerable interval after the beginning of morning twilight and before the end of evening twilight, sky illumination is so faint that it is practically imperceptible.


Naval Observatory
Operational Uses
  --Astronomical Applications Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory

Data Services

Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day - click
Rise/Set/Twilight Table for an Entire Year - click
What the Moon Looks Like Today - click
Dates of Primary Phases of the Moon - click
Altitude & Azimuth of Sun or Moon - click
Equinoxes, Solstices, Perihelion, Aphelion - click
Julian Date/Calendar Date Conversion - click

Information Center
World Time Zones - Click
U.S. Time Zones - Click
Phases of the Moon - Click
Universal Time and GMT - Click
Daylight Time - Click
The Dark Days of Winter - Click

Solar System

Source One -- Source Two

Scientific Education Regarding these orbital bodies
- The below are links I used for my Geology Class, with reference to celetial bodies throughout our Solar System. These are not my works, only convienent links to the below site: http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/index.html
Click on above link to access the links below.

Introduction

  • A Sense of Time and Scale in the Universe
  • Precursors to Modern Astronomy
  • Overview of the Sky and Planets
  • The Old Astronomy
  • The Development of Modern Astronomy
  • Timekeeping and the Celestial Sphere
  • Overview of the Solar System
  • The Earth
  • The Earth's Moon

    Source Two

    Windows to our Universe - Our Solar System


  • Oceanography  
      http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/

    Tides - http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/tides01_intro.html

    What are tides
    What causes tides
    Gravity, Inertia, and the Two Bulges
    Changing Angles and changing tides
    Frequency of Tides (lunar day)
    Tidal Variations - The Influence of Position and Distance
    Types and Causes of Tidal Cycles – Diurnal, Semidiurnal, Mixed Semidiurnal; Continental Interference
    What Affects Tides in Addition to the Sun and Moon?

    Currents - http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/currents/welcome.html

    Basic introduction to currents
    Tidal Currents -1, 2
    Coastal Currents - 1, 2, 3, 4
    Surface Ocean Currents - 1, 2, 3, 4
    The Global Conveyor Belt - 1, 2, 3
    How Are Currents Measured? - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    How Currents Affect Our Lives?


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    Frozencoastie by Jeff Estes
    Jeff@frozencoastie.com