Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from June, 2026

Analemma

Analemma To be read in conjunction with Temple Astronomy 5  An analemma is the figure-eight curve that traces the Sun's position in the sky at the same time of day throughout the year. It accounts for the Equation of Time (the difference between solar time and clock time) and the Sun's declination A lunar analemma is a composite figure-8 or teardrop curve traced by the Moon in the sky when photographed from the same exact location at the same time every day for a lunar month (approximately 29.5 days Distinction from Solar Analemma : Unlike the solar analemma, which plots the Sun's position over a year, the lunar analemma tracks the Moon over approximately one month. The photograph has to be taken 50 minutes and 29 seconds later each day to see the Moon in the same place.   The figure 8 shape of the analemma is due to   North-South Motion (Latitude Shift): The Moon's orbital path is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to Earth's ecliptic plane. As the...