Recent content by AstroDoug

Thanks! This is more or less what I've been trying to do, so I may be on the right track, but I think my sketching powers/powers of visualization are failing me, not to mention maths. I am going to buy a compass and protractor, really set this up, and maybe the math will be clearer. I foresee...

Sorry, I'm getting a little punchy. I'm referring to the rate of change in length of daylight, in other words, why the change in length of daylight from day to day is greater at the equinoxes and less at the solstices. I know that the change is described by a sine wave curve, and this is the...

Thanks for your reply. The problem I'm having is to understand the underlying physical phenomena that allow us to describe change in daylight with this kind of function. For example, the equation of time has a component that is due to the elliptical orbit of the earth, and that component can...

Sorry for the delay in responding. Thanks for your input, I will delve into the resources you've provided. Also thanks for the reality check on the responses I got on AstronomyForum.

Thanks for your reply. I was referring to the change in the length of daylight from day to day at the equinoxes (maximum change) and the solstices (minimal change). I think I need to improve my sketching tools/ability!

Probably dumb question. I am trying to understand why the change in day length from day to day is greatest at the equinoxes and least at the solstices. This effect is greater at higher latitudes (N or S). I'm assuming it has to do with the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the incident sun...