Re: RC: Solstice Full Moon

[Nancy DuPont <Htrails@Earthlink.net>]

Regarding the Solstice, I learned in Yuma at the Indian Ceremonial Grounds
that Indians were very wise and informed about the solstice.  This
ceremonial plateau had a trail track with rocks at each end and if you stand
in the middle of the track, the moon rises at one end of the track above the
rocks and the sun at the other.  VERY Eerie. There were more than 2500
educational petroglyphs on the rocks that told of earth's beginnings and
they used these to teach their young.  The archeologist that took us there
was concerned that no motorized found this area, as one tire would destroy
2000 years of impressions on this plateau. This is on the Anza Trail.

At 05:10 PM 12/11/99 -0800, you wrote:
>For those Ridecampers who like to look UP as well as at  the trail ahead
>(;-)),  the full moon at the winter solstice (Dec. 22) is the first such 
>joint event since 1866.   NOT ONLY THAT!   The moon is at lunar perigee
>(point in moon's irregular orbit that is closest to the earth), so that
>it will appear 14% larger than it does at apogee (point in orbit farthest
>from earth).  PLUS -- the earth is closer to the sun in our winter
>season, so sunlight striking the moon will be a few percentage points
>stronger, thus brighter.  (Night riders should guard against moonbeam
>burn <G>)
>   As a historical note, in December 1866 the Lakota Sioux took advantage
>of the full solstice moon to stage a devastating retaliatory ambush on
>soldiers in the Wyoming Territory.
>   Looking ahead,  the January  full moon will go through a total eclipse
>-- not exactly a "riding moon."   Regards,  Connie B
>
>___________________________________________________________________
>Why pay more to get Web access?
>Try Juno for FREE -- then it's just $9.95/month if you act NOW!
>Get your free software today: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
>
>
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
>Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>
>
>
Nancy DuPont, Executive Director
Heritage Trails
1350 Castle Rock Road
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Our Mission: To preserve and protect trails and answer the question, "Where
are you going to ride your horses, and where are you going to keep them."
Telephone (925)937-7661 FAX (925) 943-7431


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=