Equinox Sun at Pegasus of Corinth

September 27, 2019

Solar-scenic-equinox-201809-3min-950pix

Photographer: Anthony Ayiomamitis 
Summary Author: Anthony Ayiomamitis 

The above photo, imaged on the equinox last year at the statue of Pegasus of Corinth (Greece), shows the progression of the equinox Sun during the day (September 23, 2018). Note that the Sun traces this identical path across the sky on the dates of both the autumnal and vernal equinox.

This time of the year has Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Pegasus and Perseus as the dominant constellations of the night sky, in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s no coincidence they’ve all been placed together in the sky. In Greek mythology, Perseus learned that Andromeda had been chained to some seaside rocks for sacrifice and immediately rode off with Pegasus to save her from the sea serpent who had approached its chained victim (all of this as punishment for Andromeda's mother, Cassiopeia, who had earlier offended Poseidon). Click here to learn more about this image.

Photo Details: Exposures taken every 30 seconds. I hand-picked my ultimate time series and eventually decided to use every sixth exposure, which translates to an interval of 3 minutes.