In message <20050125095746.GA69457_at_finch-staff-1.thus.net>, "Clive D.W. Feather" writes:
>Tom Van Baak said:
>> It seems to me the popular understanding of a year
>> is accurate to +/-1 day.
>
>I think you're out by a factor of 10. Would the Man On The Clapham Omnibus
>be able to identify the solstice or equinox to within 14 days? Other than
>knowing the "conventional" dates?
>
>[That is, if the equinox was actually on March 9th, would anyone outside
>the astronomical community notice?]
I doubt it.
I'm not so certain about the summer and winter solstice however.
here in the nordic countries were're quite emotionally attached to
those.
I know of at least one grade school science teacher who had his
pupils time sunrise and sunset to prove that december 23 was the
shortest day in the year.
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Received on Tue Jan 25 2005 - 02:42:49 PST