Equinox, the Equator and Neptune

22 March 2014

Update by Maarten:
“Well, the sun beat us to it, arriving at the equator a day before we did. Yesterday was equinox, the day together with 21 September that almost everywhere in the world there is a twelve hour day and a twelve hour night. On the geographical north and south pole the sun goes around in a complete circle half above and half below the horizon! It marks the end of summer in the southern hemisphere and the beginning of spring in the north. The sun does not stop here, it is racing north at a present pace of one arc-minute or one natical mile an hour heading towards 23.5 degrees north and solstice on 21 June, to subsequently reverse course and head back down again. This of course is earth centric speak. The truth is that the sun is the stable center of our solar system and the earth is rotating and wobbling.
Yesterday we were still two degrees or 120 miles away from the equator but we are there now, quite a moment having started at 55 degrees south. As we are continuing to head north to the expected tune of approximately two degrees a day, we will pass under the sun tomorrow and leave her behind us, resulting in more and more shade as we progress.
At dinner last night we had a rather wet message from King Neptune, saying that he was going to grace the ‘Oosterschelde’ with a visit to vet all those who have not yet passed the equator before and been accepted in his realm. We tremble in fear.”