Editor's Note: From time to time, I post the details of an upcoming San Francisco Bay Area celestial lineup. See this post for an introduction and more general information.
Howdy, pardner! Polish up yer telephoto lens, oil that tripod, and bust out them walkin’ shoes. ’Cause we’re gonna rope us a lineup!
The "Diamond" Lineup
This week, the coming winter solstice treats us to a classic combination of the northeast-rising full moon with the support struts of the Bay Bridge’s Tower Three (the second-nearest tower to San Francisco). You can see it both Tuesday and Wednesday, from the Embarcadero sidewalk, between the southern end of Cupid’s Span and the bay, near 37.79145 north, 122.38945 west (click for a map). Arrive with time to spare before it happens at 4:32pm on Tuesday, or 5:32pm on Wednesday, and once the moon crests the East Bay hills, take a few strides to perfect the alignment with the lowest, diamond-shaped gap at the tower’s base.
Simultaneous with the Tuesday lineup, the sun sets behind Twin Peaks, so the bridge and sky will have much more light on them than my shot above. On Wednesday, the sun has already passed far below the horizon, so everything but the moon will be darker, perhaps significantly. Tuesday’s moon is full and round, and Wednesday’s, waning and ever-so-slightly asymmetrical.
Particulars from my lineup calculator:
"Bay Bridge, Third Tower, Base Diamond Hole"
from "Embarcadero Boulevard Sidewalk, Mission to Harrison"
moon within 0.0 degrees at Tue 01/Dec/2009 16:32:30 PST
to landmark: alt 2.3 deg, az 60.4 deg, distance 0.91 km
to body: alt 2.3 deg, az 60.4 deg
from lat,lon 37.791506,-122.389516
sun at 2.3 degrees
phase 100%
"Bay Bridge, Third Tower, Base Diamond Hole"
from "Embarcadero Boulevard Sidewalk, Mission to Harrison"
moon within 0.0 degrees at Wed 02/Dec/2009 17:32:10 PST
to landmark: alt 2.3 deg, az 59.3 deg, distance 0.90 km
to body: alt 2.3 deg, az 59.3 deg
from lat,lon 37.791388,-122.389376
sun at -8.3 degrees
phase 99%
Use this information however you please, within the terms of the Lineup License.
Good luck and have fun!
