(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
Everything, and everyone, was looking up at tonight’s fall equinox sunset watch.
Astronomy educator Alice Enevoldsen has led quarterly change-of-season sunset watches at West Seattle’s Solstice Park for 17+ years, as part of her work as what she described as pretty muc the coolest volunteer title ever, NASA Solar System Ambassador:
First a chance to watch the setting sun line up with the designated equinox-aligned path (the park-top plateau has paths and markers for solstices and equinoxes):
Then, everyone circled up for Alice’s demonstration (with a young volunteer as usual) of what “equinox” – this one having arrived just two hours earlier- really means:
It’s always a casual gathering, all ages …
Pups too:
Alice always hangs around to ask questions, and sometimes there’s swag:
Tonight there was even wildlife:
And fall’s first sunset just kept getting better:
You can always check Alice’s website for the next sunset watch – winter solstice, December 21st, 3:45 pm – and other skywatching info, such as aurora advice.