11/25/2021 – Ephemeris – Happy Thanksgiving

This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 13 minutes, setting at 5:06, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:54. The Moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 10:24 this evening.

We are regaled with stories of the first Thanksgiving dinner between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. The Mayflower was headed for the Virginia Colony but were diverted by a storm. Their first landfall in the New World was Newfoundland, where they picked up supplies. Intending to head south to Virginia, the passage became too hazardous, so they put into Cape Cod, where they stayed. Back in those days, the ship’s position was determined rather crudely. Latitude was measured by the height of the north star at night and the sun at noon. Distance and speed were measured with a log thrown overboard with a rope with knots on it. The knots counted over a period of time gave the ship’s speed and distance, which was recorded in a “log” book.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times may be different for your location.

Addendum

Credit: Scholastic