Summer Solstice

One of the pleasures of being in the North at this time of year is the extended daylight. The sun reached its most northerly declination (solstice) and the longest day of the year about a week ago (about 15-1/2 hours). At this more northerly latitude, the length of twilight and the duration of sunsets and sunrises is also extended because the sun intersects the horizon at a more acute angle (about 50% longer in Yarmouth, ME than in Houston, TX).

Sunset from Pulpit Harbor, ME (2007). This spectacular sunset seemed to go on forever. I took more than 50 images over at least an hour. In 2007 the sunsets seemed to have much more color than in more recent years.

At 4:30 AM when I started writing this post, it was already light enough to see things clearly. The birds had begun their "dawn chorus" (I heard 5 species before 5:00 AM). We are not normally early risers, but on the boat we tend to go to bed and arise with the sun. The quiet time between twilight and sunrise is almost magical. Few other people are up, and I can be alone with my thoughts and the bird songs.

Sunrise in the Royal River Boatyard, Yarmouth, ME 5:30am 06/25/2010. Just the birds and I were up.