Home > Calendar, Ephemeris Program, Events > 02/02/2012 – Ephemeris – February 2nd isn’t just for groundhogs

02/02/2012 – Ephemeris – February 2nd isn’t just for groundhogs

February 2, 2012

Ephemeris for Groundhog Day, Thursday, February 2nd.  The sun will rise at 8:00.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 51 minutes, setting at 5:52.   The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 4:39 tomorrow morning.

I’m not sure if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow this morning or not, but February 2nd was a special day to the ancients.  It is also Candlemas day for the Catholic Church.  It is also celebrated as a cross-quarter day.  The middle of the season of Winter, though the exact date of the middle of winter is the 4th.  And if Phil sees his shadow and we do get 6 more weeks of winters, that’s OK too.  By the calendar it actually more like 7 weeks to the vernal or spring equinox and the official end of winter.  Of the other cross-quarter days, only one stands out today.  It’s May 1st, May Day.  The way this year has been going, winter has had a hard time getting started.  The temperatures are above normal and the snowfall below normal.

* Times, as always are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of  Michigan.

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