About Sunrise Project

The Sun's path has a different course every day. This course depends on the latitude of the location.

 

Sun paths in Turku, Finland in January (lowest arch) – April (highest arc), photographed with two curved-back pinhole cameras around the 20th of every month. This project, we will photograph only the left hand (sunrise) part of the March (vernal Equinox) curve. Credit: Sakari Ekko.
Sun paths in Turku, Finland in January (lowest arch) – April (highest arc), photographed with two curved-back pinhole cameras around the 20th of every month. This project, we will photograph only the left hand (sunrise) part of the March (vernal Equinox) curve. Credit: Sakari Ekko.

 

Nontheless there are certain regularities that can be seen:

During the summer the Sun path is higher than in winter.

The Sun path slope in the sunrise area (or in the sunset area) is the colatitude of the location.

The Sun does not rise in the East cardinal point everyday.

At equinoxes, the Sun rises due east and sets due west all over the world.

All these aspects can be observed by means of the project that we here propose. Students are intended to build themselves a simple devise (pinhole camera) in order to catch the paths of the rising or setting Sun.

 

Justin Quinnell took this incredible photo with a pinhole camera looking over the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England, showing the sun’s movement over the course of six months. Credit: Justin Quinell.
Justin Quinnell took this incredible photo with a pinhole camera looking over the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England, showing the sun’s movement over the course of six months. Credit: Justin Quinell.

 

This project is coordinated by Sakari Ekko (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), a long time member of the EAAE.

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