DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-DASMARIÑAS
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT
Module 11: SITE ORIENTATION
GOSPEL READING OR PRAYER
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/word-of-the-day.html
Site Orientation
SOLSTICE AND EQUINOX
Equinox
An astronomical event that happens twice, once in spring and once in autumn each year when the tilt of the
Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun
During Equinoxes the tilt of the Earth (with respect to the Sun) is 0° and because of it duration of the day and the
night are almost equal on Equinox day i.e. 12 hours
Equinoxes occur on 20th or 21st March and 22nd or 23rd September each year and both days has equal length of the
day and the night.
Solstice - solstitium meaning “sun stopping”
an astronomical event that happens twice, once in summer and once in winter, each year when the Sun reaches its
highest position in the sky as seen from the North or South Pole
During Solstices the tilt of the axil of the Earth (with respect to the Sun) is the maximum at 23° 26'.
Solstices are preferably referred as June Solstice (Northern Solstice) and December Solstice (Southern Solstice)
Solstices occur on 20th or 21st June and 21st or 22nd December each year. During summer the day of the solstice is
the longest day of the year and during winter the day of the solstice is the shortest day of the year
SUMMER SOLSTICE
The first day of the Season of Summer (JUNE 21)
hours of daylight are increased
in the northern hemisphere, the Sun is farthest
north and the length of time between Sunrise and
Sunset is the longest of the year
The sun rises to the north of east, sets to the North
of west
the sun is visible in the sky for a longer period
It's also known as the northern solstice because it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer
in the Northern Hemisphere
during June Solstice it is summer time in the UK, the USA, Canada, Russia, India and China and it is the longest day of the year
while it is winter time in Australia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa and it is the shortest day of the year
WINTER SOLSTICE
The first day of the Season of Winter
DECEMBER 21
in the northern hemisphere, the Sun is farthest south and the length of time between Sunrise and
Sunset is the shortest of the year
hours of daylight are decreased
during December Solstice, it is winter time in the UK, the USA, Canada, Russia, India and
China and it is the shortest day of the year while it is summer time in Australia, Argentina,
Chile, New Zealand and South Africa and it is the longest day of the year
VERNAL EQUINOX
The first day of the Season of Spring - and the beginning of a long period of sunlight at the Pole
In the northern hemisphere: MARCH 20 (the Sun crosses the Equator moving northward)
In the southern hemisphere: SEPTEMBER 22 (the Sun crosses the Equator moving southward).
On March Equinox, it is spring time in the UK, the USA, Canada, Russia, India and China
while it is autumn time in Australia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa
AUTUMN EQUINOX
The first day of the Season of Autumn - and the beginning of a long period of darkness at the Pole.
In the northern hemisphere: SEPTEMBER 22 (the Sun crosses the Equator moving southward)
In the southern hemisphere: MARCH 20 (the Sun crosses the Equator moving northward).
on September Equinox, it is autumn time in the UK, the USA, Canada, Russia, India and
China while it is spring time in Australia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa
Determine the Altitude and
Azimuth at 10am of August 21
SUN ELEVATION
End of Lecture
