I had meant to drive a long-lasting stake in the ground at the solstice and mark its shadow. Do you know if I can place the stake tomorrow, mark the shadow then, see how much it moves in five days, work backwards by that amount and then have a line that is (at least pretty close) to the line at the solstice? Who knows what future generation might apprediate a little Stonehenge here in Maryland?

Of course, it will be nice if I can remember to do this six months from now, also.

-- alex (cognitiveone@yahoo.com), December 25, 1999

Answers

Yes, you can do that. You are so close to the solstice that if you are using your mark as a timer of sorts...say, for planting dates, you will not be far off. Try to remember to do this for the summer solstice also. We made a mark on an inside wall of the house, where the sun comes through. The sun just moved so far, and then worked its way back again.

-- Mary (CAgdma@home.com), December 27, 1999.