\input tex
\twelvepointsanserif
\dropcaps
\hangingpunctuation

\centerline{\seventeenpointsanserif\bf SEASONS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE}
\vskip6pt
\centerline{\seventeenpointsanserif\bf AND THE EARTH'S MOTION THROUGH SPACE}

\vskip\parskip

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\dropcap{W}e call the time it takes for the earth to orbit around the�
sun a {\bf Year}. (The orbit isn't perfectly round, but slightly 
oval-shaped.)

The earth spins as it orbits the sun; we call the time it takes to�
complete one spin a {\bf Day}. The earth isn't ``straight up and�
down'' compared to the sun; it is tilted. Because of this tilt, the�
amount of sunlight each spot on the earth gets depends on where in the�
yearly-orbit cycle the earth is. The longer the daytime, the warmer it�
gets -- summer is when the earth is at the part of the orbit where�
your part of the planet is tilted towards the sun.

(If there earth was not tilted, then the length of the day and night�
would not vary during the year.)

Each place on the planet follows a unique path through space as the�
earth both spins and orbits around the sun. Therefore, for�
astrological purposes your exact birth date and time determines 
{\it where} exactly in space your birth place was when you were born.

The sun (and our entire solar system) is also moving within the�
galaxy, and the galaxy is also moving within the multiverse -- we are�
literally never in the same place twice.\endblob

\enddoublecolumns

\vskip\parskip
{\tenpointsanserif latitude\hfil latitude\hfil longitude\hfil longitude}

\newpage
\centerline{\seventeenpointsanserif\bf YOUR LOCATION ON THE PLANET}
\centerline{\twelvepointsanserif (or a quick introduction to}
\centerline{\twelvepointsanserif Latitude and Longitude)}

\vskip3\pnt5in


\begindoublecolumns

\dropcap{P}ositions on the planet are given in {\bf latitude} and 
{\bf longitude}, which are simply made-up ``lines'' on a map or globe.�
Latitude and longitude are measured in {\bf degrees}, which are simply�
one three\dash hundred\dash sixtieth of a circle. The shorthand symbol�
for ``degrees'' is \degree{} for example, 90\degree{} is 90 degrees,�
etc.

{\bf Latitude} is the ``belt'' around the middle of the planet, and is�
called the {\bf equator}. The equator is 0\degree{} of latitude.�
Latitude increases as you go away from the equator, either north or�
south, until you reach the pole, which is 90 degrees. 

San Francisco is about 37\degree{} North of the equator; Costa Rica is�
about 10\degree{} North of the equator; the middle of Australia is�
about 25\degree{} South of the equator.

{\bf Longitude} are lines North to South, from pole to pole. Zero�
degrees longitude goes from the North pole, through Greenwich England�
(they had the biggest navy at the time, so whatever they said became�
law), down to the South pole. Longitude increases as you go away from�
Greenwich England, or zero degrees, until it gets to exactly opposite�
Greenwich on a globe -- this is called the International Date Line, or�
180 degrees. 

San Francisco is about 122\degree{} West; Costa Rica is about�
85\degree{} West; the middle of Australia is about 135\degree{} East.

An exact location requires both latitude (around) and longitude (up�
and down), such as 37\degree{} North latitude, 
122\degree{} West longitude for San Francisco. The shorthand for this�
is 37\degree N 122\degree W. 

Unfortunately, one degree is too large. More fineness is needed.�
Degrees are divided into {\bf minutes} and {\bf seconds}, which have�
nothing to do with time, and yes it is confusing, especially when you�
are also talking about clock time in the same conversation. One minute�
is one sixtieth of a degree; one second is one sixtieth of a minute.�
The symbol for minutes is ' the symbol for seconds is " and they are�
used like this: 37\degree47'0"W 122\degree26'0"N which means 37�
degrees, 47 minutes, 0 seconds West; 122 degrees, 26 minutes, 0�
seconds North. Got that?\endblob

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\bye

