dipper@utastro.UUCP (Debbie Byrd) (02/02/86)
This is Groundhog Day -- and we'll be talking about it -- in just a minute. February 2 Groundhog Day On this day, a certain Punxsutawney Phil should emerge from his burrow in western Pennsylvania to look for his shadow. If the sun's out, and he sees it, he'll leap back underground -- which supposedly will mean that winter weather will continue until around the time of the vernal equinox in March. On the other hand, if it's cloudy where Phil is, then the rest of us can look forward to an early spring. Punxsutawney Phil is of course the legendary groundhog for whom we celebrate Groundhog Day. This holiday actually stems from the celebration of Candlemas in Europe -- which is the "40th day of Christmas," counting Christmas as the first day. Candlemas is an astronomical holiday because it's one of four cross-quarter days which lie midway between a solstice and an equinox. Candlemas Day in Europe was a good day for weather forecasting, and on that day it was said that a badger looked for his shadow. It also used to be said that a shepherd would rather see a wolf in his barn than the sun on Candlemas Day. So, if you want to be traditional, it's a good day to hope for cloudy weather -- although it'd be nice to have some clear skies in the morning, when the moon will be located near in the sky to the planets Saturn and Mars. Anybody can Saturn, Mars and the moon before dawn Monday morning. They'll be above the southeastern horizon -- visible near each other in the sky -- until the sun comes up and drowns them in its glare. Script by Deborah Byrd. (c) Copyright 1985, 1986 McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin