Malcolm asked about visible equinoxes. The only thing I can think of which would be obvious is that the planet Lightfore would rise and set in exactly the same star/constellation on such nights. On other nights, because of the shorter or longer night length, he would rise and set in somewhat different places.
BTW, the following are the current accepted dates for the equinoxes and solstices:
Spring Equinox -- Freezeday/Disorder Week/Sea Season -- 1st day of year
Summer Solstice -- Fireday/Harmony Week/Fire Season -- Yelm HHD Autumnal Equinox -- Clayday/Fertility Week/Earth Season -- Earth HHD Winter Solstice -- Fireday/Illusion Week/Dark Season
This makes the winter season longer than the summer season, which makes sense given the tilt of the Dome.
I have been working with Greg over the last few months on some of the details of celestial mechanics, and have made a few determinations which he seems happy with. For various reasons, I have determined that the Sky Dome tilts 9 degrees to the north in summer, then tilts 10.6 degrees to the south in winter. That is not much of a difference, true. However, if day length is set to vary in the same ratio (not a requirement, certainly, but esthetically pleasing), this gives us quite a bit of variation.
On the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, day and night are each exactly twelve (Theyalan) hours in length. At midsummer, day is 14.4 hours long and the shortest night of the year lasting 9.6 hours. At midwinter, day and night length varies a bit more, with day being only 9.2 hours long, and the longest night of the year lasting 14.8 hours.
If these day and night lengths are correct, then we can also determine some information about Theya and Rausa's visibility. Greg does no longer accepts the information given for them in Elder Secrets, and gave me different parameters to work with. Now, Theya is always visible for exactly 4.8 (Theyalan) hours each night. In other words, she rises 4.8 hours before Dawn in all seasons. Rausa, on the other hand, is always visible for exactly half the night. In summer, she sets 4.8 hours after Dusk, but in Winter she sets 7.4 hours after Dusk.
There are a couple of important results of this information. First, Rausa is always seen to be setting, and Theya is always seen to be rising. When Rausa is rising and Theya is setting, the Sun is in the sky, and both are invisible.
Second, Theya and Rausa are only visible together in the sky once a year, for a brief moment at midnight on midsummer's day.
Finally, Theya ALWAYS rises the exact same height in the sky, every night, while Rausa is higher in the sky in Winter than in Summer, since she has longer to fall.
I have begun work on a celestial chronology for Gloranthan history (i.e., from the Dawn to 1625 or so), figuring out which stars appeared, disappeared, changed, etc. I would appreciate it if anyone with obscure events which I might have missed could send them to me. Also, if anyone has ideas on how various cultures view the stars and other stellar objects I would like to hear them. The Book of Drastic Resolutions has an article on The Night Sky in Prax (and includes some general clarifications and corrections to previously published star information), and I have some ideas about the Doraddi, but I would like information on other cultures as well.
Stephen Martin
ilium_at_juno.com
- -----------------------------------------------The Book of Drastic Resolutions
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