---
title: 'December 21 Winter Solstice Sunset Watch — 2018'
url: 'https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/blog/december-21-winter-solstice-sunset-watch-2018'
markdown: 'https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/blog/december-21-winter-solstice-sunset-watch-2018.md'
date: '2018-12-18'
description: "It’s time for the 39th seasonal sunset watch! When:\_Friday, December 21, 4:05pm\_(so come at 3:45pm) Actual sunset is supposed to be at 4:20pm, but we have noticed that the Sun sets about 15 minutes earlier than the USNO says, because of the horizon altitude. The equinox moment is Friday, Decembe…"
taxonomy:
  category:
    - Event
    - Scheduled
  tag:
    - Moon
    - Sun
    - "Tonight's Sky"
    - 'West Seattle'
    - Year
---

# [December 21 Winter Solstice Sunset Watch — 2018](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/blog/december-21-winter-solstice-sunset-watch-2018)

   18th Dec 2018   [Moon](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/tag:Moon#body-wrapper) [Sun](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/tag:Sun#body-wrapper) [Tonight's Sky](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/tag:Tonight's%20Sky#body-wrapper) [West Seattle](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/tag:West%20Seattle#body-wrapper) [Year](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/tag:Year#body-wrapper)  

It’s time for the 39th seasonal sunset watch!

- **When:** **Friday, December 21, 4:05pm** (so come at 3:45pm)

    - Actual sunset is supposed to be at 4:20pm, but we have noticed that the Sun sets about 15 minutes earlier than the [USNO](http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-us) says, because of the horizon altitude.
    - The equinox moment is **Friday, December 21, 2:23pm**
- **Where:** [Solstice Park](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/blog/2009/06/solstice-park-west-seattle) – all the way up the hill from the tennis courts (or, if you’re not in Seattle, wherever you have a view of the western horizon!)
- **Who:** Everyone welcome, as usual. (Please do leash your dogs as we usually have a good number of people, kids, and other dogs around.)

[![Parent and Child at Sunset by Kazuhiko Teramoto](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/user/pages/blog/december-21-winter-solstice-sunset-watch-2018/Parent-Child-Silhoutte-Sunset-by-skyseeker-on-Flickr-small.jpg)](http://www.flickr.com/photos/skyseeker/1345190119/)Parent and Child at Sunset by Kazuhiko Teramoto, skyseeker

Come watch the sunset at Solstice Park in West Seattle. I’ll be there even if it is cloudy because sometimes the Sun peeks through just as it begins to set, but if it is driving rain or a thunderstorm I’m staying home with some tea!

If you’re interested – here’s the timing of various celestial events from Seattle, courtesy of the [U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department:](http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-us)

> **Sun and Moon Data for One Day**
> 
> U.S. Naval Observatory
> Astronomical Applications Department
> Seattle, King County, WA (Longitude W122° 20′, Latitude N47° 38′)
> 
> **Friday, December 21, 2018 Pacific Standard Time**
> Sun
> Begin civil twilight 7:19 a.m.
> Sunrise 7:55 a.m.
> Sun transit 12:08 p.m.
> Sunset 4:20 p.m.
> End civil twilight 4:56 p.m.
> Moon
> Moonset 6:30 a.m.
> Moonrise 3:52 p.m.
> Moon transit 11:43 p.m.
> Moonset 7:41 a.m. on following day
> Closest Primary Moon Phase: Full Moon on December 22, 2018 at 9:49 a.m. (local standard time)
> 
> Phase of the Moon on December 21, 2018: Waxing Gibbous with 99% of the Moon’s visible disk illuminated.

This event is my part of the NASA’s Solar System Ambassador program, and thanks to [West Seattle Blog](http://westseattleblog.com/) for publicizing all of them!

Everyone is welcome, see you there!

![](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/user/pages/blog/december-21-winter-solstice-sunset-watch-2018/Mars.png)~ A l i c e !

---

## Navigation

- Previous: [December 21 Winter Solstice Sunset Watch–2017](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/blog/december-21-winter-solstice-sunset-watch-2017.md)
- Next: [December 21st Winter Solstice Sunset Watch – 2015](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/blog/december-21st-winter-solstice-sunset-watch-2015.md)