---
title: 'March 20 Spring Equinox Sunset Watch — 2019'
url: 'https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/blog/march-20-spring-equinox-sunset-watch-2019'
markdown: 'https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/blog/march-20-spring-equinox-sunset-watch-2019.md'
date: '2019-03-18'
description: "It’s time for the 40th seasonal sunset watch! 40!!! When:\_Wednesday, March 20, 7:00pm\_(so come at 6:30pm) Actual sunset is supposed to be at 7:22pm, 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 Wednesday…"
taxonomy:
  category:
    - 'AstroInfo Article'
    - Event
    - Scheduled
  tag:
    - Event
    - Moon
    - 'Solar System'
    - Sun
    - "Tonight's Sky"
    - 'West Seattle'
    - Year
---

# [March 20 Spring Equinox Sunset Watch — 2019](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/blog/march-20-spring-equinox-sunset-watch-2019)

   18th Mar 2019   [Event](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/tag:Event#body-wrapper) [Moon](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/tag:Moon#body-wrapper) [Solar System](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/tag:Solar%20System#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 40th seasonal sunset watch!

# **40!!!**

- **When:** **Wednesday, March 20, 7:00pm** (so come at 6:30pm)

    - Actual sunset is supposed to be at 7:22pm, 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 **Wednesday, March 20, 2:58pm**
- **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/march-20-spring-equinox-sunset-watch-2019/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′)
> 
> **Wednesday, March 20, 2019 Pacific Daylight Time**
> Sun
> Begin civil twilight 6:42 a.m.
> Sunrise 7:12 a.m.
> Sun transit 1:17 p.m.
> Sunset 7:22 p.m.
> End civil twilight 7:53 p.m.
> Moon
> Moonrise 5:47 p.m. on preceding day
> Moon transit 12:45 a.m.
> Moonset 7:28 a.m.
> Moonrise 7:08 p.m.
> Phase of the Moon on March 20, 2019: Full Moon at 6:43 p.m. (local daylight time)

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/march-20-spring-equinox-sunset-watch-2019/Mars.png)~ A l i c e !

---

## Navigation

- Previous: [March 20 Spring Equinox Sunset Watch — 2018](https://grav.alicesastroinfo.com/blog/march-20-spring-equinox-sunset-watch-2018.md)
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