From: alain245@videotron.ca   
      
   Le Dec/31/2022 à 18:18, JF Mezei a écrit :   
   > Happy new year etc.   
   >   
   > Question: is there anything significant about the position of the earth   
   > around the sun on December 31 at 23:59:59 or January 1 at 00:00:00 ?   
   >   
   >   
   > I can understand the seasons aligned with solstices and equinozes which   
   > are specific times where the earth's orientation to the sun provides for   
   > equal day/night across most of planet. This is visible from within the   
   > earth. However, the position of earth around the sun isn't, unless I   
   > guess you are looking at stars.   
   >   
   > So if you notice repeating pattern of stars which repeats itself every   
   > 365.25 days, why choose december 31 as the end of the year? Is there   
   > something special about the stars at end of year that make it unique?   
      
      
   A little over 2000 years ago the new year started March 1st. That's why   
   months September through December have names based on the latin numbers   
   seven through 10 (and not 9 through 12). If I recall correctly, it is   
   Julius Caesar who chose 1st of January for the New Year. I don't   
   remember the reason, but I'm quite sure it was nothing astronomical. I   
   think it was for some political reason. So, no there is nothing special   
   about the 1st of January in the position of the Sun or the stars.   
      
      
   Alain Fournier   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)