Astronomers Don’t Need to Save Daylight
If I didn’t know better, I’d say daylight savings time is a result of some vast solar-astronomy conspiracy. Thankfully, I’ve worked in solar physics and can attest to the fact that they had nothing to do with it.
The Sun is still up the same number of hours as the day before as the day after we move our clocks (give or take four minutes or so for the increasing daylight hours), so they still have the same number of observing hours each day.
No, as fun as that would be, I can’t blame this on the solar astronomers.
Why the hell are we doing this? Well, since World War I the government has decided when the Sun gets to come up, but not only that, every once in a while they tweak it to satisfy government lobby titans like the sporting good and barbeque lobby.
What? The Barbeque lobby? Is there such a thing? Or is it BBQ lobby? (You know how the government loves acronyms)
I wonder if they wear “Kiss the Cook” aprons on Capitol Hill…
So the reason I spend this day every year feeling behind the curve and pissed off that I’ve lost an hour is so that the makers of K.C. Masterpiece can make more money?
Well, the fact that the nights are getting shorter doesn’t help my mood much either. Let’s face it, all things being equal, daylight would be the last thing astronomers would try to save.
Cartoon Credit: Duncan
Technorati Tags: daylight savings time
Related Stories
POSTED IN: general astronomy
3 opinions for Astronomers Don’t Need to Save Daylight
Jayson Buckley
Mar 10, 2008 at 12:41 am
Hello Tony! I’m glad to see that you are still alive! I was getting worried when the youtubers started posting R.I.P. on your profile. I guess I should have checked here a lot sooner. Congratulations on your new job, maybe you will change humanity some day.
Tony
Mar 10, 2008 at 7:22 am
Hi Jayson,
Yes, I know I need to get more videos made but there has simply been too many changes in my life to accomodate it. I am still alive and do actually plan to make more videos, but like I said before, they take a LOT of time and I just don’t have that much to spare.
Thanks for reading the blog. This is where all of my spare time goes, so if you want to keep up with Tony happenings, this is the place.
I’m glad you found it and welcome!
Bastiaan
Mar 10, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I allways used to think that daylight savings time was a good thing. yet the more you think about the stupider it gets. especially now I think about buying a telescope.
BTW Tony, I left you a message via the contact form on Deepastronomy.com however after i send it i found out you hang out here most of the time. so please take a look at it:D
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: