This day was special though. April 22 1997. Today as the sun set the moon would rise huge and full upon the other end of the island. Note that the moon is fully above or on the horizon 3 minutes after sunset.
Estero Island is a 7 mile long sand bar in the shape of a shallow cresent. The southern end is trailing east by southeast a bit. The sun sets often in spring just over the west by northwest tip at the other end. The name estero I am to understand means oyster in Spanish. And the island is also called Ft. Myers Beach.
Here is a cut and paste of the days moonrise and sunset times.
U.S. Naval Observatory
Astronomical Applications Department
Sun and Moon Data for One Day
The following information is provided for Fort Myers Beach, Lee County, Florida (longitude W81.9, latitude N26.4):
Tuesday
22 April 1997 Eastern Daylight Time
SUN
Begin civil twilight 6:34 a.m.
Sunrise 6:58 a.m.
Sun transit 1:26 p.m.
Sunset 7:55 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:19 p.m.
MOON
Moonrise 7:04 p.m. on preceding day
Moon transit 1:01 a.m.
Moonset 6:55 a.m.
Moonrise 7:58 p.m.
Moonset 7:35 a.m. on following day
Full Moon on 22 April 1997 at 4:33 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
I would be interested in predicting these events and hearing of them. The best for viewing would likely be a half moon and a setting sun. At least you could watch both without mirrors.
Anyway...we applauded that sunset. Is this a beach custom elsewhere?
