7:22 PM: Thanks for the tips! The Northern Lights have shown up tonight – above, a photo from Kevin Freitas, looking north from The Triangle. The possibilities change almost from minute to minute – here’s one page that West Seattle skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen has often recommended for gauging the situation. She has advice on local aurora-watching (including a cloud-cover map – that’s a factor tonight) here.

9:34 PM: Some have had luck this past hour – see photos in comments below!

By Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

It was a pleasantly warm evening to properly close out summer as Alice Enevoldsen gathered a crowd of around 50 people last night tocelebrate the fall equinox at West Seattle’s Solstice Park. The equinox marks one of two times a year that the night and the day are of equal duration, and notably for us in the northern hemisphere, the passing of summer into fall. This was Alice’s 63rd time hosting the quarterly equinox/solstice sunseet event, which has been taking place since the late 2000s barring some interruptions due to the pandemic.

The crowd started gathering around 6 PM in anticipation of the sunset. The layout of the park has three stones and corresponding passageways which mark the exact location of the sunset for the equinox and solstices throughout the year.

The sunset was at precisely 6:56 PM – as observed. She explained that while the official U.S. Naval Observatory-calculated sunset for our area is 7:06 PM (the time that appears on most phone weather apps), this does not take into consideration local factors that cause the sun to disappear earlier, such as the Olympic Mountains or other environmental factors.

Notably last night, a thin streak of smoke still wavered over the Olympics from ongoing Washington forest fires.

After the sun had set, Alice gave her customary presentation on the scientific explanation and meaning of the equinox. She was helped, as usual, by a young assistant – this time, Jork – who volunteered to represent the sun. During the presentation, Alice and her globe rotated around the volunteer sun to explain the way in which the rotation of the earth causes the changing of the seasons and the corresponding length of the day. At the point of the equinox, she said, the length of the day is changing the fastest – losing about 4 minutes of daylight every day.

Following her presentation, Alice summarized the passing of yet another equinox with reverence. “We are at the same place in our orbit as we were a year ago – the same place in space – isn’t that mindblowingly awesome?” she said.

She presents these events as part of her volunteer work as an official NASA Solar System Ambassador. If you’d like to attend her next event, the sunset watch for the winter solstice will be on December 21. You can also find more information from Alice about local astronomical events or upcoming events by her on her website [https://alicesastroinfo.com/], or her social media feeds.

(WSB photo from 2024 autumn equinox sunset watch)

Fall officially arrives Monday morning with the equinox moment at 11:19 am – and that means West Seattle educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen will be at Solstice Park on Monday evening to commemorate the change of seasons with one of the quarterly sunset-watch events she’s been leading for more than 15 years. It’ll include her interactive demonstration of what “equinox” really means, as well as an opportunity to see how the placement of markers and paths at the park lookout are meant to align with the sunset on equinoxes (and solstices). If you haven’t been to one of Alice’s events before, the Solstice Park lookout is uphill from the tennis courts (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW). She’ll be there 6:30-7:30 pm, with the actual sunset as seen from that site expected around 6:50-7 pm, though the official sunset is 7:06 pm. It’s free, fun, educational, all ages, happening whether the sun’s visible or not (heavy rain is the only weather that will cancel this).

4:47 PM: Another sighting in the sky – the Goodyear Blimp. While Seattle’s not on its official schedule, it’s definitely here (after a Saturday visit to Oregon), and we’ve received word of south-end sightings – Angela‘s photo, above, from Lincoln Park, plus a texter saw it from Westwood Village. Sifting for more info – just wanted to get this up (so to speak) for starters, to confirm you weren’t seeing things.

P.S. Erin and family in Arbor Heights got a good view of its underbelly, drifting by:

As Eddie notes in comments, “the” Goodyear Blimp is a collective term – there are more than one, as we noted during the last sightings here in 2016.

ADDED 5:14 PM: Gathered a bit more. This one is formally named America; it’s N3A on flight trackers. As with the visit we mentioned in 2016, this one was followed by a stop up in Arlington, where trackers show it landed a little over an hour ago.

Thanks to Jerry Simmons for the photo. He says that’s one of two planes that flew over West Seattle right before the Seattle Seahawks‘ 1:05 pm kickoff. The tail of the F-15 Eagle in his photo says it’s with the Redhawks from Portland, an Oregon Air National Guard unit; Jerry says they landed at Boeing Field after the flyover.

ADDED 1:56 PM: Steven Rice sent this view from Alki:

That view at about quarter till 9 is the closest we got to seeing the sun as Alice Enevoldsen presided over her 65th change-of-seasons sunset gathering at Solstice Park. On the almost-bright side, no rain! With the help of a volunteer named Drew portraying the sun, Alice led 40+ attendees through her interactive explanation of the solstice (as well as the park’s markers that line up with the setting sun on solstices and equinoxes):

Alice followed that up with Q&A – always an eclectic set of questions; this time, among other things, she was asked to explain the celestial equator. She is a volunteer NASA Solar System Ambassador as well as an astronomy instructor at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). She’s been hosting solstice/equinox sunset watches – and other skywatching events, like eclipses and auroras – dating back to 2009. You can watch her website for the fall date/time.

(WSB photo, June 2024 solstice sunset watch)

Spring changes to summer at 7:42 pm Friday (June 20). Less than an hour later, you’re invited to join West Seattle educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen at her Summer Solstice Sunset Watch, 8:30-9:30 pm at Solstice Park (upslope at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW). Learn what really happens at the solstice; see (if the sun cooperates) the special view enabled by the park’s unique design; find out what’s on the horizon in the skywatching world. Free, fun, all ages, canceled unless it’s MAJOR rain (there is rain in the forecast right now, but certainly that could change – today was originally predicted to be showery).

West Seattle skywatching expert Alice Enevoldsen points out that the aurora is a possibility again tonight, so if you’re going to be up for a while, keep an eye on the forecast sites she recommends – in our opinion, this one is particularly easy to follow, and as we type, it’s predicting “storm level” aurora possibilities in the short run, in the Kp 6+ level – Alice says, “Kp over 5 means possible aurora for Seattle, but the higher the better. If it hits 6 go outside. 7, I go somewhere local. 8, I go somewhere dark and farther away. 9, I turn my life upside down and you should too.”) Things change fast, though, so just because it’s “storm level” now doesn’t mean it’ll still be that way later! (Image: Steven Rice’s photo of early Sunday aurora from Alki)

Also overnight, a geomagnetic storm brought a brief aurora sighting. West Seattle skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen was talking with us about the possibility around 3 am, but at the time it was overcast, and online forecasts showed conditions “quieting.” Then around 3:30 am, Steven Rice got these photos from Alki.

This could happen again tonight. For aurora forecast links and West Seattle viewing tips, see this page on Alice’s website.

The spring-equinox moment was 2:01 am today, and West Seattle educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen usually has her change-of-seasons sunset watches the same day as an equinox or solstice (a 15+-year tradition), so you might be thinking that’s tonight. Not this time, though – she’s on a one-day delay, so if you’d like to join with others in commemorating the arrival of spring, while learning exactly what happens at the equinox (interactively!), be at Solstice Park 6:30-7:30 pm tomorrow (Friday, March 21). Rain or shine – unless it’s heavy rain or thunder/lightning. This is at the top level of the park, upslope from the tennis courts and P-Patch, 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW.

9:47 PM: Yes, the full moon is in view, high in the eastern sky, so for now at least, the lunar eclipse is visible! West Seattle’s expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen gave this timeline for tonight:

starts at 8:57 pm,
gets interesting at 10:10 pm,
peaks at 11:58 pm,
becomes less visible at 1:48 am and
finishes at 3:00 am

Updates to come!

10:17 PM: Thanks to Kevin Freitas for sharing that image from the top of the hour, when the moon started dimming (that’s what this eclipse will entail, NOT a total darkening/obscuring).

10:30 PM: Just went out for a look. Sizable “bite” off the bottom of the moon, and it is very easy to get a closer look through regular binoculars. … Kevin sent this updated image:

11:09 PM: More than three-fourths covered. … A few minutes later, another photographic update from Kevin:

11:33 PM: Appears very close to total, even though the peak is supposed to be 20+ minutes away.

11:57 PM: Lost it in the clouds – we think – just as it peaked. Here’s a new photo, this time from Jason A.G. Enevoldsen:

12:28 AM: In view again, as the eclipse starts to ebb … Here’s one last photo from Kevin Freitas, at midnight:

And one a bit earlier from Danny Gawlowski:

We’re wrapping up our play-by-play. Next total lunar eclipse visible in our area is only about a year away.

(Photo by Jason A.G. Enevoldsen)

By the time the first sunset of winter 2024-2025 showed hints of color above the Lincoln Park forest, nearby Solstice Park held an estimated 140 people – possibly the largest crowd yet for educator/skywatching expert Alice Enevoldsen‘s quarterly gatherings.

(WSB photos from here don)

As always, Alice first explained the unique features that make Solstice Park the place for a gathering like this: the paths and markers placed to line up with the setting sun on the solstices and equinoxes each year. (Fun fact: Did you know “solstice” means “sun stop”?) Once she explained them, everyone was invited to walk to the end of the winter-solstice path to see how it lined up with what could be seen of the setting sun:

Once reconvened in a circle where the paths converge, attendees got to hear about, and participate in, the explanation of sun/Earth positions when the seasons change, and where in the sky the sun hits its seasonal high (winter solstice, 19 degrees).

A bonus feature of these always-free events – which Alice has led for 15+ years as a volunteer NASA Solar System Ambassador – is hearing about the next big thing in the space/skywatching world. Tonight, Alice explained the Parker Solar Probe, days away from its closest pass around the Sun yet, on Christmas Eve morning. It’s expected to get even closer in a pass next March – a few days after Alice’s spring-equinox sunset watch.

(WSB photo from 2023 winter-solstice sunset watch)

Winter begins at 1:20 am Saturday – that’s the solstice moment. Fourteen hours later (starting around 3:45 pm, to be precise), astronomy educator Alice Enevoldsen will be at Solstice Park (top of the slope at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW) to lead her quarterly change-of-seasons sunset watch. So far the forecast suggests we’ll be between rain spells; truly heavy rain is the only thing that would cause Alice to cancel. Come learn about what “solstice” signifies, see how (if it’s visible) the setting sun lines up with the park’s solstice/equinox markers, and enjoy the relatively balmy (still 50ish) weather.

The waxing crescent moon was part of a sky show again tonight:

If you weren’t looking up around 5:30 pm, this is what you missed. Christopher Boffoli sent the image above, and Robin Sinner sent the image below.

Will we see this again tomorrow? Part of the forecast looks like a rerun – dense morning fog followed by some sun.

(Photo by Sandy Dymale)

Thanks for the photos! Tonight’s moonrise revealed the last supermoon of 2024, the full “beaver moon.” Photographers lined up on the West Seattle shore in hopes of the perfect shot:

(Photo by Doug Eglington)

And then there was this view from Alki, as the moon appeared over the ridge:

(Photo by Michael Ostrogorsky)

If you want to watch for it in the west, Saturday morning’s moonset will be at 8:42 am.

8:45 PM: What a week it’s been for sights in the sky! First the aurora, then that sunset, now … Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)! Thanks to everyone sending photos of the comet, visible around dusk in the west. Above, the first photo we received was from Lars Lindblad, at Me-Kwa-Mooks. Below, from James Tilley, at Alki Beach:

And this one is from Tracey Kipp (of WSB sponsor West Seattle Realty):

The comet’s visibility has been anticipated for months – skywatcher/educator Alice Enevoldsen talked about it at her fall-equinox sunset watch. Meantime, we’re checking the other photos that have come in – we’ll be adding more!

9:40 PM: If the sky is clear, the comet will be visible in the west again tomorrow, Alice tells us – just look west after sunset. … Another photo from tonight, sent by Madison Kirkman:

7:05 PM: As it gets dark, the factors remain promising for aurora visibility again! West Seattle skywatcher/educator Alice Enevoldsen has updated her aurora-viewing tips. West Seattle photographer Kevin Freitas sent a community invitation:

Join me tonight ~8:45pm down on Alki (64th & Alki) for some aurora viewing. This area has a great view to the north that’s relatively dark from city light pollution. Regardless, looking at photos from the east coast and elsewhere, this could be a good one and visible from wherever you are. I’ll be the guy in the bright yellow stocking cap. Bundle up because it could be cold down there!

We’ll update as the evening progresses.

7:54 PM: First photo in, via text, from a Junction-area rooftop:

Geomagnetic activity is currently well into “storm level” per this page.

8:59 PM: Alki seems to be the viewing spot of choice. Carol Ann Joyce sent this photo, one of several we’ve received from people at the beach (thank you!):

9:58 PM: Two more photos from Alki – first, from the VanCooten family:

And from Kevin Freitas, who, as mentioned above, went to the beach to lead a viewing/photo session:

10:14 PM: Also from Alki, Rosalie Miller just sent this:

10:49 PM: The aurora’s out again tonight! Thanks to the reader who just sent that photo, from Fauntlee Hills. Earlier, Cami reported faint colors looking west from Alki. How long will it last? Hard to tell, but here’s one of the forecast sites recommended by West Seattle expert skywatcher/educator Alice Enevoldsen (here’s her aurora-viewing-tips page).

11:12 PM: More photos arriving – thanks! From Lacey:

From Jessica in Fairmount Park:

From Liz in North Admiral:

12:57 AM: And from Jamie Kinney:

Lots of regional chatter about fireballs in the sky overnight. West Seattle photographer Kevin Freitas caught one on his skywatching camera – here’s a screenshot, followed by video:

The American Meteor Society‘s outlook for this week suggests three prime sources of potential meteor activity right now.

(WSB photos)

If there’s a reason to skywatch or stargaze, Alice Enevoldsen is your go-to person in West Seattle. She is a volunteer NASA Solar System Ambassador, as well as an astronomy/physics instructor at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). Tonight, as she’s done more than 50 times dating back exactly 15 years, she led a sunset watch commemorating the change of seasons. The sun made only the most infinitesimal of cameo appearances, a glimmer through the Lincoln Park trees to the west:

About three dozen people joined Alice at Solstice Park, even knowing the clouds would keep them from enjoying one of the signature features of these sunset watches – seeing the setting sun line up with the precisely placed paths and stones at the park. But they got to hear, see, and participate in the traditional explanation of equinoxes and solstices, which as always featured young volunteers portraying the sun (while Alice held her Earth globe):

Another fun feature of Alice’s events – info about other upcoming reasons to look skyward. One is 2024 PT5, the name given to a “rock the size of a school bus” that will be orbiting Earth for about two months before returning to its regular orbit of the sun. You won’t be able to see it without a “fairly powerful telescope,” Alice warned, so don’t expect any viewing events.

However, she told attendees, a viewing event might be possible for Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), which might become bright enough to be seen without a telescope in the weeks to come. This would require an open southwest view, perhaps from a spot like the Lincoln Park shore. (Otherwise, Westcrest Park is one of her favorite West Seattle places to skywatch, especially when unpredictable sights like the aurora happen. Here are all the places to find her updates.)

NEXT SUNSET WATCH: 3:45 pm December 21st, for the winter solstice, at Solstice Park (upslope at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW).

Autumn officially arrives at 5:43 am Sunday – the equinox moment. A little over 12 hours later, you can greet the new season in a uniquely West Seattle way – the change-of-seasons sunset watch with educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen. She’ll be at Solstice Park (where you’ll find the marker shown above, aligning with the equinox-sunset path), upslope from the tennis courts and P-Patch at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW, starting around 6:30 Sunday; sunset will be around 7 pm (earlier than official charts, because of the mountains). Drop in to learn what “equinox” really means, and to hear about any upcoming skywatching events of note.

9:43 PM: That’s the first photo we’ve received of tonight’s aurora – Marina Clough reports, “I got a pic of the aurora with my phone! Couldn’t see this with the naked eye; this was around 8:30. It was when the KP index was around 8!” That means a good possibility of the Northern Lights; West Seattle educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen has a page full of resources, including the forecast for the next half-hour and advice on how/where to watch.

1:11 AM: Watching the maps, the aurora likelihood seems to have faded, so it was fairly fleeting, By the time Manuel got to the beach, he mostly just was able to photograph other hopeful watchers:

Questions about aurora-watching? Alice will be happy to answer them at her equinox sunset watch Sunday, 6:30 pm, uphill at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW).