MDDM Chapter 44 "a haze of green Resurrection" (441.2)

[Otto]

----- Original Message -----
From: Douglas Kløvedal
To: otto at ottosell.de
Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2002 2:42 PM
Subject: "Good Friday" Chronology
ECLIPSES, GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER 1764-1765

The following are strictly the astronomical facts concerning dates and days
in 1764 and 1765. 1764 was a leap year. Spring (Vernal Equinox) began in the
morning of March 20th. There was a total eclipse on April 1st. April 5th was
a Thursday. The Full Moon occurred on April 16th. Good Friday was on April
20 and Easter Sunday on April 22 -- the latest possible date.

In 1765 Spring began in the evening of March 20th. An annular eclipse
occurred on February 19th -- over a month before the beginning of Spring.
April 5th was both a Friday and there was a Full Moon at 19:57 LMT (local
mean time) in Philadelphia. Sunday April 7, 1765 was Easter Sunday, at least
according to the Gregorian calendar.

Unfortunately I do not have an issue of _M&D_ where I am presently residing,
but hope anyway that these dates and days help clear up the discrepancies
between 1764 and 1765. Briefly, once again: the eclipse was shortly after
the beginning of Spring in 1764, but April 5th was a Thursday. April 5, 1765
was a Full Moon Friday, thus "Good Friday" and Easter fell on April 7, 1765.
Finally, according to a resolution at the Council of Nicea, Easter Sunday
falls on "the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Vernal
Equinox."

Cheerful Celestial Chronology -- Douglas Kløvedal Lannark