Astronomical Information on the Galactic Alignment
In response to your request I did some exploration for 1999, and for comparison I also decided to check 2020. The astronomical software that I use is Guide 7.0 http://www.projectpluto.com
The RA-Dec coordinates of the intersection of the ecliptic and
the galactic equator for J2000 is 18h00.101 S23 26'21.444".
At the official solstice for winter 1999 (2h44EST)
the sun is around 18h00.04 S23 26'
So your observation is correct.
Please note that the following data was calculated for W 73.6 Long N45.5 Lat.
There will be slight differences depending on your location.
Sun Date | RA | Declination |
22 Dec 1999 3:01:24 | 18h00.09834m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:01:29 | 18h00.09859m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:01:34 | 18h00.09885m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:01:39 | 18h00.09911m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:01:44 | 18h00.09936m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:01:49 | 18h00.09962m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:01:54 | 18h00.09988m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:01:59 | 18h00.10014m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:04 | 18h00.10039m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:09 | 18h00.10065m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:14 | 18h00.10091m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:19 | 18h00.10116m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:24 | 18h00.10142m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:29 | 18h00.10168m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:34 | 18h00.10193m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:39 | 18h00.10219m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:44 | 18h00.10245m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:49 | 18h00.10270m | S23 26' 21.6" |
22 Dec 1999 3:02:54 | 18h00.10296m | S23 26' 21.6" |
Repeating for 2020:
The RA-Dec coordinates of the intersection of the ecliptic and the galactic
equator is for
J2021 at about 18h01.38 S23 26'20.1". At the official solstice for winter 2020
December 21, 5h02EST the sun is around 18h00.05' S23 26' 12" .
The sun is at the intersection 7 hours later (at approx. 12h15 EST) on that
day.
So we see that there is a growing difference.
Please note also that the "center" of our galaxy is at (0,0) in galactic coordinates,
a point that is not at the intersection of ecliptic-galactic equator, but at
over 6 degrees from it...
The included screen shot from Guide 7.0 shows what I mean.
The intersection of ecliptic-gal equat. is "near" Messier 20 (or 8) and the
point (0,0) gal. coord. is the center of the drawn circle. There is a 6.2 deg
offset.
Pierre Desjardins