Next time, 39 years later! Don’t miss the “Planet Parade”. Let’s enjoy the starry sky at the “first sunrise of the year” in 2023 (Seasonal and living topics December 20, 2022)-Japan Weather Association tenki.jp

Sunrise is the moment when the sun begins to rise above the horizon, and the top of the sun appears to coincide with the horizon. In reality, the sun, which is still below the horizon, appears to rise due to the influence of the atmosphere.

The earliest sunrise in Japan is at 5:27 on “Minamitorishima”, which is located at the eastern end of Japanese territory. In Honshu, it is 6:43, which is the “top of Mt. Fuji”. The higher the altitude, the farther the field of view is, and the earlier the sun rises. Therefore, in Honshu, you can see the first sunrise of the year from Mt. Fuji.

[2023 New Year’s sunrise spot timetable]

Let’s pay attention to the starry sky before the first sunrise of the year. When the date changes and the curtain rises in 2023, the “Winter Triangle” and the constellation Orion shine magnificently at the zenith. As the night progresses and the winter constellations tilt westward, the spring constellations herald the changing seasons. One hour before the first sunrise of the year (around 5:50 in Tokyo), you can also see Antares, a bright red Scorpio, in the low southeast sky. When the light of the stars fades into the twilight, the first sunrise of the year, which heralds the beginning of the new year, emits a strong light.

·references
“Astro Guide Starry Sky Yearbook 2022” Astro Arts
・ Reference site
Astroarts “Late December 2022 Planetary Parade”
Astroarts “First Sunrise”
Late December 2022 Mercury and Venus are very close