Every day ends with a period that is appropriately named "sunset." Photographers call the hour around it "the golden hour" and lots of photography is done then because of the visuals created. Rich colors and soft hues make for beautiful pictures. The same humidity we all hate the feel of can also make it possible sometimes to look directly at the sun right before sunset when the sun looks huge and red/orange before turning to an almost purple shade toward actual sunset.
We hardly ever think about it; the HUGE ball of burning gas that literally sustains life on earth. It is 93,000,000 miles away from us. About 1,3000,000 earths could fit in the sun. It "burns" so much hydrogen every second (approx. 600,000,000 tons according to Dr. Louis Barbier of NASA!) that the numbers are impossible to comprehend. The fusion "burning" produces light and heat. Approximately 4.5 lbs of sunlight hit the earth every second. It gives light, heat and begins the "food chain" by growing everything that is green. The color green is God's chemical engine for converting sunlight into life.
As the earth turns, half of it is always turned away from the sun. From here the other miracle of light is observed; the moon. The moon is far more enchanting than the sun to watch because it can be observed much more closely. It's brightness is because it reflects the light of the sun. It revolves (goes around the earth) and spins (turns life a top) at EXACTLY the same rate so that only one side of the moon is EVER seen. This circling of the moon "pulls" bulges on the oceans and makes them move higher and lower. We call this moving of water "tides" and life on earth depends on it.
The earth and moon, locked together, circle the sun in a length of time we call a year. The earth spins in a length of time we calla day. The rate the moon circles the earth makes it look slightly different each night, for exactly 28 nights and then it repeats. The alignment of the earth, sun and moon is exactly the same on only one day each year and then it repeats the same cycle.
When we look up and see the movement, precision, scale, effects and mere existence of these creations, we are observing an incredible display in the skies.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge." (Psa 19:1-2 NIV)
(Gen 1:14 KJV) "... and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years."
- Tim Orbison
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