Mar 12 2009
Syzygy is our Word for the Day!
The word of the day is: syzygy! This word deals with the Tide and we are not referring to the laundry detergent. The tide is the rise and fall of the ocean surface caused by the tidal effects of the sun and moon on the oceans.
Syzygy is the nearly straight-line configuration that occurs twice a month, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction and when they are in opposition. In both cases, the gravitational effects of the Sun and Moon reinforce each other, and the tidal range is increased.
Here are two more definitions we will toss out for your consumption. Conjunction in this case means that the Sun and Moon are on the same side of the Earth at the new Moon. Opposition means that the Sun and the Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth at the full Moon.
Having fun! Look for a future post on the tide and the effects the high and low tides have. Today’s ‘word of the day’ chosen by random finger pointing in The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Now if only can pronounce it correctly I will be all set.
Thanks for the comments!
Bob - I never heard of the word until researching things for this post.
Cindy23 - Pronunciation of this word - I better check with my English colleage at the university.