Does Daylight Saving Time Save Us Anything? This is the time of
year when we are awarded a few spring-like days that remind us
that the Vernal Equinox is near and summer is not far behind.
Warm Sun, Cold Air. When I was little, my mom would make me wear
a coat on brisk, early spring mornings. When I protested, she
would say, “I know the sun is warm, but the air is cold,”
leaving me very confused. Now that I’m a parent, I repeat my
mom’s words to my daughter. When she gives me the confused look,
the instructor side of me tries to explain that the sun’s rays
are becoming more direct, but the terrestrial infrared radiation
is not sufficient to heat the air to a point where she doesn’t
need a jacket. For some reason, this is lost on a six-year-old.
As an astronomer, I have spent many nights longing for dark
skies. But I’m not opposed to the light. I’ve spent some of my
best days near the poles during their summers, experiencing 24
hours of daylight. But as we approach the change to Daylight
Saving Time (2 a.m. Ma