# farmer's almanac gripe
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [November 1, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940 "2001-11-01T17:11:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/1 "2001-11-01T17:11:09Z")
I bought a current copy of **Harris’ Farmers Almanac** because I like to check sunrise/sunset times often, and other related items.
Well, it’s wrong. :mad:
The November and possibly December 2001 sunrise/set times are all amiss. ARRRGH. I hope the whole damned book isn’t wrong!
I checked to see what the sunrise for, today, November 1 was supposed to be for my region (northern states). My book says: Sunrise 6:39 am - Sunset at 4:48 pm. Uh-huh, yeah right sure
[Weather.com](http://www.weather.com/weather/climatology/46544?dayofyear=306) says Sunrise 7:17 am - Sunset 5:39 pm
[The Old Farmer’s Almanac Online](http://www.almanac.com/rise/results.php?what%5B%5D=Sun&what%5B%5D=Moon&month=11&day=1&year=2001&timezone=0&zipcode=46544&place=&state=) says 7:17 am - Sunset 5:40 pm (This is a different Farmer’s Almanac publisher)
I can accept the one minute difference between [Weather.com](http://Weather.com) and Old Farmer’s Almanac Online. That’s no big deal, really. But 38 minutes difference sunrise and 51 minutes difference sunset is ludicrous! How in the hell did that happen?
Looking down the line of my **Harris’ Farmers Almanac** the sunrise time of 7:17 am is listed for November 30!!! Something is seriously fucked up here!!!
Me thinks it’s time to run to the store, and cross examine the various brands of almanacs and see if it’s just the Harris one that is wacko, or what.
FTR: I am not misreading the book, nor does it seem a mere misprint. The whole timetable is berserk. :mad:
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### Author:  [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2001, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/2 "2001-11-01T17:27:20Z")
Ok, I re-re-rechecked some things and found that I was reading for the wrong region, however the times are still incorrect!
It lists the regions as follows:
Northern States 45ºN LAT 75ºLONG
Middle States 40ºN LAT 75º LONG
Southern States 35ºN LAT 75º LONG
I am Indiana, so that puts me in the Middle States region, NOT the Northern States. I checked my us map to verify the LAT/LONG.
But the times are still nutty! For the Middle States region, it says Nov. 1 Sunrise 6:29 am - Sunset 4:57pm!
I am suspicious of something. It lists all regions at 75º LONG. That is the Atlantic coastline. WTF is up with that?
FTR: There are no instructions on how to read the book. Maybe, I am reading it wrong, but I don’t see how.
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### Author:  [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2001, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/3 "2001-11-01T18:35:02Z")
Um, Mods, excuse me, but would you please teleport this thread over to MPSIMS please, if it is appropriate to do so. Thank you.
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### Author:  [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/4 "2001-11-01T19:58:22Z")
I’m just curious. Why are you so interested in the precise timing of sunrises/sunsets?
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### Author:  [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2001, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/5 "2001-11-01T20:17:05Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mornea \*
> \*\*I’m just curious. Why are you so interested in the precise timing of sunrises/sunsets? \*\*
Well, there a couple of reasons:
[li]It’s interesting to me to watch the seasons change.[/li][li]I loathe winter, and the short daylight hours that go with it.[/li][li]OTOH, The later the sun rises, the less guilty I feel about sleeping in. (I sleep in a great deal.)[/li][li]DST sucks even though I don’t have to turn my clock.[/li][li]There are times I like to get up at sunrise to clean up the yard and house, etc.[/li]
That pretty much sums it up. Just a trivial thing I find endearing and entertaining. Hope that answers your question.
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### Author:  [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2001, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/6 "2001-11-01T20:20:56Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by mornea_
> I’m just curious. Why are you so interested in the precise timing of sunrises/sunsets?
Oh, did I mention I am a vampire as well? :wally
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### Author:  [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2001, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/7 "2001-11-02T03:10:23Z")
Ahhhhhh!
I had to go the store and look at a copy of a different brand of Farmers Almanac, to figure out how it works. Now it all makes sense. The Almanac that I originally bought didn’t mention **how** to calculate make-up for **LOCAL** time difference, or that I even _needed_ to!!! It only gave a very vague reference.
I wish I had bought **The Old Farmer’s Almanac** in the first place. The instructions in there are plain and simple to understand, and even provide you a conversion table. NIFTY!
So, now that I know how it works: I must add 48 minutes to the printed sunrise time, and add 42 minutes to the printed sunset time. Sigh…
Sorry for the hassle. I know no one replied to this but I apologize anyway. If only the **Harris** had instructions… maybe I should write them and tell them about that.
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### Author:  [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2001, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/8 "2001-11-02T03:34:17Z")
My favorite sunrise/sunset site, if you’re interested:
[The US Naval Observatory.](http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/)
Sorry, that was awfully GQ of me. Uh, let’s see. . . Inaccurate or misleading timekeeping really pisses me off! Yeah!
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### Author:  [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/9 "2001-11-02T03:46:01Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Podkayne \*
> \*\*My favorite sunrise/sunset site, if you’re interested:
>
> [The US Naval Observatory.](http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/)
>
> Sorry, that was awfully GQ of me. Uh, let’s see. . . Inaccurate or misleading timekeeping really pisses me off! Yeah! \*\*
Thanks anyway. That’s one of my fav’s too. I often reset all of my home clocks and watches to the USNO time about once every month or two.
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### Author:  [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2001, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/10 "2001-11-02T16:14:12Z")
What are you going to bitch about next, MSK? You measured all the dental floss and found out it was 3 inches shorter than what it says on the box?
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### Author:  [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2001, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/11 "2001-11-02T16:37:53Z")
Is six out of the first seven posts a record?
Pity you don’t live by the sea - I’d love to hear a tide table rant;)
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2001, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farmers-almanac-gripe/90940/12 "2001-11-02T18:34:59Z")
yes, as is seven out of the first nine.
this was hilarious to read.
msk, you’re cracking me up. 🙂