> (solar noon is never at exactly 12:00 PM on any given day except at one particular line of longitude per time zone)
According to the 20. amendment the term of an US president starts at Noon, 20 Januar. Simply noon. The USA seems to interpret it as 12:00 ET and makes it ceremonial inauguration for that time, possibly also the transfer of powers. But solar noon on the steps of the Capitol seems to be at 12:18 ET, I researched back at the last inauguration.
This discrepancy seems to be a great premise for a legal thriller, a political thriller, or sadly for a conspiracy theory. The latter definitely has some fertile ground.
The americans should start using the Washington Monument as a solar clock for this ceremony, imo.
According to the 20. amendment the term of an US president starts at Noon, 20 Januar. Simply noon. The USA seems to interpret it as 12:00 ET and makes it ceremonial inauguration for that time, possibly also the transfer of powers. But solar noon on the steps of the Capitol seems to be at 12:18 ET, I researched back at the last inauguration.
This discrepancy seems to be a great premise for a legal thriller, a political thriller, or sadly for a conspiracy theory. The latter definitely has some fertile ground.
The americans should start using the Washington Monument as a solar clock for this ceremony, imo.