Sirius & Lake Titicaca

At the border of Bolivia and Peru, the largest lake in South America resides some 12,500 feet above sea level. Even at this dizzying height, it's only at the base of the snow-clad Andes Mountains, which tower a good 8,000 feet above this comparitively lowland area. This magically blue lake bedecked with reed-woven ships and surrounded by sheep and terraced farm land is the home of the Aymara Indians.

Sirius has the great honor of being the Lake Titicaca star -- standing at zenith, or directly above Lake Titicaca once every 23 hours and 56 minutes. On December 31, when you're awaiting for Sirius to announce the midnight hour, remember that this star stands over Lake Titicaca at 11:40 p.m. Eastern Time (10:40 p.m. Central Time, 9:40 p.m. Mountain Time, 8:40 p.m. Pacific Time). From Philadelphia, PA, at this hour, Sirius is about 57 degrees below Philadelphia's zenith. To figure how far Lake Titicaca is from Philadelphia, multiply 57 degrees times 69.2 miles to find Lake Titicaca at some 3,944 miles away -- as the crow flies.

Remember, Sirius hovers over Lake Titicaca 4 minutes LATER than 11:40 p.m. for each day preceding December 31; however, for every day AFTER December 31, it's four minutes EARLIER.