The following information is provided for Cape May, Cape May County, New Jersey
                        (longitude W74.9, latitude N38.9): 
        Wednesday, 20 March 2002  Eastern Standard Time          
        Begin civil twilight       5:37 a.m.                 
        Sunrise                    6:04 a.m.                 
        Sun transit               12:07 p.m.                 
        Sunset                     6:12 p.m.                 
        End civil twilight         6:39 p.m.                 

The following information is provided for Washington, District of Columbia
                       (longitude W77.0, latitude N38.9): 
        Wednesday, 20 March 2002   Eastern Standard Time          
        Begin civil twilight       5:45 a.m.                 
        Sunrise                    6:12 a.m.                 
        Sun transit               12:16 p.m.                 
        Sunset                     6:21 p.m.                 
        End civil twilight         6:47 p.m.       

1. It's the vernal equinox, but the sun is up for more than 12 hours. Atmospheric refraction lengthens the day by slowing the sunset and hastening the sunrise.*
2. Even though Cape May is on a time meridian (or dang close), the daylight period is not centered on noon. Rather, the sun seems to be a few minutes slow relative to the clock. This is because the sun's apparent eastward movement among the stars was sped up (effectively slowing it relative to the clock) by 2 factors: The high (-) declination around the solstice, and the high orbital velocity at perihelion. On March 20, the Sun has not yet 'caught up' to our constant clock.
3. Washington is 2 degrees west of Cape May. Sunrise occurs 8 minutes later there. Earth rotates 1 degree every four minutes!