In Photos: Stonehenge’s Ancient Solstice Sunrise Alignment Wows 15,000

Over 15,000 visitors on Friday witnessed an ancient solstice sunrise alignment at Stonehenge, the most famous of the U.K.’s thousands of neolithic monuments.

Clear weather meant visitors in the center of the stone circle saw the summer solstice sunrise appear just above the Heel Stone, which rises about 250 feet to the northeast. Solstice sees the sun rise at its farthest northeast position on the horizon of the year.

It was broadcast live by English Heritage on YouTube.

Climate Change Protest

The celebrations come just days after protestors demanding action on fossil fuels sprayed the iconic archaeological site with orange paint.

Two campaigners from Just Stop Oil—a British environmental activist group focused on addressing human-caused climate change—sprayed two of the monoliths at around 11 a.m. BST on Wednesday, June 19.

According to the BBC, the paint was removed using a specialist air blower in advance of the solstice celebrations.

Global Moment

The actual global moment of the solstice—when the sun reaches its most northerly point at midday, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere—occurred at 9:50 p.m. BTS the previous evening.

It signaled the beginning of astronomical summer north of the equator, which will feature several memorable celestial sights, including the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on August 12-13 and a rare conjunction of Mars and Jupiter on August 14.

Tilted Axis

There is a solstice every six months, in June and December, which marks the points when Earth’s axis is tilted toward the sun.

In June, the northern axis is tilted toward the sun to its maximum extent, with the midday sun hanging over the Tropic of Cancer, a line 23.5 degrees north of the equator. Earth’s axis is tilted by 23.5 degrees.

Highest Point

June’s solstice sees the sun rise at its farthest northeast on the horizon and set at its farthest northwest.

It marks the time when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, causing the longest day of the year and the beginning of astronomical summer.

Shortest Day

It’s the exact opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where the southern axis is tilted away from the sun to its maximum extent.

It marks the time when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere, causing the shortest day of the year and the beginning of astronomical winter.

December’s Solstice

The roles are reversed at the December solstice, which sees the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

It occurs this year on Saturday, December 21, at 9:19 a.m. BST in the U.K. Summer solstice will be celebrated at Stonehenge from the evening before, according to English Heritage.

Friday’s Lunistice

The moon is never lower in the sky, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere, than around the summer solstice. However, this year that’s even more extreme because of a once-every-18.6 years major lunar standstill.

When the tilts of the moon and Earth are at their maximum, the moon rises and sets at the furthest points on its range on the horizon.

It will be best viewed at Friday’s full moonrise. English Heritage will livestream the event from 4.30 p.m. ET, though spectators will not be invited.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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