...Posted on 12/18/2007 7:32:41 AM PST by Renfield
A brief moment of wonder awaits a few lucky people who see the winter solstice sunrise in Newgrange, Co Meath, Ireland, reports Sophie Campbell.
If you put your head on the floor of the burial chamber at Newgrange, Ireland's most famous passage tomb, rest your cheek on the soft grit and look back down the slightly wonky passage of upright stone slabs, you can see a wigwam of light at the end. This is the entrance, which faces south-east over the wide, shallow valley of the River Boyne and a ridge called Red Mountain.
If you are lucky enough to be one of the 50 people, plus partners, whose names were pulled out of a hat (or rather, a scale model of Newgrange) by local children in September, you will be in the tomb one morning next week, between Tuesday and Sunday, waiting nervously for the winter solstice sunrise......
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(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Age-old carvings guard the tomb entrance at Newgrange
I was there. Though not crazy enough to shiver through the winter night to see the brief glimpse of solstice sun!
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Many thanks Renfield.If you put your head on the floor of the burial chamber at Newgrange, Ireland's most famous passage tomb, rest your cheek on the soft grit and look back down the slightly wonky passage of upright stone slabs, you can see a wigwam of light at the end... one morning next week, between Tuesday and Sunday, waiting nervously for the winter solsticeY'know, because the solstice doesn't happen on just one day. ;') Those archaic astronomers were renowned for their great craftsmanship. /sarc |
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Neat-o! You always hear of where to catch the summer solstice, never the winter one. thanks for the ping.
Ireland ping!
(I’ve only seen it on TV :-).
Most beautiful.
Cherchen Man had those same spirals painted on his face after he died.
Cool.
I prefer Dowth, it is still in its natural state and very few tourists go there so you are usually the only person there. Not nearly as impressive however.
Newgrange Interior.
i’m a sun worshipper!
and, looking forward to the winter solstice.
:’) “Charles, Suns...”
“What are famous Rays?”
This year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary, a webcam will be in the tomb for the first time on December 21 and 22 (the solstice is technically on the 22nd, but the anniversary is the 21st) to record the passage of the sun.
The live stream will begin at 8.30 am on 21st and 22nd December 2007.
That's 3:30 am E.S.T. on Friday morning and Saturday morning for American night owls.
Any pictures of what this looks like?
I posted the only two pictures accompanying the article, in the thread.
I visited last summer at the insistence of my wife and kids. I was shocked how much I got out of it. If you are in the area, do not miss it.
Note: this topic is from 12/18/2007. A re-ping, figure out why. :') Thanks Renfield.
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