STONEHENGE SIMPLIFIED.

                         Solving Stonehenge in the simplest way possible… Graphically.

Fig SS1: First of all, consider this: Breaking free of the horizon 40-degrees from north at Stonehenge, this is the maximum area of sky that the moon ever gets to scan, and does so for several months every 18.6 years. This, the moon’s most northerly point of rising is called the Major Standstill. The next Major Standstill will occur in 2006, and if cloud free, should be quite an occasion for photographers!

 

Fig SS2: This is the maximum amount of sky that the sun ever manages to scan at Stonehenge. The sun breaks free 50-degrees clockwise from north and scans a total of 260-degrees on solstice day every year on the 21^st June. Everyone who visits Stonehenge on solstice morning to see the sunrise looks out along this 50-degree angle from north.

 

Fig SS3: But look what happens when we place the sun-arc on top of the moon-arc - the moon commands a small section of sky (about 10-degrees) that the sun never gets to visit! - Not ever!

 

 

Fig SS4: Stonehenge started its life as a simple circular-ish bank and ditch. Bank here is shown green, and the ditch is shown white. The causeway through the bank and ditch formed an entrance passageway that completely spans and admits the moon-arc right up to the time of the major standstill. So the first Stonehenge was dedicated to the moon. Let’s say that again: The first Stonehenge was dedicated to the moon.