"Centenary" summer solstice at Güímar Pyramids

[Janet]

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Visitors lined along the main axis of a pyramid to watch the summer solstice sunset. Photo: Tenerife Cabildo & Güímar Ethnographic Park

The Tenerife Cabildo has announced that the Güímar pyramids ethnographic park will again play host for summer solstice celebrations this Saturday, 21 June and this year, more than others, it will a special event because of the Thor Heyerdahl centenary. Doors will open at 6.45pm to allow the public access to the pyramids themselves. There, weather conditions hopefully permitting, they will be able to observe the orientation of the pyramids with the sunset on the horizon, and the famous "double sunset".

It was this phenomenon which started the research that resulted in three IAC researchers discovering the alignment of the pyramids with the summer and winter solstices. After studying the orientation of the complex, they determined that the two principal lines were aligned with great precision, one to sunrise on the winter solstice on 21 December, and the other to sunset on the summer solstice on 21 June.

The sunset will be followed by a talk about Thor Heyerdahl, in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish, at 9pm in the park's auditorium. Entry is free, and special approved protective glasses are always provided by the organizers. They just ask that seats are reserved for the talk at 9pm because of limited space: just call 922 514 510. JA

[Perikles]

After studying the orientation of the complex, they determined that the two principal lines were aligned with great precision, one to sunrise on the winter solstice on 21 December, and the other to sunset on the summer solstice on 21 June.

Here we go again. Any astronomer could tell you that a line aligned with the winter solstice on 21 December is also aligned to the summer solstice on 21 June (in exactly the opposite direction). This is true for all points on Earth outside the arctic circles. So which are these two principal lines?

[Janet]

 

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

The Teleférico is also offering a solstice package so you can watch the sunset up top.  30€ for residentes, 47€ for non-residents, it includes the trip up and down and a glass of champán!  Limited to 100 personas.

[Nova]

Now that sounds more like it!!