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Ancient astronomy research project
Westphalian public observatory and planetarium Recklinghausen
In Westphalia (Germany) is a fascinating site for the observation of
the moon near the minor standstill limit. Not a single lunar line, but
an arrangement to observe an alignment with the moon over several
hours. A 300 m long processional road of two parallel ditches follows
the declination line of -18.5° .. -19.0° in the landscape. The
foresight ("gnomon") for this observation is a large rock with a shape
like the profile of a human face.
Walking slowly along the processional road with a part of the moon at
the position of the eye (apparent declination -18.5°), you can
"fix" the moon as the eye of the rocky giant for about 3 hours. A
little platform on the edge of the rock below the face has app.
declination of -19°. This (approx. monthly) event leads to a very
nice enlightenment of the giant in the night.
The rock is surrounded by a halo of the bright moonlit atmosphere and
the eye is shining like a spotlight.
The processional road (one ditch is about 600 m long, the other makes a
bend after 300 m and vanishes where the observation of the shining eye
isn't possible anymore) will come under archaeological investigation in
the near future.
The approximate date of the ancient embankments around
the foresight rock is 500 BCE.
For more information contact Burkard
Steinrücken, and see his efforts
in archaeoastronomy.
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Major content related changes: Nov. 6th, 2004
