SUNWHEEL GATHERING INFORMATION

VERNAL EQUINOX 2012 -- SUNRISE & SUNSET GATHERINGS AT THE U.MASS. SUNWHEEL:

• Tuesday March 20, 2012
• 6:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (EDT)

The public is invited to witness the passing of the seasons by watching the Sun rise and set over the tall standing stones in the U.Mass. Sunwheel for the Vernal Equinox of 2012. The sunrise and sunset events will be held on Tuesday March 20, 2012. Visitors for the sunrise viewing should arrive at 6:45 a.m., and visitors for the sunset viewing should arrive at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. These gatherings will celebrate the Equniox and 14 years of Sunwheel seasonal events for the public, which have attracted over 10,000 visitors.

This year, the instant of the Vernal Equinox is 1:14 a.m. EDT on March 20. For those interested in learning about the sky, there will be a presentation which will include the significance of the equinoxes & solstices, the cause of the seasons and phases of the Moon, the story of building the Sunwheel, and other calendar sites around the world, including Stonehenge & Callanish in the UK and Chichen Itza in Mexico. There will also be an explanation of the Moon's 18.6-year cycle, also called the Major Lunar Standstill. Come gather in community -- bring your questions, your curiosity, and be prepared for freezing temperatures including waterproof footwear. The gatherings typically last 1 hour, and are held in all weather except rain and blizzards.

Donation: A $3 donation is requested to help with the cost of the additional sitework and future events which are planned. Sunwheel T-shirts & sweatshirts will also be available for purchase.

About the Vernal Equinox (in the Northen hemisphere):
The Vernal Equinox is the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere. It is also the day the Sun rises into the sky to be visible for 6 months as seen from the North pole, and the day the Sun disappears from view for 6 months (i.e. sets) as seen from the South pole. On the equinox, any observer located on the Earth's equator will see the Sun pass directly overhead at local noon, and that person will cast no shadow at noon. For all observers on Earth (excluding the North and South poles), the Sun on the equinox rises due East and sets due West, is up for 12 hours and down for 12 hours, illuminating all latitudes. From the Sunwheel here in Amherst, we observe a very beautiful sight as the equinox Sun rises and sets through the stone portals in the East and West directions.

Location: The UMass Sunwheel is located south of McGuirk Alumni Stadium, just off Rocky Hill Road. The Sunwheel can easily be reached from the center of Amherst, following Amity St. to the west, on the right hand side of the road about 1/4 mile after crossing University Drive.

More Information: For more information on the U.Mass. Sunwheel, click here. For more information on the Moon's 18.6-year cycle, click here. For information on other programs offered by Dr. Judith Young, click here.

DIRECTIONS TO THE SUNWHEEL:

For directions from out of town, click here.

For a map showing the Sunwheel on the UMass Amherst campus, click here.

DATES OF SUNWHEEL GATHERINGS:

For the dates and times of Sunwheel gatherings, click here.