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<< Events >> Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009

Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 16 December 2009  Page Views: 9564

StonehengeCountry: England County: Wiltshire Type: Henge

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Stonehenge.
Stonehenge. submitted by AngieLake : A beautiful sunset on 17 Dec 2008. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Note it is the 22nd this year as this is the closest sunrise to the actual solstice time which is 17.47 on the 21st December. Feel free to leave a comment here to let us know you will be going or to make contact with others who may be attending.

There are at least several hundred to 1000 people expected, around 2000 attended last year but the change of date may well reduce the numbers.

Parking is available on the drove (without official sanction) but not in the visitor centre car park. Be advised that vans and cars may only stay the night leading up to sunrise and must then depart as we are advised that Salisbury Council are being unhelpful regarding the use of the drove.

This year if the Drove fills up, English Heritage will provide overflow parking behind the visitor centre.

Warm clothes and waterproofs are advised!

Thanks to the Stonehenge Druids for the information.

Our main page on Stonehenge is here and we have a great gallery of past solstices here, feel free to submit more photos.

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"Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009" | Login/Create an Account | 19 News and Comments
  
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Astronomers celebrate at Stonehenge by Andy B on Wednesday, 23 December 2009
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In a fitting finale for the International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009), astronomers and archaeologists will celebrate the five millennia of astronomical heritage at Stonehenge, the most sophisticated stone circle in the world and amongst Europe’s most important Neolithic sites. The attractions include a free public astronomy exhibition and expert-led tours of the site and surrounding landscape.

Activity on the world famous Stonehenge site dates from earlier than 3000 BCE and the monument was constructed over several phases lasting for more than 1500 years. The purpose of the site varied over time and is still a matter for debate, but it has a strong astronomical connection, making it an appropriate place for the UK IYA2009 closing event. The stones align with the positions of the Sun and Moon as they rise and set, for example at the solstices and during years when the tilt of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth makes it travel to extreme northern and southern positions in the sky (described as a ‘major standstill’).

The celebration begins with the opening of the ‘From the Earth to the Universe’ (FETTU) exhibition alongside the Stonehenge visitor centre. This free exhibition, running from 16th December to 3rd January 2010 (except on 25th and 26th December), features a series of stunning images of objects across the Universe, from stars and planets to nebulae and galaxies; all made using telescopes on the ground and in space. FETTU aims to show the public how astronomy has developed in the 400 years since Galileo turned his telescope towards the night sky, let alone in the more than 5000 years since the first stages of the construction of Stonehenge.

On 21st December is the winter solstice, when in northern hemisphere countries the Sun reaches its lowest apparent position in the sky and the number of hours of daylight reach a minimum (the so-called shortest day). The stones of the Stonehenge monument not only famously align with the rising position of the Sun around the summer solstice (described as the longest day of the year) but also with its setting position at the winter solstice.

The site also has possible connections with the Moon, in years when the tilt of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth makes it travel to extreme northern and southern positions in the sky (periods described as major standstills).

In the run up to the solstice, from 16th to 19th December leading specialists will be on hand to offer public tours of the site and surrounding area. These will be available during the day to any visitors who have purchased a normal site admission ticket.

The expert guides include archaeologists, Andrew Lawson, Julian Richards, Mike Allen and Julie Gardner, archaeoastronomer Clive Ruggles and astronomers Mark Bailey, Mike Edmunds and Derek McNally and IYA2009 UK chair Ian Robson. Some of the guides are involved in the Stonehenge Riverside project conducting new excavations in the area over the last five years and others are members of the Astronomical Heritage Committee of the Royal Astronomical Society.

http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/headlines/4795345.Astronomers_celebrate_at_Stonehenge/?
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Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by davidmorgan on Wednesday, 23 December 2009
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...and on YouTube.
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Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by davidmorgan on Wednesday, 23 December 2009
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I've posted some photos in the Solstice 2009 gallery.
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Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by MikeAitch on Tuesday, 22 December 2009
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what with the freezing weather and confusion over 21st/22nd i opted for sunset at castle an dinas hillfort (st columb) last night, wasn't a very good sunset but was nice and peaceful anyway, looking forward to seeing photos of the sunrise by those brave/hardy enough!! ;)
view is west from centre of hillfort with bronze age barrow in foreground
regards to all
mike h
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Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by AngieLake on Monday, 21 December 2009
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News of an 'extra' ceremony on 21st here:
http://www.eternalidol.com/?p=5781#comments
and here:
http://www.stonehenge-druids.org/page722.html
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    Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by davidmorgan on Monday, 21 December 2009
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    Oh dear, radical pagans. Standing up for their "rights". I'd have just waited until tomorrow, when it's official open access. I'm guessing tonight is the longest night, anyway.
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      Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by AngieLake on Monday, 21 December 2009
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      Hi David,

      I think Dennis will try to find out the truth behind that statement on E.I., either from E.H., or from Frank Somers.
      Frank is a gentle and sincere guy who would just have gone along to make the experience more worthwhile for all those who turned up expecting to see a ceremony. I doubt he imagined he'd end up inside the circle, either.
      Let's face it, most people believed it was the 21st. It was only through asking Frank, himself, via the Stonehenge Druids website that I found out it will be tomorrow morning. He planned to be conducting the ceremony by the Heel Stone, or 'Heal Stone' as he calls it, at dawn on 22nd, as another druid group have 'bagged' the circle!
      (I won't be going up in this icy weather, but you have to admire those who are prepared to wrap themselves up and make the effort!)

      I imagine the sunset would be more rewarding at Winter Solstice, anyway.
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      Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by davidmorgan on Tuesday, 22 December 2009
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      It was quite busy with different bunches of pagans this morning. Nice dusting of snow.
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      Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by Aluta on Tuesday, 22 December 2009
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      This set of pictures from the solstice open time at Stonehenge was posted on Flickr. http://bit.ly/826Slp The light dusting of snow accentuates the shapes of the various stones--very interesting to see, if you're that kind of person, which I am.
      [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by MikeAitch on Wednesday, 23 December 2009
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      excellent photos, thanks for sharing :)
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Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by Anonymous on Sunday, 20 December 2009
hi
I dont have a car. I will be travelling from London. Can you please advise on route?
Alex
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Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by Anonymous on Saturday, 19 December 2009
Follow up to solstice timings:
The Celtic day finishes at sunset so solstice is on the 22nd in that calendar system. Wrap up extra warm whenever and wherever you are celebrating
One love
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Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by davidmorgan on Friday, 18 December 2009
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The weather forecast over the next few days is clear skies and very cold, so should be some good sunsets at Stonehenge.

But Monday night it's forecast to snow, so it could be snowing and no sunrise on Tuesday morning.

I'll be sticking my nose out the door at 5am to see if it's worth it.
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Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec 2009 by Anonymous on Friday, 18 December 2009
hi thanks for the info,i am looking foward & will be attending,as of yet i do not know of anyone else that is going,but it looks like it might be a bit on the chilly side
regards
moor2moor(ken williams)
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Re: Winter Solstice Event at Stonehenge Wed Dec 16 – Sat Dec 19 by Anonymous on Thursday, 17 December 2009
Much love and joy to all Winter Solstice celebrants.

The wheel has nearly turned...

Have a good one
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Re: Winter Solstice Event at Stonehenge Wed Dec 16 – Sat Dec 19 by Anonymous on Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Solstice sunrise is at 8.09 am on 21st. This is approx 9.75 hours before the moment of solstice but sunrise on the 22nd is approx 14 hours after the moment of solstice so in actual fact the sunrise on the 21st is the closest to the moment of solstice. In reality most people want to celebrate the sunrise on the day during which solstice occurs - this will be the 21st this year and that is when I shall be celebrating - sunrise on the 21st - the nearest sunrise to the moment of solstice. English Heritage really confuse me sometimes . . .

Most people seem to get away with 3 nights on the Ridgeway next to the stones.

Happy solstice one and all
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Re: Winter Solstice Event at Stonehenge Wed Dec 16 – Sat Dec 19 by Andy B on Wednesday, 16 December 2009
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Link would be useful!
http://www.le.ac.uk/has/ahc/shws-event/
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Winter Solstice Event at Stonehenge Wed Dec 16 – Sat Dec 19 by Andy B on Wednesday, 16 December 2009
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I also found this including Julian Richards and Clive Ruggles:

Winter Solstice Event at Stonehenge
Wed Dec 16 – Sat Dec 19, 2009
Free talks and tours by leading archaeologists and astronomers

An opportunity to view the sunset itself
“From Earth to the Universe” exhibition

It is well known that there is a connection between Stonehenge and sunrise and sunset on the longest and shortest days of the year. To celebrate this connection between the stones and the sky, in the International Year of Astronomy 2009, a special event has been organised by the Royal Astronomical Society together with English Heritage.

When you arrive at Stonehenge you will see a marquee containing not only an exhibition of astronomical images but also a number of specialists eager to guide you round the site itself or the surrounding landscape or, if the weather is inclement, to give short presentations or simply to talk to you individually.

Our band of enthusiastic experts includes professional archaeologists, some of whom who have been working for the past five years on the Stonehenge Riverside project, conducting important new excavations and archaeological work in the area, and professional astronomers who, as part of the Royal Astronomical Society’s Astronomical Heritage Comittee, have a special interest in ancient and historic sites related to the skies.

Tour guides will include archaeologists Andrew Lawson, Julian Richards, Mike Allen and Julie Gardiner, archaeoastronomer Clive Ruggles and astronomers Mark Bailey, Mike Edmunds and Derek McNally, as well as Ian Robson, who chairs the IYA2009 activities in the UK.

PLEASE NOTE that while all the guides’ services are provided for free, access to the monument, with or without these guides, will be subject to the normal site entrance charge,* unless you are booked in for the evening event. If you are on site at 16:00 you will be able to stay to watch the sunset (weather permitting!) before the site closes.
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Re: Stonehenge Winter Solstice Open Access 22nd Dec by Andy B on Wednesday, 16 December 2009
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More explanation about the exact time of the solstices here:

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/explore/astronomy-and-time/time-facts/equinoxes-and-solstices
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