Stellarium and the archaeoastronomy of Callanish

[Gfamily]

If anyone's interested in archaeoastronomy, a 3D model of the Callanish stones on the Isle of Lewis has been produced (after an 18 year interval) based on a 2005 laser scan, so you can import it into Stellarium and explore how the night sky can be experienced from within the stones.

2025 is a year that will experience what's known as the Major Lunar Standstill - in which the Moon reaches the maximum displacement below the Ecliptic, and produces the effects when it rises furthest south. 

It is suggested that the alignment of the stones at Callanish is specific to the site, and marks the significance of the Major Lunar Standstill. 

Download and explore at your leisure  https://callanish.archaeoptics.co.uk/aboutcallanish.html 

(There's a particularly satisfying feature early on the morning of 22nd March 2025) 

[Budgie1]

Very interesting, especially for someone who lived on the island for 16 year.

The stones are a favourite for taking visitors too, and the close proximity of the other sets of stones and the Broch, just up the road, at Dun Carloway make a good day trip.