Computing Solar, Lunar, and Geographical Alignments of Archaeological Sites

Abstract

Algorithms are described for computing solar, lunar, and geographical alignment angles at any geo-location as a function of time. These angles include the directions of solstice and zenith passage sunrise and sunset, and major/minor lunar standstill moonrise and moonset, and the direction to another site or reference location (e.g., a geomagnetic pole). Two algorithm implementations that have been developed are demonstrated at a number of archaeological sites.

Keywords: archaeoastronomy, alignment, solstice, equinox, lunar standstill, geographic, apps, virtual reality