This 30-second video lets you watch the summer solstice sunrise at Stonehenge, and it’s breathtaking
Celebrating the summer solstice could be special anywhere, but something tells us Stonehenge is an extra-incredible place to ring in the longest day of the year.
About 13,000 people gathered before sunrise to watch the sun come up above Stonehenge on June 20th, the summer solstice.
Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, is believed to have been a place for worshippers to celebrate the solstice for millennia, according to the non-profit English Heritage, which works to preserve historic sights in England.
Historians and astronomers believe Stonehenge was built to align with the rise of the sun, as the innermost point of the monument opens up toward the point where the sun rises on the summer solstice.
According to the BBC, the summer solstice is one of the only times English Heritage opens up Stonehenge, allowing people to get up close to the Neolithic ruin.
English Heritage tweeted photos and videos of the sunrise during the event, including a 30-second, sped-up video.
Watch the entire Stonehenge #SummerSolstice #sunrise in 30 seconds! Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more ➡️ https://t.co/ZtuOHtOsSR pic.twitter.com/BeGwQaRYFl
— English Heritage (@EnglishHeritage) June 21, 2017
The summer solstice takes place once a year when the Earth’s axis is tilted most toward the sun, resulting in the longest day of the year. The winter solstice, set for December 21st this year, is the shortest day of the year when the axis is tilted most away from the sun.
Take us to Stonehenge!
