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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Equinox at the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod ^ | 19 Mar, 2023 | Image Credit & Copyright: Robert Fedez

Posted on 03/19/2023 2:12:23 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: To see the feathered serpent descend the Mayan pyramid requires exquisite timing. You must visit El Castillo -- in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula -- near an equinox. Then, during the late afternoon if the sky is clear, the pyramid's own shadows create triangles that merge into the famous illusion of a slithering viper. Also known as the Temple of Kukulkan, the impressive step-pyramid stands 30 meters tall and 55 meters wide at the base. Built up as a series of square terraces by the pre-Columbian civilization between the 9th and 12th century, the structure can be used as a calendar and is noted for astronomical alignments. The featured composite image was captured in 2019 with Jupiter and Saturn straddling the diagonal central band of our Milky Way galaxy. Tomorrow marks another equinox -- not only at Temple of Kukulcán, but all over planet Earth.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: nasa
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 03/19/2023 2:12:23 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 03/19/2023 2:12:46 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; America_Right; AZ .44 MAG; ...
Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔


3 posted on 03/19/2023 2:13:32 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

I visited Chichen-Itza back in the ‘80’s...We were there not long after the Equinox and the shadows were still pretty close to being right on...It is an amazing place...


4 posted on 03/19/2023 2:19:15 PM PDT by JBW1949 (I'm really PC.....Patriotically Correct)
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To: MtnClimber

Wow, that is gorgeous.


5 posted on 03/19/2023 2:21:49 PM PDT by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as.)
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To: MtnClimber
I found some feathered serpent girls.


6 posted on 03/19/2023 2:31:39 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: MtnClimber
"the structure can be used as a calendar and is noted for astronomical alignments."

Don't ask what its other uses were.


7 posted on 03/19/2023 3:05:29 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: MtnClimber
I [carefully] walked up the stairs to the top of Kukulkan in 1990 Q3.
Got right next to the Chac Mool.

Heavy downpour every day in early afternoon.
Spectacular clear night sky, with a dazzling panorama of stars.

At several locations, we couldn't determine where the hotel ended, & the ruins began.

Our family enjoyed that trip immensely.

8 posted on 03/19/2023 6:33:49 PM PDT by goldbux (“The whole world is a very narrow bridge. The main thing is to have no fear at all.” –– R. Nachman)
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