Analemma Over the Callanish Stones
On 20 September 2026 the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) presented a photograph showing an analemma framed by the Callanish Stones.
The Callanish Stones are a Neolithic stone circle located on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, dating back roughly 5,000 years.
An analemma is produced by recording the Sun’s position at the same clock time on different days throughout the year; the resulting curve resembles a figure‑8 lying on its side.
This shape arises from the combined effect of Earth’s axial tilt of about 23.5 degrees and the slight eccentricity of Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
Creating the image required taking photographs from the exact same viewpoint and at the same local solar time over a full year to trace the Sun’s apparent motion.
Juxtaposing a contemporary astronomical phenomenon with a prehistoric monument highlights humanity’s enduring curiosity about the sky’s rhythms.