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Science/nature/environment

Maeshowe winter solstice webcam

(19 Posts)
Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 17:27:01

Ah! It seems that at sunset for three weeks before and after the solstice, the sun can penetrate to the back of the inner chamber. (If there is no cloud cover)

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 17:21:47

The webcams will be on tomorrow and for a while yet. I am not sure when the best time is if you want to see the sun on the wall of the inner chamber, ia it sunrise, sunset or what. Must see if I can find out. I've looked on previous years and it is pretty impressive if there are no clouds.

I have been there, but not at the solstice. A very interesting place. It is a bigger mound than you would think, 100ft across and 36 fy high .

You have to bend right over to get in. The Viking graffiti on the walls includes a comment by Erlingr who followed Ingebjork in - "Ingebjork the fair widow - many a woman has walked stooping in here a very showy person" Personally I was quite glad that it was Mr E who followed me up the long narrow tunnel and not a randy Viking, but perhaps Ingebjork did not complain.

tanith Sat 21-Dec-13 15:44:16

A shame those clouds couldn't shift a bit

dustyangel Sat 21-Dec-13 15:41:02

I missed all but the last minute or two..... I was getting the washing in, my timing was off because our sunset is not till about 5.15pm today. I

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 15:36:25

No dramatic sunset tonight, Tanith. Maybe tomorrow.

tanith Sat 21-Dec-13 15:32:12

I'm watching

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 14:59:31

Am I the only one watching this?

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 14:57:56

Light starting to creep up the tunnel. sunset in 15-20 minutes.

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 14:23:29

It takes quite a while to reload, Galen, possibly because the light levels are low. Maybe your browser is timing-out before it has finished.

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 14:19:17

Someone coming up the tunnel, bent double.

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 14:17:18

A couple of littleys and several people in very warm anoraks.

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 14:16:39

OOOh! Now there are half-a-dozen people there. It looks crowded.

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 14:15:49

Funny, it works for me. at the moment someone is standing gazing up into the camera, so maybe they they've been adjusting it. Try again.

dustyangel Sat 21-Dec-13 14:12:40

Grrr blush

dustyangel Sat 21-Dec-13 14:11:11

Thank you Elegran I've just spent a happy 10 minutes browsing the site. I would have forgotten about it. Will try to catch the sunset as well.

dustyangel Sat 21-Dec-13 14:10:16

Thank you Elegran I've just spent a happy 10 minutes browsing the site. I would have forgotten about it. Will try to catch the sunset as well.

Galen Sat 21-Dec-13 14:09:21

Doesn't work

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 13:40:03

Should have blued it. www.maeshowe.co.uk/

Elegran Sat 21-Dec-13 13:39:30

The webcams at Maeshowe show the sun at midwinter shining up the 36ft tunnel to iluminate the back wall of the chamber at the centre of the mound.

http://www.maeshowe.co.uk/

They will on from 13:30 to 16:00 GMT