Summer Soltice at the Sun Triangle June 21, 2004

People eat, sleep, talk, and walk in this plaza, unaware of the triangle?s Stonehengian significance. For many visitors, the Sun Triangle, by oceanographer, inventor, and sculptor Athelstan Spilhaus, is just another oversize, odd-looking modern sculpture parked in front of a modern building.

However, at 1:00 p.m. (which would be noon if it weren?t for daylight time) on June 21, the summer solstice, the Sun reaches an altitude of 73° in the sky and its rays align exactly with the short, steep side of the triangle.

In winter the Sun?s path across the sky stays low. Its rays align exactly with the lower side of the triangle at noon on the winter solstice (December 21), when the Sun ascends no higher than 23° in the sky. At noon on the spring and autumn equinoxes (March 21 and September 21), the Sun?s elevation is intermediate, aligning exactly with the third (upper) leg of the triangle.