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Equinox play of light and shadow at Mnajdra
Abstract
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Introduction
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Equinox and precession
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2020 Autumn equinox campaign
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Fig. 3: Left hole under the altar. Fig 4: Right hole under the altar
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Fig. 5: Left giant reed pole. Fig. 6: Right giant reed pole.
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Fig. 7: Screen under the altar to view the play of
light and shadow at sunrise.
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Fig. 23: Detail of the repositioning of the
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Limits between shadow and light
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Interpretations
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Visibility of the play of light and shadow
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Using light and shadow to define the day of the autumn equinox
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Fig. 27: Sequence illustrating the evolution of the illumination of slab F during the sunrise on the
19th of September 2020. The last picture is just before the “alignment event”.
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Fig. 30: Mnajdra East temple.
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Conclusions
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References13
."7%:;%/(<5%Investigation into the possible astronomical alignments of the
Copper Age Temples in Malta%8H$%
)A%&%/(@5%The Prehistoric Antiquities of the Maltese Islands: A Survey%>8.
%
74%/(<5%4!%The Sunday Times of Malta/(<2
5<2(%
>%/05%Is there evidence of intentionality of sky involvement in the prehistoric
megalithic sites of Mnajdra in Malta?8KK$%#%!%'KKKB@
>%/05%F63&$%II%T!9%/)%5/:%$
UIU%<@2(@5%
!4%/5%.".".%Xjenza, Jounal of the
Malta Chamber of Scientists5/2502%
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7%;%?'%:;%/((5%G%
Journal for the History of Astronomy23/5@2(%
8KK%"K%@@K<<1(00
:%/5% #W"!%The Sunday Times of Malta
/205B2B%
:%/5% #W"!2%The Sunday Times of Malta
/205BB2B%
:%/!5% #W"!20%4!X%
The Sunday Times of Malta/2150120@%
:%/@5%!6!%The Sunday Times of
Malta/@<215BBB1%
:;% 7%;%?'%/((05%$ %Journal
for the History of Astronomy24/05@2<0%
