The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi has a date with Winter Solstice

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Sunday, Dec 23, 2007
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New Delhi

Delhi has a date with Winter Solstice

Staff Reporter

Photo: R V Moorthy

Giving facts: Nehru Planetarium director N. Rathnasree giving a lecture at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: A great many celestial watchers observed Winter Solstice -- which marks the year’s shortest day and longest night -- at the historic Jantar Mantar here on Saturday. The ancient monument came alive as an astronomical laboratory where celestial movements were understood and celestial bodies such as Sun, Mars and Moon were sighted.

At the observatory, school children measured the angular distance of the Sun from the Equator at the gargantuan Jai Prakas. Besides measuring the declination of the Sun at Jai Prakas and Misra Yantra, students also measured horizontal and vertical angles of celestial bodies like the Sun and Mars at Ram Yantra.

Nehru Planetarium Director N. Rathnasree conducted classes on the scientific facts about Winter Solstice and relevance of masonic instruments to budding astronomers throughout the day. “In terms of zodiac signs, astrologers predict that during this day the Sun is in front of Capricorn, while actually the Sun is in front of Sagittarius. On this day, the Sun has gone the maximum angular distance southwards from the Equator that it can,” she added.

About the significance of the observatory, Ms. Rathnasree said it gives people an idea of the location of celestial bodies. “It is not useful for collecting new data like a modern telescope but it is definitely useful in giving aspiring astronomers a feel of the celestial bodies.”

Revealing that the Archaeological Survey of India was in the process of putting the markings on masonic instruments with the help of astronomers, the Nehru Planetarium Director said these instruments are unique in their scale. “Jantar Mantar is not just a historic monument but also a useful observatory for teaching children and adults about astronomy. But you need to have knowledge of trigonometry to measure the angle of the Sun in Jai Prakas and Ram Yantra.” To help Delhiites trace the position of the Sun during the day, the Planetarium’s team had placed temporary cross-wires over the Jai Prakas bowls. Some celestial lovers measured the markings that showed the Sun’s entry into a given Zodiacal sign or “rashi”.

Dr. Rathnasree said that with the passage of time, the precession of the axis of rotation of Earth had resulted in a shift in the relative positioning of the Sun against the background of zodiac constellations in such a way that the Winter Solstice does not coincide any more with the entry of the Sun into the Capricorn constellation.

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