Stonehenge - effects of daylight saving time

[John Gray]

In the UK and Europe daylight saving time begins on the final Sunday of March, when clocks get put forward an hour, and ends on the final Sunday of October, when clocks get put back an hour. This has significant implications for Stonehenge.

"Each year, on 21 June (the longest day of the year), the sun always rises over the Heel Stone at Stonehenge – a single large sarsen stone which stands outside of the main monument. And the sun always sets over the Heel Stone on the shortest day of the year. Therefore, researchers believe that Stonehenge may have been a ‘calendar’, linked to the study of the stars."

To compensate for daylight saving time, English Heritage, the organisation responsible for Stonehenge, has to rotate all the Stonehenge stones by 1/24 of a turn (15°) in one direction on the last Sunday of March, and by the same amount but in the opposite direction on the last Sunday of October. This is a major amount of work twice a year, but tourists expect the stones to be in the correct positions with respect to the sun!

For an alternative view of the matter, see this.

[HansV]

[RonH]

Might be easier to move the sun

On the subject of clock change, has the European decision to stay on summer time, this year forward, been ratified? If so it will be easier for the English Heritage who will not need many stonemasons for repairs.

[HansV]

I think the discussion about summer time in the European Union has been put on hold due to the pandemic.
But the United Kingdom is not a member of the EU anymore, so it can decide for itself.

It would be "interesting" if the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland had different times...

[John Gray]

Might be easier to move the sun

Very reminiscent of the story about the entrepreneur Lou Grade, who funded the extremely-expensive and problem-prone film "Raise the Titanic" (1980). After learning of the final cost of the film, he said, "It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic"...

[RonH]

Good one, John.

And Hans, perhaps UK independence will be independent but I think their time zone will be the same as that decided above and below. I personally wish for a fixed zone, given that my lady loves lots of clocks around the house ... though it does not take me a whole week to change them like it does in Windsor Castle

[BobH]

John, you should have saved this one for about 12 more days.

[John Gray]

John, you should have saved this one for about 12 more days.

It takes a lot of time to move them stones!