The Hidden Solar Alignments of the Long Man of Wilmington
The Long Man of Wilmington stands on Windover Hill in East Sussex, overlooking the surrounding landscape of the South Downs.
Throughout the year, the Sun interacts with the Long Man and the landscape around him in a series of remarkable ways.
Research by archaeoastronomer Stuart Mason has identified a number of solar alignments involving the Long Man, including the Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes.
This page explores these alignments and the changing relationship between the Sun, the Long Man and the landscape throughout the year.
The Summer Solstice Discovery
At the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, the Long Man is exposed to sunlight from sunrise through to sunset.
The position of the Sun changes throughout the day, creating a continually changing relationship between light, shadow and the figure on the hillside.
The Summer Solstice marks the northernmost point reached by the rising and setting Sun during the year.
Winter Solstice
At the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, the relationship is dramatically different.
The Long Man is in shadow throughout the day.
The Winter Solstice marks the southernmost point reached by the Sun's rising and setting positions and provides the opposite point in the annual solar cycle to the Summer Solstice.
Spring Equinox 3.44pm
At the Spring Equinox, day and night reach their point of balance.
Research at the Long Man has identified a significant shadow alignment at approximately 3:44pm, when the Long Man is diagonally bisected by shadow and light.
This creates a striking division across the figure, with one part in shadow and the other illuminated.
The Spring Equinox is one of two points in the year when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, marking the transition into spring in the northern hemisphere.
Autumn Equinox 4.44pm
The Autumn Equinox produces another remarkable alignment.
At approximately 4:44pm, the shadow falls diagonally across the Long Man, appearing to divide the figure between light and darkness.
This striking event reflects the balance associated with the Equinox — a point in the year when day and night are approximately equal.
The Autumn Equinox alignment is one of the discoveries explored in Stuart Mason's book, The Long Man of Wilmington: Decoded.
Archaeoastronomy at the Long Man
Archaeoastronomy examines the ways in which people in the past may have understood, observed and incorporated astronomical phenomena into landscapes, monuments and structures.
The Long Man presents an intriguing subject for this kind of investigation.
The solstices, equinoxes and other solar events provide opportunities to observe the changing position of the Sun and its relationship with the figure and the surrounding landscape.
Some of these alignments can be observed directly for yourself. The image below is of the Imbolc Sun creating a Halo over the Long Man at the Suns Zenith, when viewed from the platform below. A precise repeatable alignment that creates a spectacular visual effect.
Cross-Quarter Days
The solar cycle does not begin and end with the four major astronomical points of the year.
Between the solstices and equinoxes are the traditional cross-quarter days, which mark important points in the seasonal cycle.
These include:
Imbolc — approximately 1 February
Beltane — approximately 1 May
Lughnasadh — approximately 1 August
Samhain — approximately 1 November
Together with the solstices and equinoxes, these dates form an eightfold seasonal cycle that has been important within traditional calendars and seasonal customs.
The changing sunlight and shadows across the landscape provide a fascinating way to experience these turning points of the year.
Explore More
Watch the Long Man Videos
See examples of the solar and shadow alignments throughout the year.
Walk With the Giant
Explore the Long Man and the surrounding sacred landscape on a guided tour.
Read the Book
Discover the solar alignments, observations and research in The Long Man of Wilmington: Decoded.
The Long Man of Wilmington
Windover Hill, Wilmington, East Sussex, England.