APOD: 2026 September 20 – Analemma over the Callanish Stones
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 20 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Analemma over the […]
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day, dated September 20, 2026, showcases an analemma over the Callanish Stones in Scotland. An analemma is a composite image of the Sun's position taken from the same spot at the same time over the course of a year, forming a distinctive figure-8 shape. The featured image was captured near the December solstice, resulting in the Sun appearing near the bottom of the analemma.
Equinoxes correspond to the middle points of the analemma, not the intersection point. The Callanish Stones, a Bronze Age stone circle constructed around 2700 BC, stand in the foreground of the photograph. The exact purpose of the Callanish Stones' placement remains unknown. The upcoming equinox, occurring in two days, marks a period when day and night are of equal duration across Earth. Various cultures observe the equinox as a seasonal transition.
Written by urgent.news from NASA's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- APOD: 2026 September 20 – Analemma over the Callanish Stones science.nasa.gov
