The Thirteen Towers of Chankillo in Peru may be the Western Hemisphere's oldest known
full-service solar observatory, showing evidence of early, sophisticated
Sun cults, according to
archaeoastronomy professor
Clive Ruggles. The 2,300-year-old complex featured 13 towers running north to south along a ridge and spread across 980 feet to form a toothed horizon that
spans the solar arc. Last year, another ancient observatory was discovered in Peru by
Robert Benfer.
The Temple of the Fox is 4,200 years old, making it
1,900 years older than the Chankillo site, but wasn't a complete calendar.
posted by homunculus
on Mar 3, 2007 -
8 comments
A kilometre-high solar tower, to be built in the Australian outback by
EnviroMission Ltd, will become the world's tallest structure when completed in 2006. Designed by Jorg Schlaich of
Schlaich Bergermann und Partner, the solar tower (or solar chimney) operates like a hydroelectric power plant,
but uses hot air instead of water, and it could provide enough electricity for 200,000 homes. Time calls it one of the
best inventions of 2002, and I think it's one of the most ingenious ideas I've ever heard. Another solar chimney project was planned in
Rajasthan, India, but I haven't found any information on its current status.
posted by homunculus
on Jan 6, 2003 -
52 comments
