Ed Goes to Stonehenge for the Winter Solstice - December 22nd, 2023

Back in the summer of 2023, I took an archeology course at Oxford which included a field trip to Stonehenge. The professor noticed my fascination with the place. She casually mentioned I should be here for the solstice. One thing led to another, and here I am! Here’s a chronicle of my adventures leading up to Dec 22nd, 2023.
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[@JamesAdams-ev6fc]

Fabulous. The Satie Gymnopedia at the close was perfect for the ephemeral humanity milling around the eternal stones of Stonehenge. We are here for just a moment, are we not? Thanks, Ed.

[@edting]

You know, I hadn't thought of that, but you are right. The stones have been immobile for thousands of years, and we're a mere flicker of time for them.

[@mediocrefunkybeat]

I would like to point out at this stage (with regard to the weather forecast) that the definition of 'optimist' is an astronomer based in the UK. Glad you had a good time, Ed. You are always welcome on these shores.

[@Euripides_]

Now imagine west of Ireland haha 😂

[@mediocrefunkybeat]

@@Euripides_ For the sake of my remaining sanity, I'd rather not! At least you have a chance of dark skies over there, mind!

[@metatechnologist]

It brings to mind the UK based KZbin astronomy channel "Astrobiscuit!" highly recommended!

[@user-lt9py2pu6u]

I was watching a video today by an American astro photographer who said he only managed four or five clear nights a month, living on the English/Welsh border how I envied him.

[@mediocrefunkybeat]

@@user-lt9py2pu6u Four or five clear minutes a month here I think. Mind you, it's clear tonight...!

[@keithhanssen7413]

Very nice video, Ed. I really enjoyed that. You made me feel almost like I was there. I’ll probably never make it there, so I really appreciate your time and efforts putting this together.

[@EfficientRVer]

Well done, Ed. Offering up a Canon as a possible sacrifice, fits the occasion well. It rewarded you with a great time lapse, without having to stand guard there and miss out on all the festivities up close and personal.

[@mikenofi281]

Ed, you are a man of many talents.

[@nojava2]

I visited Stonehenge in 1969 shortly after the moon landing. I was 16 and mesmerized at what I was seeing. There were maybe 20 people there. We all got to touch and stroll unabated.

[@alexsoma3720]

Ed! Thank you for this video. You know, when I think of you I think astronomy and telescopes but as it turns out, whatever the topic you choose I listen and learn something new. Thanks for taking the time to share your trips with us. Clear skies!

[@scottt6407]

I'm in Scotland, and those straight days of cloud & rain Ed saw, double that, and that's the norm for me. I get maybe 4 or 5 nights a month, where I can sky watch.

[@martinwarm4041]

Hi Ed. Lovely video. Avebury is also worth a visit and in some ways far more dramatic and mystic...

[@perry3928]

What a beautiful monument to an Era so long ago. Thanks Ed

[@user-lt9py2pu6u]

I have only ever driven past Stone Henge once, many years ago now, but have never had a desire to visit during the solstices, its just too busy for me. Though to be fair, the winter solstice used to be virtually ignored until quite recently. I hope you enjoyed your stay even though the weather didn't play ball. Its been the cloudiest autumn and winter I can remember, I've only been able to image on five nights since September, though we have had far more clear spells during daylight hours so at least I can do some solar observing.

[@Graygramma]

Hi Ed…It’s Lynn from WWII BBC class. This was brilliant. So glad you sent to us. And I’m a new subscriber!

[@edting]

Good to hear from you, Lynn!

[@finnlawrence08]

Great video, very enjoyable. Despite living only a couple of hours away for my whole life, I only visited Stonehenge for the first time earlier this year! Maybe I'll try to visit on a solstice at some point. British weather certainly isn't the best. Sometimes I'm only able to observe once or twice a month due to clouds or precipitation. Really jealous of people living with clearer skies

[@KylesAstrophotography]

Looks like an amazing adventure, Ed!

[@eddia3998]

It was good to see your trip there. Thank you for taking us with you 👍

[@AndyMcCavish]

Ah my old friend Stonehenge and the A303, I've drove that road a couple of times a month for 20 years and year the traffic for the few miles around the area is truly silly a few times during the year.

[@av-ji9qy]

Mr Ting a fantastic job on this video!…..I felt as if I were there with you

[@robertlautenslager9832]

all are lives are just a moment, but yet so beautiful.. what a wonderful job you did, Ed.

[@briankotak403]

Really cool video Ed. I sure hope your bus driver told you where to meet to go back to London. I just love the history in the UK. Dr B from Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦

[@jrwestimate6953]

Fascinating, beautiful and inspiring. Thanks Ed

[@moone27]

Wonderful video, Ed! It made it seem like we were there with you. Also, I loved your photos.

[@AnthonyScandurra]

Thank you for sharing your trip with us, Ed!

[@ronaldmunger1183]

Another great video! I have learned so much about astronomy from your videos. Stonehenge is fascinating and thanks for sharing it with us.

[@MartyInLa]

11 straight days of rain? That's' like like a drought compared to the weather we've had here in California recently.

[@ronm6585]

Thanks for sharing Ed. Cheers.

[@messier7849]

Magical. TY, Ed. ❤

[@charlessmith7141]

Very Nice! Thanks for sharing! We had the opportunity to do just the same thing! The government opens the area four times a year from sunrise till 8:30 AM, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall Solstice's. Thanks again for sharing such a unique experience. BTW the fella with the silver crown, gray hair and white cloak believes he is a reincarnation of King Arthur and was responsible for the government doing this four times a year. Cheers

[@astrostufftomtrubridge7915]

Hi Ed, My word that was a flying visit,sorry the view from your accommodation was a bit poor, I think a good deal would be to stay in Wiltshire itself, maybe near the Avebury Stone circle for a few days, which in itself is like a Cathedral compared to Stonehenge, not detracting the significance of Stonehenge. My wife and I have spend many days and nights camping in and studying this ritual landscape, there are many facets that draw on an astronomical relationship between land and sky, and at times the true magic of this place really comes to the fore. I feel many wish to experience this hence the numbers these days. Anyhow glad you enjoyed the trip. I've just turned 60 now and just bought a new mount for my old USA 9.25SC, and put together a wide imaging setup with an Evolux 62 Ed..just hoping my aching joints get better soon... Atb Tom..

[@rozinaiqbal9171]

Thank you

[@user-sq1gd2ss4q]

Thanks for sharing Ed.

[@user-tk2hg6ft6i]

The crowds and weather are a cautionary tale for those heading for totality. Still worth it, though.

[@ericnovotny4356]

Very well done, Ed--As usual. As far as Stonehenge as an astronomical clock, the books called Stonehenge Decoded by Hawkins and White makes the most convincing case I have read. Highly recommend you read this book. The builders were quite adept astronomical observers.

[@kingdavidcoffee]

Wonderful video, Ed. My astronomy friend in England brought me to Stonehenge and also the area where you stayed in. Kensington is where the astronomy show was every year.

[@IamMusicNerd]

I’m guessing the summer solstice would be even more crowded, as the weather is better.

[@mccarthymccarthy1]

Hi Ed. Great to see you trip to Stonehenge. I got in to some astrophotography during lockdown and learnt a lot from your youtube channel. I have taken a couple of night trips to stonehenge to try to get milky way shots over the stones. I decided to visit for winter solstice last month so was there too. I had heard the traffic to the main car park was difficult. I parked to the north by about 1 mile and walked in. It was a great experience. And i was glad you got that little view of the sun just over the horizon between the clouds.

[@chriswashington9507]

Welcome to Cloud Central. Here on the bleak Staffordshire Moorlands we average two clear nights a month. Loved the video though, the Satie was an inspired choice.

[@Meowsers-vm5lx]

11 straight days of rain, yep sounds like us alright! Glad to have you in the UK, Ed. Are you able to do any observing whilst you’re here?

[@gordonwedman3179]

Thanks for the video. I was there in1982. In those days you could walk anywhere. Almost drove past it on the highway. Only one small sign just before you had to turn. Apparently cluttering the countryside with signs is frowned upon. Had the same trouble finding the start for the hike up Snowdon.

[@ruudsmith3836]

yes very nice

[@BhutJolokias]

In the mid-70s my Dad was stationed in England with the Air Force. We took a trip to Stonehenge one summer. There were no restrictions on getting to the stones then. And yes, you could see some graffiti. I was only 11 or 12, and still felt in awe getting next to them.

[@williamchiafos3889]

You do realize that Stonehenge is a modern construct right and was moved there from Wales. I know enough that I won't watch this in it's entirety. Don't want to waste my data waiting to find out if he mentions it.

[@Bubbles7066]

​@@williamchiafos3889some of the stones might be from Wales but they weren't moved in modern times, that's for sure!

[@williamchiafos3889]

@@Bubbles7066 what I meant by modern is last several centuries. In other words what you see AT Stonehenge is not in its original form

[@davidparadis490]

I went about 25 years ago, if there was a visitor center then, we missed it. I recall we were able to get within about 50 feet of the henge stones.

[@curronhill2744]

Very interesting. Well done!

[@user-bs4ky8fn5e]

Castle rig is more I think more magical it's in the north of England hill all around its wonderful get yourself up north 🇬🇧

[@qufic]

Great video as always! We sure had a nice day there. Since you used to say I always would talk about food, here we go! If in London, be sure to visit St. John at Smithfield market. Best restaurant in London and probably in the work.

[@edting]

Thanks, Kristian!

[@PafMedic]

Looks Like What Ive Looked At For The Last 6 Months In NWPA,Happy You Got To Go,Thats On My Bucket List🙏🏻Stay Warm,And Clear Skies❤️🔭🌏

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

*_Spinal Tap_* got the ‘ and " mix up actually about right, they are A LOT smaller than you’d expect. I drove past it once.

[@marymayo3705]

Beautiful!

[@georgemorley1029]

The great thing about “Great” Britain is, no matter how unremittingly shite the place can get, the people always have a great time in spite of it. We’re a nation at our best when times are at their worst.

[@alexkalish8288]

I did my astronomy project at university on stone hinge. I have been there several times decades ago. No ropes , no nothing back then but my dim brain never thought about going there at the solstice.

[@mikemoran5439]

Great video, Ed!

[@oninoyakamo]

I’ve lived my whole life in the Pacific Northwest, except a year spent in Britain. Same sky conditions; limited opportunities for stargazing

[@oclifestylewithtess309]

I went there October 1 Darn!! too many restrictions can’t even get near the stones. The whole area was barricaded we can only get close 40 ft away from the stones

[@nitehawk86]

Stonehenge. THE GREATEST HENGE IN THE WORLD! :)

[@TheRevWillNotBeTelevised]

Really like the black and white picture at 11:12

[@caninecaregroomer8030]

Hi Ed! You should come to Ireland to Newgrange!🍀

[@johnsmith-eh3yc]

Theres dozens of passage graves and long burrows over Ireland Uk spain and France, by far the oldest and most impressive in France. But Stonehenge while being one of the latest is clearly unique in its design which makes it particularly interesting and most visited

[@ADF_Cable]

Love mate you're a true adventurer! Great so see some of the pagans turned up too 😉

[@customsp645]

You're getting me into telescopes! Im going get the first xt6 or 8 i can find on the used market for my first scope.

[@BlueTrane2028]

Keep competing brands (Skywatcher, Apertura, Zhumell, Celestron, etc) in mind. They are all about the same in optical quality.

[@jrpstonecarver]

Ah, Ed... my sweet summer child. That forecast you were so surprised at... we live with that all the time here in Vancouver. I love your telescope videos and follow them religiously, but the seeing here is generally categorized as somewhere between awful and impossible. You get used to multiple weeks of rain after a while, though. :)

[@harrythemartian]

I was there!! Wish I'd have known you were there too haha 😅 I even brought my Coronado PST in my backpack incase it was clear enough and people wanted to see the Sun up close, but the clouds didn't play ball. (And yes Ed, nothing but cloud and rain for days on end is absolutely normal for the UK, especially this past year. Being an astrophotographer here is not fun 😢😅)

[@juliemartin7234]

Please hunt down the book 'Stonehenge Celebration and Subversion' by Andy Worthington. It's a wonderful account of the sociology and politics of the Stones with information many non-Brits are unaware of.

[@KingLoopie1]

Imagine standing there 4500 years ago... And Dr Who's phone booth appears in the field in front of your very eyes! 😂👍

[@dabe1971]

To be fair Ed, the weather front that caused the recent rain came from the US so you can't blame us too much ! I've passed Stonehenge many a time from a distance but haven't actually visited it in years and never on the solstice for the very reason you experienced - traffic ! Hope you enjoyed your time here.

[@kevanhubbard9673]

Too busy for me I'd go up the road to Avebury the biggest stone circle on Earth.

[@edting]

The professor took us to Avebury last summer. The acoustics on the rocks are fascinating.

[@jongoldsby]

wait wait wait "....one thing led to another..." 😁

[@Hartin31]

Cool video

[@mfaison]

On the Winter Solstice, you would want to watch the sunset (not the sunrise), having feasted on pigs at Durrington Walls and then followed the river to the approach avenue. Then you see the sun set behind the largest trilithon as you approach. There is no obvious alignment at the heel stone at sunrise on the Winter Solstice, so you didn't miss anything with the clouds.

[@edting]

Yes. Unfortunately they kick you out at 11 AM!

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

You should have checked with a Planisphere Ed. An ap version would get the exact bearings, time and lat-long just right. I like A Schweizer’s Star Map For IPad.

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

Some of the stones come from wales which is more than a couple of dozen miles away lol!

[@edting]

Yes, correct!

[@steveborstelmann1171]

I’m planning to go to the winter sauce this December. After watching your excellent video, I’m now planning to I hike from my motel. it’s located 2.1 miles. from the Monument, which isn’t that far to walk. I just hope the trails aren’t as crowded as the road. Oh, do you know what those people were doing banging sticks and dancing? Is that some kind of authentic ritual or just entertainment?

[@edting]

The walk up to Stonehenge isn't too crowded as long as you aren't using the road from the Visitor's Center. Someone explained the meanings of all the ritual dances, but I've forgotten them. Wait, there's a motel only 2.1 miles away?

[@steveborstelmann1171]

The motel (Travelodge in Amesbury) is indeed 2.1 miles from the monument, but it turns out you can only enter from the visitor’s center and that’s 3.6 miles from the motel. Still seems worth walking (1 hr, 20 mins) vs. driving and sitting in the traffic you experienced.

[@jonathandunn730]

Great video, Ed 👍 What's the piece of piano music on the end please? It's very nice.

[@edting]

Satie, Gymnopedie #3. I recorded it just before I left thinking I might be able to use it.

[@tubedude54]

"Hardly ever exist outside the UK"... 'Updated 9 November, 2023 - 15:56 Robbie Mitchell Stonehenge-like Structures Have Been Found All Over the World Throughout history, our world has witnessed the emergence of colossal stone circles reminiscent of Stonehenge, dispersed across the globe. These megalithic structures, numbering around 50,000 solely in Western Europe, stand as testimony to the ingenuity of ancient civilizations.'

[@louismanios8928]

Hi Ed, with the solar eclipse coming your way this year, will your community / club be doing anything? Any recommendations for us NY'ers that are looking to drive up to the NY/VT/Canadian border?

[@patc4632]

Newgrange in Ireland

[@marklimbrick]

All along the river bank are roman pottery and fossil bones. Our detritus will be just as interesting. Strange huge storehouses of crude racked electronics. Tubes with glass mirrors and lenses. A shellac disc with grooves, labelled Satie:Gymnopodie. And millions of tons of CO2 stuffing up the overheated atmosphere. Anyway, whatever. The real Stonehenge was sold to a Texan oil baron decades ago and sits in the desert. What you experienced was an ironic simulation.

[@blueryder3]

Hello Ed, Did you see Spinal Tap when you were at Stonehenge?

[@scarydragqueen]

How did it make you feel Ed?

[@WilliamBlakers]

Lichen? Im liken this a lot.

[@randyhavard6084]

The question is was it worth the trip and would you do it again?

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Interesting, but not much a view from the hotel. So, Ed is now a Druid.

[@nighttrain1236]

Summer solstice later in the year then Ed?

[@justsomeguy6474]

I wonder if you could have flown a drone and gotten a view from the centre that way?

[@edting]

Ah, drones are strictly forbidden. You can get arrested!

[@justsomeguy6474]

@@edting Wow, that's pretty harsh but I figured they might be.

[@williammatthews6465]

Thanks for the video Ed. Something I have always wanted to do. By the way, is that you playing the piano?

[@edting]

Yes, I recorded the Satie just before I left thinking I might use it.

[@elray4932]

Stonehenge is always amazing at anytime of the year. There is another theory that the stones could be over a hundred thousand years old because of the coating on them. That particular type of coating takes a hundred thousand years to develop. The stones were cut and shaped when Stonehenge was built so therefore it must be much older than 4,500 years.

[@BigBadLoneWolf]

Ed there are several stone circles in France. The most famous, being Carnac. sorry you had to put up with the nut jobs at stone henge, but on the whole, they are harmless

[@edting]

Thanks for the information!

[@tony.999]

11 days of bad weather? Its probably at the heart of British humour. 'Clear skys'. No sarcasm... no no..

[@RockHudrock]

Druid for a day? 😉

[@mazyar_]

Fascinating, I scrutinized the footage and almost everyone is white and native, make what you will from this fact.

[@edting]

I noticed that too. I noticed when I went to London, that city is quite diverse.

[@EfficientRVer]

Maybe their own culture has something similar, and they prefer visiting that. That explains the lack of Egyptians and Mayans, for instance. Or their own culture has nothing similar, so they weren't raised to be intrigued by it. Of course, it's possible that the marketing of transportation/tours simply targets the audience who habitually shows up. There is also the fact that once an event seems to attended by only one race, one religion, or one financial demographic, it is just not an attractive event to most people who wouldn't "fit in", without active measures being taken to make them feel welcome and comfortable. Now I'll have to look over all my photos of the Indianapolis 500, having gone probably 12 times scattered over the last 35 years, to see whether the audience of around 400,000 people is more than 1% minority. It probably is not, although as South American drivers became more prevalent, maybe Latino fans got the event over 1% diverse. I'm sure the answer might depend upon details such as how to count a non-white attendee if it appears they are only there as the spouse/date of a white attendee. For couples who attend auto races, it is usually easy to tell if they are two fans, or a fan and a companion.

[@nighttrain1236]

The stones are in Wiltshire which is ~95% white.

[@patrickh8727]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fX-kiWqCn7Vmb7Msi=E1_leCOywJrMVM7d mac was there for the summer solstice he's black american

[@Hero1117a]

Really

[@roybatty2680]

No one played the song Stone Hedge from Spinal Tap.?

[@edting]

Good point!

[@stardel]

Interesting observation, the descendants of Japheth worshipping their god

[@kingcraven8056]

Rent a little van or SUV and camp in the parking lot. Tailgate the winter solstice.

[@edting]

You could do that, but it seems the lots and the roads leading into the area are already overcrowded. People were abandoning vehicles. They're going to have to do something.

[@kingcraven8056]

I was being semi facetious. A rental car with a cheap 1 use bicycle might work. Huffy comes to mind then just give it away or leave it at the airport or hotel. I've done it with cheap cars in SO America. Fun@@edting

[@bierrollerful]

Quite remarkable that humans would go visit some big rocks on a regular basis for _thousands_ of years. Aren't we a peculiar bunch?

[@mrh9635]

Serious men should be given more intimate access to the site, away from those foolish druid impersonators and such. Nice Satie rendition at the end, by the way.

[@EfficientRVer]

Sometimes, serious people are the last ones who should be given priority. People just out to enjoy the site, and feel the ancient feelings, deserve their turn. Any scholar needing access, gets it. Any wealthy person who wants access, gets it. Whether the creators of the site would prefer serious people versus celebrants, cannot be known with certainty. If I were forced to bet my life on it, I'd say they'd probably want both to have access.

[@mrh9635]

@@EfficientRVer A fair point, but I find the druid thing absurd: it's been known for a while that these stones were errected long before there were any druids in Britain.

[@terrybrooks395]

Oooh, mistake, mixing with the great unwashed, unemployed folks LOL

[@michelle4595]

Unfortunately English heritage have made a bit of a mockery of it with their huge ugly lights and security guards and roped off areas and extortionate ticket prices especially as it was left to the people by the previous "owners". It is well worth coming for the summer solstice experience though and everyone must squeeze themselves through the middle at least once. The acoustics are quite incredible. I always feel a little annoyed that the druids take over the experience at sunrise especially one year when he was talking about all the struggles around the world and news, I really wanted to emerse myself in the nature of the sunrise not listen to him! Yes he has a religious right but I still don't think he has the right to enforce his beliefs over the experience of thousands of others.

[@johnanthony6038]

Ah yeah, big waste of time and money to go see a whole bunch of nothing with a bunch of weird people trying their hardest to make it something

[@achimrecktenwald9671]

There are 2 similar sites in Germany, though made from wood. One, from 4900 BC, is older than Stonehenge, the other one, from about 2300 BC, is younger. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goseck_Circle en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%B6mmelte