An equinox is a fleeting moment in which the plane of Earth’s equator passes through the center of the Sun’s disk. This spectacular phenomenon only happens twice a year once in the Spring, and once in Autumn. During the equinox, the length of night and day are approximately equal all over the world. Chichen Itzá is the largest in the ancient city. It consists of a series of square terraces with stairways up each four sides to the temple on top. Each side has 91 steps, which, when added together and including the platform at the top, produces a total of 365 steps (which is equal to the number of days in a year). The full extent of its brilliance reveals itself during the Spring and Autumn equinox. During the equinox in the late after the sun strikes off the northwest corner of the pyramid and cast a series of triangular shadows against the northwest balustrade, creating the illusion of a feathered serpent “crawling” down the pyramid. It’s an unbelievable and fleeting moment. It makes you wonder whether it is a result of purposeful design. As the sun sets, the snake seemingly slithers down the steps to join a stone serpent head that sits at the base of the great staircase.
Dates for spring equinox 2019:
March:
Tuesday 19th
Wednesday 20th – Recommended
Thursday 21st
Book your experience here: www.mayaluxe.com/experience/live-chichen-itza