"Miracle of the light" in San Juan de Ortega

[Caminofácil]

Hi all:

Just a heads up in case you are near San Juan de Ortega today or tomorrow (more on this later), since you might have the chance of watching live the "Miracle of the light". As described previously in this forum:

However there is more. Marvelous Romanesque capitals top the lofty columns. One four-sided capital is truly EXTRAORDINARY. As described by Dom Millan Bravo Lozano in his Practical Guide to Pilgrims , "..showing the Annunciation, Visitation, Joseph's Dream, and Christ's Nativity. Each equinox(21March and 22nd September) at precisely 5pm solar time, a single shaft of sunlight strikes this capital, illuminating it alone in the surrounding gloom and causing the marvelous illusion that the Holy Ghost is alighting on Mary's belly. Miracle or artifice, it is clear that this is no ordinary place."

If you are nearby San Juan Ortega don't miss the illumination!

Margaret Meredith

The effect takes place on the spring and autumn equinocces. According to all the online sources I've checked, this year's autumn equinox is tomorrow (Sep. 22th); however, I've seen a couple of people on social media advising people to watch it today (21th). I have the impression that those people might be off-base, but I have also read other sources that say that it also happens on the day(s) previous to the equinox. So perhaps you'll be lucky, if you go today...

 

[grayland]

We happened into San Juan de Ortega a few years ago on the event day.
We had no knowledge of it and were very confused by the number of cars in the parking lot and the crowds of people.
A bit hard to get service in the lone bar.

 

[G.White]

Just by chance I'll be there tomorrow. I'm staying in. Belorado tonight.

 

[Caminofácil]

Great! Just make sure you arrive with plenty of time, since I've been told that there might be quite a crowd. 5PM solar time would be 19:00, but I have been advised to arrive as early as 16:00 (though I don't know if that might be too early).

 

[grayland]

How is "Solar" time calculated?

 

[whariwharangi]

How is "Solar" time calculated?

According to the sun or "solar time", at any given point on the earth "solar noon" occurs at the instant that the sun is positioned due south of that specific geographic location. This means that "noon" occurs at an infinite number of different times as the point of consideration moves east to west around the globe. Solar noon occurs at a different time for you standing on the earth from your friend standing as little as one foot east of you. The significance of this is that the heliodon devices are marked in time markings that indicate SOLAR TIME. The solar time for your site may differ from the actual clock time by as much as plus or minus 45 minutes at a given time of year. The amount of variation constantly changes and is influenced by the time of year and your position on the earth.

Read more here:
http://cms.bsu.edu/academics/center...iodon/backgroundpages/background/solarvslocal

 

[Anniesantiago]

We saw this one year. Fantastic! I've actually seen it in other churches as well. Can't recall where, but worth looking into.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

am I the only one who keeps checking this hoping someone will post a photo?

 

[Icacos]

How is "Solar" time calculated?

Read more here:
http://cms.bsu.edu/academics/center...iodon/backgroundpages/background/solarvslocal

Thank you. I learned something new today.

 

[SYates]

am I the only one who keeps checking this hoping someone will post a photo?

Here you go:

Buen Camino, SY

 

[whariwharangi]

http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/maya/mmc07eng.shtml

 

[SYates]

http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/maya/mmc07eng.shtml

confused SY