Equinox telecast to be shown live at MSU

"Ancient Observatories: Live from Chichen Itza" will be presented by Midwestern State University's Physics Department and the Starlight Observers League (SOL). The NASA telecast may be seen on campus in Bolin Science Hall room 127 at 3:30 PM, Sunday the 20th of March.

This celebration of the northern hemisphere's spring equinox will be a live webcast from the ancient Mayan pyramid steps in Chichen Itza, Mexico. A shadow in the form of a serpent will fall across the steps of the pyramid marking the equinox - that time during the year when the Sun will be found directly overhead somewhere on Earth's equator.

To ancient peoples, the vernal equinox was a time to rejoice and be thankful that the long cold winter was coming to an end. A history of ancient astronomers and their observatories will be outlined live from Mexico in both English and Spanish. The webcast should last approximately one hour. The SOL will provide special solar telescopes through which the public will be able to view the Sun.

Admission is free and all ages are invited. For more information call (940) 636-1816, or the MSU Physics Department at (940) 397-4184.