Satellite Image Gallery of Ancient Observatories

In honor of Sun-Earth Day 2005, Space Imaging has created a special IKONOS satellite image gallery of 13 ancient observatories around the world. Known for their ability to precisely align with the sun, moon and stars, these observatories are scientific marvels – then and now. The IKONOS satellite imagery captures the beauty of these ancient structures and allows viewers to see the architecture in relationship to its surroundings, creating a wonderful visual experience and providing a way to recognize Sun-Earth Day.

The development of the gallery coincides with the vernal (Spring) equinox in the northern hemisphere, taking place on March 20, 2005. The equinox occurs twice per year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and when night and day are nearly the same length. Space Imaging designed its Ancient Observatories satellite gallery as an adjunct to the NASA and Exploratorium multimedia project “Ancient Observatories: Timeless Knowledge,” which is aimed at students and museums and focuses on the link between ancient and modern observatories: http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/.

The 13 satellite images are available on Space Imaging’s Web site at http://www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/ancientobservatories/
Abu Simbel, Egypt
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Chichén Itzá, Yucatan, Mexico...
Casa Rinconada, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
Dzibilchaltun, Yucatan, Mexico
Easter Island, Chile
Hovenweep National Monument, Utah
Machu Picchu, Peru
Mayapan, Yucatan, Mexico
Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
Stonehenge, Great Britain
Teotihuacan, Mexico
Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico

Stonehenge builders' houses found

Archaeologists say they have found a huge ancient settlement used by the people who built Stonehenge.Excavations at Durrington Walls, near the legendary Salisbury Plain monument, uncovered remains of ancient houses.

People seem to have occupied the sites seasonally, using them for ritual feasting and funeral ceremonies.In ancient times, this settlement would have housed hundreds of people, making it the largest Neolithic village ever found in Britain.

The dwellings date back to 2,600-2,500 BC, the same period that Stonehenge was built.

From BBCNEWS.

'Hobbit' stirs scientific clash

The Hobbit's (L) skull is very small

The skeletal remains were discovered by an Australian-Indonesian research team in the cave of Liang Bua on the island of Flores in 2003. After carefully analysing the bones, the group declared them to be those of a human species previously unknown to science, and to which they gave the classification Homo floresiensis.

More details on bbcnews.