The Calendar Stone of Besao Revealed

To the north of Manila in the Philippines, lies Besao, home of the Agawa people who are the keepers of the Agricultural Stone Calendar. This astronomical monument is said to have been used before the Gregorian calendar.

Every thirtieth of September during the autumnal equinox, the Agawa people watch at dawn as the sun casts a beam of light through a niche between two stones on a mountain. A light is cast on a marker stone etched with strange marks by the ancients. The event signals the start of the planting of rice which is said to have been taught to the Agawa people by an old man in shining robes a long time ago. He probably looked much like the fictional character, Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings movies.

For the stories and folk tales about this mysterious monument, click here to the main post.

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Red Moon Over London

This is a fine Associated Press (AP) picture of the total Lunar eclipse over London last March 3, 2007. See how the curve of the Big Ben's clock face mirrors the disk of the moon. Another total lunar eclipse will be visible over Manila, Philippines on the 28th of August.